Local public health officials have spent much of this year trying to get back to normal after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and look forward to restoring relationships with schools and businesses stressed by the pandemic. They will also face other challenges across the state in 2023.
Some of the next year’s challenges include anticipated discussions about the state’s public health law, food law, and health law, as well as rebuilding the local public health workforce, which has experienced turnover over the past few years, Michigan Local Public Health Association officials and leaders said. He said Tuesday.
Executive Director Norm Hess said this year started with the pains of managing the pandemic. While things had calmed down, as more people were vaccinated and home testing and antiviral treatments became more common, Hess was clear: The pandemic is “definitely not over” and the virus is “always full of surprises”, association officials said.
50,000 feet review of pandemic actions
Hess said the triple threat of COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV, continues, but RSV rates appear to be plateauing. He said paramedics are having difficulties with hospitals serving people who are sick and need to be hospitalized. He said staffing and other problems are causing people to stay in emergency rooms for long periods of time.
The association is conducting a post-action review of the pandemic, including speaking with emergency preparedness coordinators, paramedics and other stakeholders such as schools, businesses, health systems and the public – “a broad 50,000-foot view of what happened” to prepare for emerging threats, Hess said. “To see what can be done,” he said. A final report is expected in early spring.
He said many local public health departments look forward to re-engaging with community partners affected by unpopular mitigation measures such as masking requirements, particularly schools and restaurants whose relationships were strained and strained during the pandemic. closed lids.
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Jimena Loveluck, the association’s new president, a Washtenaw County paramedic, agreed that rebuilding relationships will be a focus next year. This includes rebuilding trust in local government and public health in what officials call limited resource COVID-19 and the politicization of public health.
Hess said he hopes the world is at a point where “politicization is not as heated as it used to be”. adding that better communication and reliable messengers will help in the future.
Leaders address concerns beyond disease
Local public health ranges from clean water quality to restaurant inspections, from vaccinations to infectious disease control.
A bright spot this year is the Legislature’s allocation of $35 million to create a low-interest, low-cost loan fund for Michigan residents struggling with septic systems in their homes, Hess said.
Program details are being worked out, he said, but this is a concern as there are about 1.3 million people in the state with home septic systems, and many of them are in danger of malfunctioning. He said that replacing a system can cost $10,000 to $15,000, with most residents not having money in the bank for the expense.
Hess said he expects next year’s numbers to include more policy efforts on behalf of public health, including local public health funding.
He said that the 1978 public health law mandated eight essential services to which the state would contribute 50%, “but this is not the case.” In his latest analysis, Hess said the government contributes up to 44.9%, and estimates the debate about trying to get that up to 50-50%. He said organizations such as county commissions and local municipalities have had to put in more shares to provide basic services.
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Hess also said he expects three main issues to be discussed by legislators, with local public health officials wanting to be part of these conversations. These:
- The public health law, the powers and duties of health officials have been under scrutiny in the recent past and the law has used descriptive language.
- Food law is a debate that can be brought up by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, but also affects public health as these officials conduct inspections.
- A statewide sanitary code. Hess said that as far as he knows, Michigan is the only state without a state. Sanitary regulations can cover everything from food at swimming pools and events to bathroom facilities, utilities needed for residential buildings and more.
The local public health workforce is also in the process of restructuring, as it has lost nearly 15 local public health officials in the past three years, Hess said—about one-third of 43 paramedics in 45 health departments statewide.
Hess said that some of them were planned retirements, some of the departures were related to the stress and turmoil caused by the pandemic, and some left for other opportunities, adding that there was a loss of corporate knowledge and experience.
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The association works with new leaders, as health departments also report that half of their workforce has been new in the past three to four years, which is not typical but requires training and retention efforts. Local public health officials are also dealing with current employees who have worked during the pandemic.
The association also works to speak with institutions of higher education, such as community colleges, to keep students interested in future public health careers.
Hess said there is a need for nurses and medical staff. He said that being a paramedic is a long, on-the-job adjustment process. It’s tough to compete for nurses, Loveluck said, especially in a county where major healthcare systems compete with salaries.
Contact Christina Hall at [email protected] Follow him on Twitter: @challreporter.
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