Health district’s United Healthcare in-network agreement begins
Logan County Health District officials celebrated at their Wednesday afternoon board of health meeting a major success of the Narcan training program, where a community member who participated in the agency’s outreach was able to save a loved one’s life by administering naloxone to the individual who was experiencing an overdose.
“The community member had the dose of Narcan from the training and the education to know how to use Narcan. They were able to keep the individual safe until further help arrived,” Deputy Health Commissioner Donna Peachey said.
“The individual survived the overdose. This is what we’ve been hoping for — the opportunity to save lives.”
As of Oct. 29, the health district has offered a total of 12 Narcan trainings at local businesses and community events. Officials report 262 individuals have participated and 228 doses of naloxone have been distributed. Naloxone can reverse the effects of opioids when given to a patient who has overdosed.
The educational presentation that was developed by LCHD nurse Ashley Kunkel covers the signs of an opioid overdose, how to administer Narcan, where to obtain Narcan, information on area treatment facilities and support groups for families and addicts.
Individuals ages 18 and older who attend the presentation and present a photo identification can receive naloxone for free through grant funding, which typically costs $130 per dose and is available at some local pharmacies without a prescription.
For further information on scheduling a training, call Kelli Parr at 651-6204.
Also related to the program, members accepted the second part of a two-part Ohio Department of Health Narcan grant funding totaling $60,500. Through this grant funding, the agency will be able to obtain additional naloxone kits for the training.
In other nursing matters, the board accepted a new agreement with United Healthcare that will enable the Logan County Health District to be an in-network provider for individuals carrying this insurance.
“This is a big step that we are excited about, as many Honda employees are covered by United Healthcare,” the deputy health commissioner said. “We previously could serve them through our vaccine clinics, but they would have to pay out of pocket.”
Individuals covered by United Healthcare can now receive their influenza vaccination as well at the health district. The nursing staff reported that there has been an influx of flu vaccinations administered so far this fall — a total of 350 shots — compared to 116 shots that had been administered at this time last year.
The large increase in flu vaccine administered is credited to a number of off site outreach clinics hosted by health district staff, along with a local shortage of pediatric vaccines and older adult high dose vaccine.
The health district currently has all doses available for ages 6 months and older. Immunization clinics are offered from noon to 1 p.m. Mondays, 3 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, 10 to 11 a.m. Thursdays and 3 to 6 p.m. the first Thursday of the month. To pre-register for a vaccine appointment, call 651-6186.
Also during the hearing of visitors, Russells Point Mayor Robin Reames reported her ongoing concerns regarding a property at 533 Grand Ave., Russells Point, which is currently uninhabited and reportedly has structural issues. Members approved a condemnation order.
In other action, the board:
• accepted a bid of $9,800 from J.C.’s Backhoe for the replacement of a failed home sewage system at the property of Anthony Hill, 595 W. Township Road 37 Bellefontaine, which has qualified for 100 percent grant funding through the health district’s receipt of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Pollution Control Loan Fund;
• approved a job description change and pay grade increase for an environmental aide to environmental technician position, and approved the posting of the position, with a new staff member expected to be in place by Jan. 1, Environmental Health Director Tim Smith said;
• ordered Gilbert Myers II of Bellefontaine, who owns a property at 537 W. Auburn Ave., Bellefontaine, and Tim Board/Doug Wisterman, owners of 8890 Township Road 239, lot 22, Lakeview; and Chad Anderson, 1555 County Road 25, Bellefontaine; to remove the solid waste on the respective properties to a licensed disposal facility within seven days;
• ordered Roscelle Clark II of Bellefontaine, who owns a property on Clark Street, Bellefontaine, with an abandoned trailer with expired license plates that is harboring animals, to remove the trailer within seven days;
• ordered A2Z Properties of Lima, owners of a property at 11291 Oneida Path, Chippewa Park, Lakeview, with high weeds, scrap tires and solid waste, to mow the high weeds and remove the items to a licensed facility within seven days;
• ordered Eric Brown, 8827 Franklin Ave., Lakeview, and Jason Hart, 9577 Orchard Island Road, Lakeview, to remove or repair the non-working vehicles on their respective properties and to remove solid wastes on their properties within seven days;
• ordered William McKinnon, 13975 Lindenwood Ave., Chippewa Park, Lakeview; Kim Wolf, 301 W. Main St., Russells Point; Mickey Oakley, 10968 Walnut St., Lakeview, each with non-working vehicles on their properties, to remove or repair the vehicle within seven days;
• ordered Elizabeth Brown, 608 Florence St., Bellefontaine, who has trash in the backyard and high weeds to mow the weeds and remove all waste to a licensed facility within seven days;
• ordered Harold Britton, 110 Powell Ave., Bellefontaine, a property with scrap tires, trash, debris and non-working vehicles to repair or remove the vehicles and the solid waste to a disposal facility and to repair an opening of the soffit of the structure within seven days;
• ordered Joseph Snow, 11208 Mohawk Path, Chippewa Park, Lakeview, a property with abandoned structures, non-working vehicles and high weeds to repair the structures so that they are habitable or remove them and all solid wastes to a licensed facility and to mow the high weeds within 30 days;
• ordered William Kiser Jr. of Tipp City, the owner of a property at 9599 N. Orchard Island Road, Lakeview, which has an abandoned structure with large holes in the roof and a broken rear window, to repair the structure or remove it and all solid wastes to a licensed facility within 30 days;
• tabled a variance request from Susan Smith, 10861 County Road 286, Minnewauken Island, Lakeview, to construct an attached garage, on a request for additional information; and
• approved a refund of $62.50 to Jennifer and Adam Graham, 10241 Township Road 160, North Lewisburg, for the fee they had previously paid for the Sewage Operation and Maintenance Program, because it has been determined that their septic system is actually located in Champaign County.
The next meeting is 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4.