0711 Meeting Minutes

WORKGROUP FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENT WELLNESS

JULY 11, 2019

THOSE PRESENT:  Dr. Karl Schwalm, Amy Ritchie, Phil Lauver, Becky Aiken, Dr. Sotiere Savopoulos

MEETNG DAY AND TIME

Dr. Schwalm did grand rounds a few weeks ago and found there is interest from the physicians to join this group, but the time does not suit.  Can the meetings start at 7 or 7:30 a.m.?  He will conduct a GoogleSurvey to determine the preferences.

FINALIZE SURVEYS

The draft copies of the Adolescent Survey and the Parent Survey were reviewed.  The previous concerns have been addressed and there were a few other comments that Dr. Schwalm will discuss with Dr. Corder.  The final form will be reviewed at the next meeting and then it will be decided how to distribute, etc.

GRAND ROUNDS UPDATE

Dr. Schwalm met with physicians and nurse practitioners and presented the statistics for Garrett County that shows how poor adolescent issues are.  We are spending so much money on the issues, many due to drug problems, which spills over to many sectors.

Another challenge is that pharmacies are now doing 7^th grade vaccines, which takes away from the adolescent seeing a physician and receiving a well-check.  The pharmacists need to be educated that these children need to be seen by their physicians and why.  Dr. Schwalm would like to meet with the community organizations to get the word out.  Reminder cards could be mailed out to patients for adolescent well checks and information can be added to the school letter that is mailed out to parents.

UPDATE ON INTEGRATED HEALTH IN THE SCHOOLS

At the beginning of the school year, Worcester County will come up to meet with school staff and review what they have done with the curriculum in their schools to integrate health topics into core curriculum.

FUTURE INITIATIVES

Amy shared the fitness assessment that is done with the 9^th graders, once in the beginning of the year and another at the end of the year.  Should education be done earlier instead of waiting until a student is in 9^th grade?  Amy has taught the meaning of BMI, healthy eating, etc. in the Northern end, but the Southern end does not participate.  The curriculum should be the same in both schools.

Dr. Savopolous has witnessed kids on the streets smoking and vaping and they believe nothing can happen to them.  Possibly people that smoked and have cancer and health issues talk to the students to see what happens when you pursue bad choices.

With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 1:02 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Beth A. Brenneman

Bold print = Action items