LAWRENCE: Health Department budget, requests under review

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
The Lawrence Township Health Department is responsible for a wide range of activities — from inspecting youth camps, restaurants, wells and septic systems to providing health screenings, flu immunization clinics, child health conferences and vaccinations.
   Township Health Officer Carol Chamberlain outlined those responsibilities for Township Council Tuesday night, as the governing body began its review of the proposed 2013 municipal budget. She also made a request for additional hours for the public health nurse and for the acquisition of a trailer for the animal control officer.
   The Health Department is staffed by five full-time employees and one part-time public health nurse, Ms. Chamberlain said. The full-time staff includes one animal control officer, who is supplemented by two per-diem animal control officers, she said.
   Among the Health Department’s accomplishments in 2012, Ms. Chamberlain said, was the completion of a community needs assessment that was conducted in conjunction with the Greater Mercer Public Health Partnership. The Community Health Improvement Plan, which grew out of that assessment, was presented to the public in December.
   Closer to home, the Health Department received a radon outreach grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection. More than 160 radon kits were handed out to Lawrence residents to measure radon levels in their homes. Radon is a tasteless, invisible naturally-occurring gas.
   The Health Department also responded to the norovirus outbreak at Rider University last year, Ms. Chamberlain said. The Health Department worked with Rider University officials and the New Jersey Department of Health to control the transmission of norovirus on the Lawrence and Princeton campuses of the university, she said.
   And the Health Department was one of 19 audited by the New Jersey Department of Health to ensure compliance with state regulations. It was one of four that received a “certificate of achievement” for obtaining a satisfactory performance rating for all of the assessed standards and measures, Ms. Chamberlain said.
   On a day-to-day basis, Ms. Chamberlain said, the Health Department’s two health inspectors visit all of the food establishments in Lawrence at least once a year. In 2012, the inspectors visited 303 licensed food establishments. There were 363 routine inspections and 55 re-inspections.
   The health inspectors also inspected the 28 licensed public health pools in Lawrence, which include swimming pools at schools, health clubs and housing complexes. The water quality is monitored and pools are checked for the required safety equipment and personnel, she said.
   Also, the health inspectors responded to requests to investigate public health nuisances concerning weeds, insects, rodents, garbage, trash, yard waste, odors and general unsanitary conditions, Ms. Chamberlain said. Property owners are notified and the inspectors conduct follow-up inspections to ensure the issue has been resolved.
   The lone public health nurse, who works 20 hours per week, is responsible for providing childhood immunizations and well-baby visits to Lawrence children who are uninsured or underinsured, she said. The clinics are staffed by the public health nurse and a pediatrician whose contract has been approved by Township Council.
   Ms. Chamberlain said 12 child health conferences, or clinics, were held and that 115 children were seen at the conferences. The public health nurse or pediatrician administered 123 immunizations at the clinics. Children who are under six years old are also tested for lead poisoning.
   The public health nurse also investigates reports of outbreaks of respiratory illness or gastro-intestinal illness in any institution or long-term care facility, as well as reports of other communicable diseases. The public health nurse also reviews flu-like illness reports submitted weekly by school nurses, which helps to identify trend in flu illnesses in Lawrence.
   Pointing to the reduction from two part-time public health nurses to one, which occurred in September 2012, Ms. Chamberlain told Township Council that she would like to increase the number of hours that the part-time nurse works.
   Ms. Chamberlain said the cut from 40 hours to 20 hours is “significant,” and that “it is a little bit difficult to keep up with the workload.”
   The Health Department also is in charge of animal control, which means picking up stray or injured animals and investigating reports of animal bites. The five kennels and pet shops in Lawrence are inspected by the animal control officer. Rabies clinics are coordinated through the Health Department.
   Ms. Chamberlain said the animal control officer picked up 52 stray dogs and 140 stray cats, and investigated 29 reports of dog bites. A total of 555 dogs and cats were vaccinated against rabies. Those were among the 1,718 calls that the animal control responded to in 2012, she said.
   Ms. Chamberlain also asked Township Council to consider providing money to purchase a trailer that could be used for a temporary emergency animal shelter. During an emergency, such as a hurricane, people may have to leave their pets behind, she said. There were four such cases during Hurricane Sandy.
   The trailer could also be used for rabies clinics, Ms. Chamberlain said. She suggested purchasing the type of trailer that could be attached to another vehicle and towed from place to place.