From the Desk of the Vanderburgh County Health Officer

From the Desk of the Vanderburgh County Health Officer:

I had a wonderful time at the Vanderburgh County Medical Society’s Winter Mixer in January and would like to thank Mike Head of First Federal Savings Bank and the Vanderburgh County Medical Society for hosting a great event.  Meaningful discussions were had by physicians from a wide variety of backgrounds and specialties.  This event brought back fond memories of discussing patient care and sharing wisdom in the physician’s lounge during my career.  To keep this positive momentum going, I would encourage all local physicians to become members of the Vanderburgh County Medical Society and the Indiana State Medical Association (ISMA).

Now let’s talk about the Health Department.

We have begun year three of our immunization campaign, and this year we will focus on routine adult vaccinations.  We will be highlighting the influenza and Tdap vaccine.  All adults need a seasonal influenza vaccine every year.  Every adult should get the Tdap vaccine once (if they did not receive it as an adolescent) to protect against pertussis, and then a Td booster shot every ten years.  Women should get the Tdap vaccine each time they are pregnant, preferably at 27-36 weeks gestation, and any adult around an infant should be vaccinated as well.  For more information on adult vaccines, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/index.html

Maternal Child Health (MCH) and Fetal Infant Mortality continue to be a significant part of our work and preliminary data for 2016 indicates a continued reduction in infant and fetal deaths.  I am proud to share that we partnered with Cribs for Kids and ISDH and are offering Safe Sleep classes for expectant parents, family, and community members.  Eligible participants attend a safe sleep class and are provided a free pack ‘n play and infant safety survival kit.  (Call 812-435-5765 for more information.)

ISDH is preparing to drop the blood lead level threshold for case management and environmental assessment/investigations.  According to Medicaid, “Children over the age of 24 months, up to 72 months of age, for whom no record of a previous screening blood lead test exists, should also receive a screening blood lead test”.  Since there is no such thing as a safe blood lead level, please screen eligible children for lead poisoning.   

Our Health Promotion department has been busy with the expansion of the Baby Me Tobacco Free program and providing smoking cessation and weight down classes for individuals that made New Year’s Resolutions to improve their health.  Our one-year Diabetes Prevention Program (from the CDC) kicked off in January.  Participants are encouraged to lose 5-7% of their starting body weight and be active for 150 minutes per week.  We are receiving positive feedback from program participants.  

The State focus has shifted to the Opioid Epidemic, and the Vanderburgh County Health Department is involved in multiple work groups looking for solutions to the epidemic of substance abuse and overdose deaths.  Dr. Adams (Indiana Health Commissioner) suggested several policy options to mitigate the national opioid epidemic, including:

  • Educational initiatives for patients, prescribers, and payers regarding proper goals and means of pain management.
  • Standardization and optimization of prescription drug monitoring programs.
  • Promotion of opioid take back programs so that unused opioids are removed from society.
  • Comprehensive and patient-centered care and support services for those with substance abuse disorder (SUD), HIV, and Hepatitis infections.
  • Allowing for state-led coverage options for vulnerable populations and low-income populations, as we have done via our Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0.
  • Increased availability of Naloxone for first responders and lay persons, as we have recently passed by Indiana legislature.
  • Campaigns to reduce the stigma of SUD, and redefine as a chronic medical condition that people must be empowered to control, instead of a moral failure.
  • Increasing access to evidence-based comprehensive addiction, and recovery treatment.

Finally, I want to thank those involved from the local injury prevention collaborative that includes the VCHD, Deaconess, St. Mary’s and the Play for Kate Foundation for their efforts on ATV safety. They continue to provide education to area youth and have been the driving force behind House Bill 1200. This bill mandates helmet use for all children under the age of 16 riding an ATV on public and private lands. House Bill 1200 was passed in the Indiana House of Representatives in February and will be heard in the Indiana Senate in March.