Before its regular meeting on February 21, 2012, the county board participated in the Human Service Board meeting, primarily hearing updates on Public Health and Human Services activities. One action taken was accepting the resignation—with regret—of Amy Lacina, RN, a PHHS public health nurse and care coordinator.
PHHS Director Sue Futterer explained that Lacina had submitted her resignation to take a position at North Shore Hospital. Futterer said Lacina had done a “fantastic” job getting the care coordinator program going. The care coordinator works with elderly clients serviced by Minnesota Senior Health Care Options. Futterer said Lacina currently visits 22 nursing home patients and 10 other community members who are able to stay in their homes because of her help. The care coordinator also provides services to the youngest community members, making prenatal and postpartum visits to mothers and babies. The number of clients varies, depending on the number of babies born and the families requesting visits. However, Futterer said the caseload likely averages 15 moms and babies.
“I know a job is not supposed to be about the person,” said Futterer. “But Amy’s shoes will be hard to fill.”
Futterer asked to advertise to fill the position, increasing it from a 20-hour to a 30-hour job. The job would be a C42, with a salary ranging from $19.07 to $23.88 depending on education and experience.
A motion passed authorizing Futterer to hire a new staff member at the increased hours.
In other business
. The board approved the purchase of service agreement with the Human Development Center (HDC) to provide mental health services for Cook County. HDC has provided this service for Cook County for about 15 years.
. The board also approved a purchase of service agreement with The Center for Drug and Alcohol Treatment (CADT) in Duluth for services. Futterer reported that the daily rate for a patient needing detoxification has gone up, from $260 to $286 per day. She said PHHS does its best to recoup that expense from insurance when possible.
. Futterer said PHHS was holding a small thank you party for Harry Swift, the licensed drug and alcohol counselor, who with his partner, Mary Jane Griffin, offered chemical dependency treatment programs and operated the Cook County Wilderness Outpatient Treatment Program through their company. Swift has retired and two people that he mentored—Greg Barnier and Lori Hommerding—have taken over the program through the company, Gregory A. Barnier Associates, LLC.
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