Ottawa Board of Health
MINUTES 25
Monday, September 17, 2018, 5:00 PM
Champlain Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West
Contact for the Ottawa Board of Health:
Diane Blais, Board of Health Secretary
613-580-2424, ext. 21544
[email protected]

Board Members:
Chair: S. Qadri
Vice-Chair: J. Poirier
Members: D. Chernushenko, M. Fleury, A. Kapur, L. Leikin, C. McKenney, S. Pinel, M. Qaqish, M. Taylor, P. Tilley

The Ottawa Board of Health met in the Champlain Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, on Monday, September 17, 2018 beginning at 5:00 PM.

The Chair, Shad Qadri, presided over the meeting.

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

Confirmation of the minutes of the meeting of June 18, 2018. Confirmation of the minutes of the meeting of August 20, 2018.

CONFIRMED

COMMUNICATIONS

Nineteen communication items have been received (held on file with Board of Health Secretary).

Following a ‘Consent Agenda’ process, the Board considered the held Items in the following order: Items 1, 2, 3 and 4.

3.	SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH APPLIED PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH: AN UPDATE
	ACS2018-OPH-KPQ-0004
	That the Board of Health for the City of Ottawa Health Unit receive this report for information
	RECEIVED
	Dr. Robin Taylor, Associate Medical Officer of Health, and Ms. Amira Ali, Senior Epidemiologist, spoke to a PowerPoint presentation, which served to provide the Board with some context on this report. A copy of their presentation is held on file with the Board of Health Secretary. Following the presentation, they responded to questions from Board Members. This discussion lasted approximately 10 minutes. Following these exchanges, the Board received the report.

4.	NEXT STEPS TO SUPPORT HEALTHY AGING IN OTTAWA
	ACS2018-OPH-HPP-0007
	That the Board of Health for the City of Ottawa Health Unit receive this report for information.
	RECEIVED
	Ms. Erinn Salewski, Program Manager of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, spoke to a PowerPoint presentation, which served to provide the Board with an overview of the report. She was accompanied by Ms. Gillian Connelly, Manager of Healthy Communities. A copy of the presentation is held on file with the Board of Health Secretary. The following delegations addressed the Board on this topic: ·         Carol McDonald, Ottawa Council on Smoking or Health. After hearing from the delegation, staff responded to questions from Board Members. Discussion on this item lasted approximately 25 minutes. Following these exchanges, the Board received the report.

5.	COMMUNICATIONS AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AT OTTAWA PUBLIC HEALTH
	ACS2018-OPH-CCE-0001
	That the Board of Health for the City of Ottawa Health Unit receive this report for information.
	RECEIVED

6.	2018 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET Q2 – BOARD OF HEALTH FOR THE CITY OF OTTAWA HEALTH UNIT STATUS REPORT
	ACS2018-OPH-PCS-0004
	That the Board of Health for the City of Ottawa Health Unit receive this report for information.
	RECEIVED

7.	DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY – CONTRACTS AWARDED FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 1 TO JUNE 30, 2018
	ACS2018-OPH-PCS-0005
	That the Board of Health for the City of Ottawa Health Unit receive this report for information.
	RECEIVED

INFORMATION PREVIOUSLY DISTRIBUTED
A	OVERVIEW OF RECENT PROVINCIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS WITH POTENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS
	ACS2018-OPH-HPP-0008 - IPD
	Motion 25/02 Moved by Member Kapur That the Rules of Procedure be suspended to add the IPD titled “Overview of Recent Provincial Announcements with Potential Public Health Implications” to the Agenda for discussion.
	CARRIED
	Member Kapur spoke briefly to this item and introduced the following Motion, which Board Members approved without further debate.
	Motion 25/03 Moved by Member Kapur WHEREAS implementation of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 was paused on June 29, 2018 by Order in Council. BE RESOLVED THAT the Chair of the Board write to the Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care of Ontario urging that the Government of Ontario implement the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017, without further delay.
	CARRIED

NEXT MEETING

Regular Meeting

Monday, November 19, 2018 - 5:00 PM, Champlain Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West

_____________________________                    _____________________________

BOARD SECRETARY                                           BOARD CHAIR

Ottawa Board of Health Meeting
Notes for Chair Shad Qadri’s Verbal Report
Monday, September 17, 2018
Check upon delivery

Good evening everyone, Bonsoir,

Thank you to for being here tonight.

This evening I would like to update you on the infection prevention and control lapse at a Stittsville medical clinic, acknowledge staff changes and achievements at Ottawa Public Health (OPH) and look ahead to a new initiative starting with the Queensway Carleton Hospital.

As you will recall, in July, OPH advised the community of an infection prevention and control lapse investigation involving patients who may have been exposed to improperly cleaned medical equipment during minor surgical procedures at the Main Street Family Medical Centre, located at 1251 Stittsville Main Street.

Although the risk was low, as a precaution, OPH recommended that patients who had received a minor surgical procedure of concern at the clinic between December 2003 and April 25, 2018 undergo testing for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The Main Street Family Medical Centre mailed letters to the estimated 4,600 affected clinic patients to that effect. Since then, OPH has received copies of test results for approximately 1,640 patients, which represents 36% of patients who were potentially exposed to improperly cleaned medical equipment at the clinic.

The investigation is ongoing and more detailed laboratory analyses are to come. Based on the information currently available, there is no evidence that these cases of hepatitis B or C are due to the infection prevention and control lapse at this clinic. The information available to date includes the date of initial hepatitis diagnosis, the date of procedure or procedures at the clinic and other risk factors for hepatitis infection. I have asked Dr. Etches to continue to keep me informed on the results of this investigation, so the community can be kept apprised of outcomes.

Next, I would like to acknowledge staff changes and achievements at OPH. On August 20, the Board of Health held a special meeting regarding the appointment of Associate Medical Officers of Health. The report, considered by the Board, was carried and referred to Council. Council approved the appointments of Dr. Sarah Funnell and Dr. Trevor Arnason as Associate Medical Officers of Health and forwarded these recommendations to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care for final approval. Drs. Funnell and Arnason both completed training with OPH during their medical residency at the University of Ottawa. They are returning to OPH on a part-time basis, filling an existing full-time vacancy. I am pleased both of these physicians had a positive residency experience at OPH and are keen to come back.

I would also like to acknowledge recent staff achievements. This Spring, OPH received the Somerset West Community Health Centre’s Community Organization Award in recognition of the role OPH has played in building a healthier and more connected community in the Somerset West neighbourhood. OPH’s leadership in the area of harm reduction programs and services was highlighted.

Also, this coming week, OPH’s Dental Health Program will be receiving this year’s Community Partner Award from the South East Ottawa Community Health Centre. This recognition, awarded by their Board of Directors, acknowledges the impact of our dental programming in the community.

Looking ahead to this fall, OPH will be working with the Queensway Carleton Hospital in an effort to facilitate transition from ‘hospital to home’ for new mothers and their families. Each year, the Queensway Carleton Hospital provides care for 2,400 expectant mothers and their families though labour, birth and postpartum care. The hospital also administers a universal screening, which identifies families that may need more post-partum support. These families are referred to Ottawa Public Health’s Healthy Growth and Development Team, which focuses on optimal prenatal health, child development, positive parent-child relationships and positive parenting skills. We know that support by the Healthy Growth and Development Team is most effective when it begins early.

In order to increase the number of early referrals, OPH is establishing a nurse liaison who will work directly with the Queensway Carleton team and patients in hospital to facilitate access to information and resources in the community. OPH hopes this will improve liaison with the Queensway Carleton health care team and improve access to services for mothers and families who need them.

That concludes my verbal report. I welcome any questions.

Ottawa Board of Health Meeting
Notes for Dr. Vera Etches Verbal Report
Monday, September 17, 2018

Thank you Chair.

J’aimerais vous énoncer quelques faits saillants de l’été et vous parler des activités à venir cet automne.

This summer OPH was involved in Capital Pride week. At the beginning of the week, employees joined Chair Qadri in raising the rainbow flag to celebrate LGBTQ+ communities everywhere and to acknowledge the progress that remains to be made.

Later in the week, employees joined Board of Health, Council members and the community in walking with the OPH float in the Capital Pride Parade. This provided an opportunity to celebrate diversity and inclusion and highlight OPH’s Connect with Us Campaign.  Cette campagne fait la promotion du site santepubliqueottawa.ca et des réseaux sociaux et médiatiques de SPO qui sont des sources clés d’information fiable en matière de santé publique.

Also, in August, I had the opportunity to meet with Robin Martin, MPP Parliamentary Assistant – to the Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care - at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s Annual Conference. Amongst other subjects, Ms. Martin was interested in our mental health initiatives, which start in the early years such as with the Healthy Growth and Development team’s work. I also highlighted how our mental health and substance use approach involves bringing multiple sectors and partners together to promote health and prevent illness, as well as harm reduction programming that helps link people to treatment. I provided the Parliamentary Assistant with more information on our work for mental health following the meeting and I look forward to continued work with the provincial government.

Further on the subject of mental health, I was pleased to participate and see OPH contribute to the Recovery Day activities last weekend, where many agencies advertised their services to support people with alcohol and drug addictions.

Looking now to the fall.

Next week is national Environmental Public Health Week, which gives us an opportunity to recognize the work of our public health inspectors and allied health professionals.  This year's theme is "The Path Forward" which refers to emerging issues such as climate change that Environmental Public Health practitioners across the country are becoming engaged in and helping to address.

For the 2018-2019 flu season, OPH will again focus on providing access to the flu vaccine to the general population through physicians’ offices and pharmacy providers, as well as providing targeted outreach to high-risk populations facing barriers to immunization. As in previous years, OPH will provide community-based clinics in areas with a limited number of pharmacies, and in areas well attended by families with young children and seniors. OPH will be offering community clinics between October 27 and November 20, including clinics in several local hospitals. OPH also collaborates with Community Health Centres and the Community Paramedic Program to provide clinics for residents in group homes, shelters and retirement homes.  Des rendez-vous pour les familles ayant des enfants de moins de 5 ans seront offerts tous les jours dans notre clinique de vaccination située au 100, promenade Constellation et il y aura des cliniques de rattrapage mensuelles pour les étudiants. 

In addition for this fall, as the Board learned in April, a new protocol under the Ontario Public Health Standards requires that health units to offer vision screening for senior kindergarten children in schools. Recognizing that implementation will be phased in, this October OPH will begin a pilot vision screening project in 11 area schools.  This pilot will integrate vision screening with existing dental screening so that both are offered at the same time.  Evaluation of the pilot project will be used for planning further screening. Before October, OPH is hosting a training session for OPH employees and five surrounding health units.

Monsieur le président, cela conclut mon rapport verbal. I am happy to answer any questions.