Promoting Healthy Lifestyles and a Clean and Safe Environment 2013 Annual Report
Ocean County Health Department Annual Flu Campaign/
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- Ocean County Faith-Based Collaborative Health Equity for All…Prevention Works!
- Faith-Based Initiative Health Care Reform Informational Meeting
- HIV COUNSELING AND TESTING
- Prescription Drop-Off Program Expands
- 2013 Quality of Care Award for Leadership
- Shingles Vaccination Program
- Office of Public Information, Education, and Outreach
Ocean County Health Department Annual Flu Campaign/ High-Dose Flu Shot Efficacy Results Ocean County Health Department continued to provide flu clinics at approximately 50 sites within Ocean County, many in our older adult communities. As in the past few years, we have offered the “regular” flu shot, the Intradermal injection and the popular high-dose flu vaccine. The county saw little flu activity until the end of 2013; therefore, the OCHD will continue its flu campaign into the winter. The main flu strain that has been seen is H1N1, which typically affects young adults, the one age group that seems resistant to getting vaccinated against the flu. The Health Department continues to promote getting vaccinated against the flu. During the 2012-2013 Flu Campaign, the OCHD began to offer the Fluzone High-Dose vaccine developed by Sonofi Pasteur, Inc., aimed at those over the age of 65. It is designed to provide a higher immunity level for those in this age group. This vaccine was well-received by our county residents and remains the top choice for people in this age. Human immune defenses become weaker with age, which places older people at greater risk of severe illness from influenza. A higher dose of antigen in the vaccine is supposed to give older people a better immune response and therefore better protection against flu. Older adults are not only more susceptible to infections, but also less responsive to vaccination. Compared to younger adults, people 65 years of age and older suffer disproportionately from seasonal influenza and its complications, including severe illness leading to hospitalization and death. Although this group comprises only 15 percent of the U.S. population, on average it accounts for 65 percent of the estimated 226,000 hospitalizations and 90 percent of the 3,000 to 49,000 deaths attributed to seasonal influenza and its complications each year.
In addition, to address the Spanish speaking populations represented, the OCHD brought in a Spanish-speaking nutritionist to teach Spanish-speaking resident about basic healthy eating, meal preparation and shopping techniques. Data shows that the Hispanic populations are disproportionately affected by diabetes and obesity as evidenced by data outlined in our current community health needs assessment. The New Life Christian Church serves predominately African Americans. One of the OCHD dieticians spoke about healthy eating habits, exercise and healthcare. Models of potion/serving sizes were shown demonstrating what constitutes a healthy portion size. Blood pressure screenings and stroke risk assessments and osteoporosis screenings were offered to attendees. The OCHD also offered Tdap vaccinations at these health fairs. One-on-one counseling was offered with the dietician to those with high blood pressure, including guidance on how to lower their blood pressure through healthy eating and lifestyle changes. The OCHD’s presence in the congregations in the county has helped in fostering a good partnership and communicating with our Faith-Based Initiative partners while promoting community preventive services. The Ocean County Health Department also held the Faith-Based Initiative Health Care Reform Informational Meeting at Ocean County College on September 10, 2013. We felt it was important for Faith-Based leaders to understand and be able to ask questions regarding the Affordable Care Act. There were speakers from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The Central Jersey Accountable Care Organizations, and the Ocean County Board of Social Services. We also heard from the “Navigators” hired locally to assist people with the process of applying for this type of insurance. 
HIV COUNSELING AND TESTING This past year was a busy one for the OCHD HIV Counseling and Testing program. All county schools were contacted with the availability of programs that could be presented in their schools. Several high schools contacted us and the OCHD HIV Counselor presented programs for the students. In 2013, the HIV/AIDs Advisory Committee continued to meet. This advisory committee was formed for Ocean County Stakeholders to attend quarterly meetings to discuss HIV/AIDs in Ocean County. An ongoing discussion is how to identify and test the hard to reach populations. Our literature, our testing program and the hours are distributed to many other agencies, including drug prevention and treatment facilities. After examining the ages of clients attending the HIV counseling and Testing Clinic, we identified our senior population as using the clinic more in 2013. In order to provide information and education to this population, HIV Counseling and Testing partnered with the Alcohol and Drug Unit, Municipal Alliances and the Institute for Prevention to set up a table during Senior Slugger night at Blue Claws Stadium. During June, the OCHD promoted National HIV Testing Day, held on June 27th. Both HIV Counseling and Testing and staff from our HIV Clinic, wore “Be a Hero, Get Tested” shirts during clinic hours during this month. A press release was sent to the community on the importance of testing and special goody bags were made with “Be a Hero, Get Tested” shirts and condoms. On December 3, the Ocean County Health Department Counseling and Testing Program offered free counseling and testing at Ocean County College. The CDC notes that in 2009 young people between the ages of 13 and 29 accounted for 39% of new infections. As the majority of college students fall into this age range, the OCHD looked at another avenue to provide this service. 
3-D Awareness Program Last February first and second, the Ocean County Health Department Intoxicated Driver Resource Center held its annual 3-D, Drinking, Drugging and Driving…Always a Choice, Never an Accident, program at the Ocean County Mall. Each year, this program is presented in an effort to bring heightened awareness to the critical issue of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. There were presentations by state and county officials, alcohol and drug abuse providers, prevention personnel, and members of local law enforcement and education community. This is a “One-Stop-Shop” forum to the public to garner information on addiction, see how to recognize a problem and learn about prevention options and education. In addition to the speakers, visitors were encouraged to participate in the simulated DUI stops and the fatal vision goggle demonstrations. The program not only has had several municipal law enforcement agencies participate, it has become a very well-attended program for the public each year.
The OCHD continues to receive many calls regarding proper prescription disposal. The OCHD is also aware that that prescription drug abuse and misuse has been identified as a problem within Ocean County. Ocean County now has five Rx Drop-Off Boxes, in Toms River, Seaside Heights, Lacey, Manchester and Lakewood, and other municipalities are looking into establishing the same. This past year, with funding through the Governor’s Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (GCADA), car decals were made for each OCHD car to put on their rear bumper, the OCHD website for people to find out where the Rx Drop-Off Boxes are located. The OCHD also worked with the DART Coalition of the Barnabas Health Institute for Prevention to produce a card that we distribute at health fairs, etc., with prescription drug disposal information and the OCHD website with the Rx Drop-Off Boxes. CLINICS
Thanks Leslie for all you do. Let me know if you need anything else. 2013 Quality of Care Award for Leadership The National Quality Center is a quality improvement initiative initiated by HRSA’s HIV/AIDS Bureau to provide state-of-the-art technical assistance to all Ryan White HIV/AIDS funded grantees to improve the quality of HIV care nationwide. Part of their program includes recognizing programs and individuals who have demonstrated effective leadership and championed quality improvement at a regional or national level. In 2013, Ocean County Health Department’s Patricia High, the PHN Clinic Services Supervising Program Analyst, was selected by the National Quality Center and the HIV/AIDS Bureau as the winner of its Quality of Care Award for Leadership. Her profile as the award recipient can be found at http://nationalqualitycenter.org/index.cfm/5847/17961. This award reflects only a small part of the high quality of HIV/AIDS care and treatment services provided by the OCHD. During the 2013-2014 grant year, OCHD’s Ryan White Part B HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment program was recognized nationally as an agency with some of the greatest improvement in one of the four core care and treatment measures – Viral Load Suppression. Reaching and maintaining viral load suppression is a significant measure of success in maintaining good health among HIV-infected individuals and represents a great step towards the prevention of HIV infection among partners of those that are positive. The OCHD ranked 5th among all Ryan White participants for the greatest improvement in this measure nationwide. The other three measures are Gap, Visit Frequency, and New patient, which we continue to work diligently to improve as well. It is exciting that the hard work and diligence of OCHD’s nursing and program staff is being recognized nationally and that the level of care offered at OCHD is contributing significantly to the health of Ocean County’s residents. 
Shingles Vaccination Program The OCHD began offering shingles vaccinations in 2012 for those that are over the age of 60, as per recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Anyone who has had chicken pox can get shingles. There are about a million new cases of shingles each year in the U. S. About 95% of adults have had chicken pox, which puts them at risk. Approximately one-third of our population will get shingles and half the people living to age 85, will have had, or will get shingles. About one-third of people who get shingles will develop serious complications and the risk rises after the age of 60 years. When staff researched access to vaccination opportunities, we found there is both a potential cost and vaccination site barrier to increasing vaccination rates. The shingles vaccine is even recommended for those who have previously had shingles. About half the individuals who get the shingles vaccine may get shingles but the case of shingles should be much less severe than without the vaccination. With this data available, the OCHD felt it was important to offer our residents over the age of 60 the shingles (Zostavax) vaccine. It is a one-time vaccination and is available to those over 60 even if they cannot recall that they have had the chickenpox. The OCHD offers shingles vaccinations every second and fourth Thursday of the month. Office of Public Information, Education, and Outreach
Brandywine in Brick Meridian Hospice Nurses 2 schools in Lakewood 2 school nurse presentations
In addition, the Ocean County Health Department has put together a comprehensive list of hurricane resources through our Public Information Department. All one has to do is click on the link and it will take you to the resource. They include:
During 2012, there were several department changes within the Ocean County Health Department. Health Education, Dental Education and Coordination, Outreach and the Municipal Alliances merged with the Public Information Office to become one. The Office of Public Information continues to keep the public abreast of Ocean County Health Department happenings, events, and important information through press releases, radio and TV interviews and the Public Information Officer acts as the Web Manager. The Ocean County Health Department website at www.ochd.org has become an important tool as a means to disseminate pertinent information out to the public in addition to being a resource library for users of the website and is linked to other important websites. During Superstorm Sandy, relevant information to food, home and personal safety was displayed on the website before, during, and after the storm. The Office of Public Information continues to receive hundreds of phone calls per week with a variety of health and social service questions and continues to act as an importance source of information for the public. The Health Education Unit had an extremely successful 2012 with 368 programs offered to 9,711 residents of Ocean County. The Health Education Unit works with the Clinic Unit offering the Live Healthy Ocean County Program to groups of individuals. This program includes the Medication Management: How to Talk to Your Doctor program, blood pressure, stroke risk, and osteoporosis screenings. A clinic nurse is also available to offer Tdap and Shingles vaccines and during this past fall, flu and pneu vaccinations. The Ocean County Municipal Alliance Programs provide educational programs and outreach to a diverse population of Ocean County through community partnerships. The Alliance funds more than 175 programs each year addressing alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention and education. These programs are funded using DEDR (Drug Enforcement Demand Reduction) fines; funds collected from individuals convicted of drug offenses. During 2012, the Municipal Alliances worked with Barnabas Health as part of their grant fulfillment to obtain countywide data on areas of need, such as underage drinking, misuse and abuse of prescription drugs, etc. This data is necessary for the 2014 grant requirements of the Governor’s Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse for the Municipal Alliances. The Dental Education and Coordination Program continues to expand. The OCHD continues to offer dental education in schools and WIC Clinics. The OCHD sends out a dental package with information to every school-aged child in Ocean County each September. The OCHD Dental Coordinator works with both parents and the Federally Qualified Health Centers to facilitate dental appointments. The Dental Coordinator also refers and facilitates appointments for residents with dental emergencies. Other programs offered by this unit during 2012 include, disease prevention, hand washing, hygiene, Lyme disease, Making Healthy Choices, oral health in the WIC clinics, sun safety, testicular cancer, breast health and drug and alcohol education. This Unit also participates in health fairs and offers staff training. “The theme of this year’s National Public Health Week (NPHW) is on target – Public Health is Return on Investment (ROI): Save Lives, Save Money,” said Ocean County Freeholder Gerry P. Little, Liaison to the Ocean County Health Department (OCHD). He added, “The 2013 NPHW theme was developed to highlight the value of prevention and the importance of well-supported public health systems in preventing disease, saving lives and curbing health care spending.” Daniel E. Regenye, OCHD Public Health Coordinator, said, “Every year in the United States, seven out of ten deaths are due to preventable chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. In fact, chronic disease accounts for 75% of national health care spending, yet only 3% of health care dollars go toward prevention. The good news is there are steps that can be taken to turn these statistics around. The Ocean County Health Department recognizes the need for educating its residents about preventable chronic illnesses and how to take preventive steps to protect themselves. The Health Department is also working closely with our area hospitals and the Federally Qualified Health Centers in addressing chronic disease prevention as the Health Department develops its Community Health Improvement Plan.” Leslie Terjesen, OCHD Public Information Officer, said that National Public Health Week focuses on a different aspect of public health each day. This year:
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