Conference of Environmental Health Directors

March 27, 2012

Bureau of Community Environmental Health and Food Protection

Funding

• Tobacco Program:– Current contract cycle - 10/1/11 - 3/31/12: All

contracts have been approved by OSC.– Next State fiscal year - 4/1/12 – 3/31/13:• Funding levels unchanged• If we do not have final sign off on the funding amount

to enable us to send contracts by April 1, we will send letters to LHDs to indicate our intent to contract with the LHD and the amount

Funding

• Childhood Lead Poisoning Primary Prevention Program: – Current contract cycle - 10/1/11- 3/31/12:

Contracts have been approved by OSC.– Next State Fiscal year starting 4/1/12: • Contracts were sent out to LHDs• Funding remains unchanged• Elimination of the CDC funding for the Healthy Homes

and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program effective September 1, 2012 does not impact LHD contracts

Funding

• Lead Poisoning Prevention Program– Current contract – 10/1/11 – 9/30/12: Contracts

being processed. Follows the Federal fiscal year and will be changed at a later date back to the State fiscal year

– Contracts and program management currently handled by CEH

Funding

• Healthy Neighborhoods Program:– Contract cycle - 10/1/11-9/30/12: All contracts

have been approved by OSC. Will remain on the Federal cycle until a new RFA is issued.

– Request pending for a one year program extension to prepare and RFA and to change to the State fiscal cycle. First year of contract will cover 18 months.

Funding

• BEACH Act: – EPA eliminated funding that supports monitoring

and public notification of water quality beaches on the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. We contract with 12 LHDs and State Parks.

– Funding is secure for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.• GLRI:– Funding for this Great Lakes project is currently

intact. Not affected by the BEACH Act reduction.

Regulations Update

• Children’s Camps – Regulations effective July 6, 2011– Implementation on track for 2012– Forms have been updated, Fact Sheets are under

review for posting on the website– Questions should be directed to your regional field

coordinator who will work with Bureau staff to provide assistance/guidance as needed

Regulations Update

• Tattooing and Body Piercing– Drafting “Body Art” regulations, developing fee

schedules for artist and facility– Draft material will be sent to LHDs for review and

comment– Program implementation is at least 1 year away

and may be longer depending on comments received from interested parties

Regulations Update

• Tanning– Inspections are underway in numerous counties

by District and Regional staff– Program issues are being identified and an update

will be sent to LHDs – We are still encouraging participation in the

program

Regulations Update

• Food (Part 14)– Nothing new to report

• Lead (Subpart 67-2)– Rulemaking ended– Currently reviewing all aspects of the program to

determine where changes are needed– Awaiting CDC’s actions concerning the Advisory

Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention’s recommendations to lower the BLL action level

Lead Program Transition• Transition of Childhood Lead Poisoning

Prevention Program:– Consolidated the medical and environmental

programs from two Centers/Bureaus into BCEHFP in CEH

– Prompted by changes in CDC grant funding and the focus on Healthy Homes

– Transfer of files and network linkages completed and includes Leadweb program management and maintenance of the NYS Immunization Information System lead program linkages

Outbreak Management System (OMS)

• Improve the ability to collect and share outbreak information– Solution that can scale with size of outbreaks;– Facilitate the collection and dissemination of

outbreak data across program areas and jurisdictions

• OMS will help meet Public Health and Emergency Preparedness deliverables

• Continuing to release new updates as developed• Staff involved in the investigations should have

access to the HCS• Suggest reviewing the information currently

available on HCS

eHIPS Revisions workgroupMembers of the eHIPS Revisions Workgroup are a diverse group working together to

improve the way we collect our data:

Counties District Offices Regional Offices

Albany Glens Falls Capital District

Chemung Hornell Metropolitan Area

Columbia Oneonta Western

Cortland

Dutchess

Madison Center for Environmental Health

Nassau Division of Environmental Health Protection/Field Coordination

Niagara Bureau of Community Environmental Health & Food Protection

Onondaga Information Systems and Technology Unit

Orleans

Rockland

Seneca

Suffolk

Tompkins

Ulster

Westchester

Thank you to all who are contributing time and effort to this project!

eHIPS Revisions

Long-term project Workgroup meets twice a month to provide input

for design and functionality of eHIPS application.•Permit prototype developed•Complaint module

BCEHFP continues to work with ISTU to implement revisions based on program and LHD needs.

Standardization, Evaluation and Reporting

eHIPS Revisions Considerations:

• Data needed for program/reporting• Data and functionality needed for local program management• Data entry should mimic actual workflow within LHD• Workload associated with data entry• Embedding business rules

Electronic transactions as an option for permitting process• Operator

• Accessibility of required documents for operator• Ease of application process for operator

• Local Health Department• Minimize workload, mailing, data entry• Minimize mailing costs• Minimize handling fees

Standardization, Evaluation and Reporting

MOBILE APPLICATION FOR ELECTRONIC FORMS

NYSDOH is developing an internet service for collecting and submitting electronic inspection forms (eforms) using remote devices in the field.

LHDs will have a variety of options for submitting inspection information:• Scan-able forms• eHIPS data entry• batch data files• eforms

Standardization, Evaluation and Reporting

The MobiTask client runs on most internet-capable devices, including:• Apple iPads• Android tablets (7 to 10-inch screens are optimal)• Windows tablets• Laptops and netbooks• Android e-readers (Nook, Kindle Fire: would lack

GPS and camera functions)• Smartphones, such as iPhone (small screens may

not be practical)

Standardization, Evaluation and Reporting

MOBILE APPLICATION

Runs locally on the device.• Connection to the internet (“connectivity”) is not

required until data are synchronized) Facility and operation information present on the

device. Forms completed and saved locally. Can synchronize to NYSDOH using WiFi, cellular

services, or wired connections. Simultaneously submits saved inspection data and

receives new forms and updated facility/operation information.

Standardization, Evaluation and Reporting

MOBILE APPLICATION

MOBILE APPLICATION: BENEFITS

Eliminates faxing, scanning, and data entry, saving time.

Eliminates handwriting and scanning errors, improving data quality.

Increases amount of information that can be collected.

Business rules and edit checks embedded in the forms, improving data quality.

DOH can add fields to form(s) (e.g., to collect information on an outbreak)

Standardization, Evaluation and Reporting

Other uses:• Store reference documents on the device• Internet access• Record GPS coordinates• Take photos• Send/receive email• Use word processing/spreadsheet applications

Security:• Password-protected device• HCS credentials to access forms and sync data

Standardization, Evaluation and Reporting

MOBILE APPLICATION:BENEFITS (continued)

Funds for purchasing devices (standard devices < $500)

No direct printing capabilities (output to email or fax)

Licensing eforms access ($20/person/month) WiFi or internal wired connections are the

targeted process; cellular connectivity at additional cost.

MOBILE APPLICATION:CONCERNS

MOBILE APPLICATION:NEXT STEPS

Standardization, Evaluation and Reporting

Food Service Inspection form has been developed.• Assess program needs and workflow issues.• Develop content and look of inspection reports.

Follow the same template for subsequent forms.