issue 09-01
January 2009
Inside this issue …
You Snoop, You Pay … California tightens medical privacy laws
Reimbursement rate changes for mileage in ‘09 reflect new rate code
ADEPT co-hosts forum on drunk driving
Some surprising information about the problem of driving under the influence (DUI) was presented at the first Orange County Drinking and Driving Community forum, which was co-sponsored by the Health Care Agency’s Alcohol and Drug Education and Prevention Team (ADEPT).
An analysis of drinking and driving data from 1998 to 2007 shows that the number of women drivers involved in fatal and injury causing alcohol-related crashes has more than doubled, rising by 116%. During the same time period, the number of accidents involving male drivers rose 39%. The increased involvement of women in alcohol-related accidents was just one focus of the event held December 10 at the Costa Mesa Community Center. ADEPT partnered with the Automobile Club of Southern California, the Costa Mesa DUI Task Force and the UCI Center for Trauma and Injury Prevention Research to stage the conference for law enforcement agencies, traffic safety experts, health care providers and those involved in alcohol service at bars and restaurants. The timing of the event during the holidays was not coincidental, since the holidays are traditionally a time when the number of alcohol related accidents and DUI arrests increase.
Auto Club traffic safety researcher Steven A. Bloch told conference attendees that more must be done to warn young adults about the dangers of drinking and driving. “Despite the $13,500 to $15,000 in fines, fees and penalties associated with a DUI conviction and the threat of death or serious injury, young women in particular are increasingly driving in a more risky fashion.” Bloch also noted that differences in driving between women and men are narrowing. “The analysis shows that young women are rapidly catching up with men in terms of risk-taking behavior and incurring the consequences of risk-taking, such as alcohol involved motor vehicle crashes.”
The Orange County Board of Supervisors approved a proclamation designating December 2008 as National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month in Orange County and the document was presented at the community forum by a representative of Second District Supervisor John M.W. Moorlach.
A DUI community forum was held on Dec. 10 in the city of Costa Mesa to present information about various DUI related research.
HCA’s Nutrition Network shares in grant
This month, the California Department of Public Health’s Network for a Healthy California received the “Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future Award” from Acting Surgeon
General Rear Adm. Steven Galson. The award recognizes and showcases communities and programs across the nation that address childhood overweight and obesity prevention by helping kids stay active, encouraging healthy eating habits and promoting healthy choices.
The Network for a Healthy California program empowers low-income Californians and their families to live better by eating healthy and being physically active every day. In addition to being aimed at children, the program also targets mothers, who are enlisted to help teach other parents what their kids should be eating. Program objectives are designed to improve children’s short-term health and reduce their long-term risk of chronic disease such as cancer, heart disease and obesity.
Locally, Orange County is one of 11 statewide regions that received one of the state’s Network grants to implement this program in the community. The Health Care Agency plays an active role as a Network lead agency, responsible for coordinating and supporting Network-funded projects, developing partnerships and collaborating to help low-income populations adopt healthy eating and physical activity lifestyles in their communities.
To learn more about the local Network for Healthy CA campaign, visit the HCA website at www.ochealthinfo.com/public/nutrition/nupac. For more tips on how to eat more fruits and vegetables, be more physically active, and become a “Champion for Change” for a healthier neighborhood, visit www.cachampionsforchange.net .
You Snoop, You Pay …
California tightens medical privacy laws
Recently, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law two new health information privacy bills – AB 211 and SB 541 – that impose new obligations on health care providers and facilities and permit the Department of Public Health (DPH) to levy substantially increased administrative penalties. These became effective on January 1, 2009.
These companion bills are, in part, a legislative response to recent high profile medical information privacy breaches by an employee of a prominent teaching hospital. A hospital employee was charged with illegally accessing confidential medical records, and snooping into the medical information of thousands of individuals. The California Legislature has expanded the reach of privacy protections beyond improper “use” or “disclosure” to the prevention of “access” to medical information.
AB 211 requires individual health care providers to protect the privacy of patient’s medical information and safeguard patient medical information from unauthorized or unlawful access, use or disclosure.
This is more restrictive than HIPAA because the new law restricts access in addition to use and disclosure.
Under the new law, an individual may bring action against a person that negligently released confidential information and receive damages.
A new Office of Health Information Integrity (OHII) was created to enforce and impose administrative penalties.
Non-licensed staff that violate this law face penalties of up to $2,500 per violation.
Licensed health care professionals who violate this law face penalties of up to $25,000 per violation.
SB 541 requires health facilities to prevent unlawful or unauthorized access, use or disclosure of a patient’s medical information.
It also requires reporting of privacy breaches (including unlawful and unauthorized access) to the patient and the State within five days of detection.
This law establishes fines and penalties for failing to report privacy breaches. The fines start at $100/per day and can accrue up to $250,000 maximum per report.
The HCA Compliance Committee is updating procedures, developing training and reviewing access controls throughout HCA programs to help the Agency meet these requirements. Everyone’s cooperation and vigilance is needed to make sure that we do our best to protect the privacy of our consumers, clients, and constituents. If you have any questions about AB 211 or SB 541, please contact the Office of Compliance at (714) 568-5614.
It’s a new year and the perfect time to make lifestyle changes that will help you become more healthy and energized! To get a head start on your “healthy” year, the California Department of Health Services (DHS) has created monthly California Fit Business Tips to educate working Californians on the importance of fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity.
Fit Business Tips features a fruit and vegetable of the month and provides practical suggestions for incorporating healthy eating and physical activity into the workday.
This month, mandarin oranges and sweet potatoes are the featured fruit and vegetable. Two mandarin oranges are equal to about one cup of fruit and
are also a good source of fiber, which helps to keep your heart healthy and make you feel full so you eat less. Try eating these as an afternoon snack or toss into a salad for lunch.
One medium sized sweet potato is an excellent source of vitamin A, which helps maintain healthy skin and eyesight. To create a healthy dessert, try baking chopped sweet potatoes with apples and cinnamon or sauté small sweet potato chunks with chopped onions and bell peppers for a delicious and sweet potato hash.
Healthy alternatives don’t have to include bland and flavorless meals. So, kick start a healthier year by adding some of the featured fruits and vegetables into your diet. For more information about the monthly Fit Business Tips or to view past Tips, visit the DHS website at www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/cpns/Pages/FitBusinessTips.aspx. More recipes and cooking tips can be viewed at www.cachampionsforchange.net.
Let’s not forget why we have Safety in the workplace
As we wind down from the busy holiday season, it is time to prepare for a new work year. For many of you, it may mean helping new patients, preparing much needed paperwork, or maybe even moving to a new worksite. With all of the hustle and bustle it is important to keep safety in mind and take a minute to reflect upon the importance of a subject that at one time was not considered significant in the American workplace.
Why do we need Safety in the workplace?
Believe it or not, safety and loss prevention programs were not common among the workforce in America. In fact, many American workers did not start seeing any type of significant safety programs until the 1930’s. In addition, many employers had little regard for safety, and actually found it more cost effective to wait until accidents happened before identifying or addressing potentially hazardous situations. This is mainly because workers did not have the ability to hold their employers liable, and were forced to simply walk away from their jobs after suffering both financial and emotional damages.
As a result, these painful consequences helped spur a movement to form safety committees and programs during the industrial revolution. Though many employers protested, workers fought hard to demand a safer work environment; many of those early workers even lost their jobs in the beginning of the fight. The good news … the plight of the early worker prevailed, and in 1970, President Nixon created the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) that set the standards for workplace safety that our Agency adheres to today.
This January, the Safety Program recognizes those individuals who suffered because of needless workplace accidents, and acknowledges them for bringing about the safer work environments that we have the opportunity to enjoy today. Please take a moment this month to thank your fellow Department Safety Representative (DSR). They are very important to our program because they help keep you safe, and your work site accident free.
From all of us at the Safety Program … THANK YOU. We look forward to keeping you safe in 2009!
Influenza vaccination survey offers insights
On Tuesday October 7, 2008, all HCA outlook users received an employee influenza survey to provide voluntary information consisting of their attitudes about the flu vaccine, social influences and the value placed on the consequences.
Overall, 800 employees responded; however the final count of employees totaled 767 due to incomplete responses. Of those respondents 79% were female, and most (42%) were between the ages of 35-49. Public Health Services accounted for 55% of the respondents; 46% of all respondents noted that they were clinicians; and 53% of clinicians and 10% of non-clinician respondents were involved in direct patient care for at least 50% or more of their professional responsibilities.
Overall, 65% (457) received the flu vaccine in 2007; 35% (242) who did not receive the flu vaccine selected several reasons for declining. The three main reasons in order of frequency were; did not want it (36%), did not believe it was effective (13%) and did not want to get sick (13%).
The responses of clinician and non-clinician participants were also compared. A total of 77% (537) of all respondents plan to receive the flu vaccine during the 2008-2009 flu season, while a statistically significant difference showed that 81% (283) of clinicians and 73% (254) of non-clinicians plan to receive the flu vaccine. Another difference showed that 40% (140) of the clinicians and 48% (162) believed that the flu vaccine causes the flu.
To increase influenza vaccination, interventions were noted as the most frequent reasons employees gave for getting vaccinated - protecting themselves and others from influenza and convenience of receiving the vaccine.
Thank you to all HCA employees that took the time to participate in the survey.
Reimbursement rate changes for mileage in ‘09 reflect new rate code
Effective January 1, 2009, the rates for mileage reimbursement were changed. To view the changes online, a PDF document is available by accessing the Claims & Disbursing intranet site at http://intra2k3.ocgov.com/AC Intranet/CentralOperations/ClaimsDisbursing/Mileage Rates.pdf. Please note that the Rate/Code for 250 or more miles for the period of July 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008 has been changed to MI685.
The new 2009 reimbursement claim form, as well as the revised 2008 Mileage Claim Form (July to Dec) which reflects the new Rate/Code for 250 or more miles are both available for download on the HCA Intranet at http://intranet.ochca.com/forms.asp#Payroll.
For questions related to mileage claim forms, or for any payroll-related question, please contact HCA Payroll either by e-mail at HCAPayroll@ochca.com, or by telephone at (714) 834-5744 (7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday).
Safe food handling during the football season
The months of January and February are popular times to get together and host parties to watch football…especially the Super Bowl! When preparing your favorite dishes from chip dips to chili, don’t let a few food handling “fouls” ruin your football celebration. HCA’s Environmental Health Division offers the following tips to help prevent foodborne illness from ruining your football tailgate parties.
Offensive Holding Temperatures – 15 yard penalty
This mistake is the most common cause of foodborne illness outbreaks. Not holding foods at safe temperatures allows bacteria to grow and reproduce to dangerous numbers in food. Hamburgers, hot dogs, cheese, some chip dips and any cooked starch or vegetable-like baked potatoes need to be temperature controlled.
Keep cold foods cold by keeping them at 41°F or below
Keep hot foods hot by keeping them at 135°F or above
Illegal Hands to the Food – 5 yard penalty
Disease-causing germs are easily transferred from one surface to another by unwashed hands, including on your food. Proper handwashing keeps your hands free of harmful pathogens so that you don’t make yourself sick or spread bacteria to those around you. When handwashing, be sure to rub them vigorously together using soap and warm water for 10 to 15 seconds and dry them with a clean towel or paper towel.
Personal Foul: Cross Contamination – 15 yard penalty
Always make sure that you keep raw meats separated from other foods. The juices from raw meats contain harmful bacteria that may cause foodborne illness if they come into contact with other foods. Some helpful tips include:
Using separate plates and utensils for raw and cooked meats
Making sure that any surface that came in contact with raw meats or their juices has been sufficiently cleaned and sanitized before coming into contact with any other foods
Never storing other foods below raw meat inside the refrigerator. These juices may drip down onto the foods below and cause contamination.
Incomplete Cooking – 10 yard penalty
Proper cooking of raw meats is necessary in order to kill any illness causing bacteria that may be in food. Bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli and Campylobacter are commonly occurring bacteria in raw meats and are only killed with sufficient cooking temperatures. Having an accurate probe thermometer to take internal temperatures will also help to prevent incomplete cooking. The following should be cooked at certain temperatures for at least 15 seconds:
Eggs, fish and single pieces of meat such as beef, veal, lamb and pork — 145°F
Ground meats such as hamburger and sausage — 155°F
Chicken, turkey and stuffed foods such as stuffed fish, meat and poultry — 165°F
For more information about safe food handling and preparation, visit HCA’s Environmental Health website at www.ocfoodinfo.com. A helpful handout, “Pigskin Party Tips,” is also available for download on the main page.
AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month
American Heart Month
National Cancer Prevention Month
National Children’s Dental Health Month
National Wise Health Consumer Month
Give Kids a Smile Day—6
National Wear Red Day—6
National Donor Day—14
Quote
Sow good services and sweet remembrances will grow from them.
—Madame de Stael
Quote
Remembering the past gives power to the present.
—Faye Myenne Ng
What’s UP is a newsletter for employees of the County of
Orange, CA, Health Care Agency.
Editors
Tricia Landquist
Howard Sutter
Anne Fialcowitz
Phone (714) 834-6644
E-mail tlandquist@ochca.com
FAX (714) 834-7644
Pony Bldg. 38-S, 4th Floor
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