Highlights from the June 13th Public Health Council Meeting

Posted by John Jacob, a health communications writer and editor at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health

This month's Public Health Council featured a series of informational updates and the consideration of two Determination of Need (DoN) requests.

First, the Council voted to approve a DoN request from Brigham and Women's Hospital for the addition of a 3-unit ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) service on the medical campus. The Council then voted to approve a request from St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston which would add an additional floor of shell space to an existing DoN application previously approved by the Council.

DPH Medical Director Dr. Lauren Smith then presented an informational update on key findings from a set of newly-released reports on youth health behavioral trends in Massachusetts.

Dr. Lauren Smith updates the Council on new data about youth health behavior trends in MA.

The Council also learned about some upcoming study methodology changes which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is making in the Behavioral Risk Factor Statistical Survey, or BRFSS. The BRFSS is a national telephone survey among American adults that provides vital information on public health trends across the country.

Finally, the Council received an update from the Bureau of Infectious Disease on newly revised EEE response protocols. The changes were based on a series of recommendations from an Expert Panel convened by DPH to review its existing EEE strategies. The update was provided by Kevin Cranston, Director of the Bureau of Infectious Disease, and state veterinarian Dr. Catherine Brown.

 

Comments

[scarlett]

Such a useful initiative from the Public Health Council, i like it. thanks