COLUMBIANA CO. Board changes health policy

State law says the commissioner shall keep the public informed on health issues.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- The Columbiana County Board of Health appears to have ended a policy that denied The Vindicator information on health issues.
Shawn Apple, board vice president, said Wednesday, "The policy has been officially changed."
The Vindicator used Ohio's public-records law to ask the department for its plans to give scarce flu shots to the public.
The newspaper also used the same law to ask for a copy of a health department policy that requires all its requests for health information to go through Robert Morehead, the health commissioner.
By the time the policy was reversed, the health department's 500 flu vaccines for this winter were allocated.
Area newspapers announced the department's plans to make its vaccines available by appointment starting Wednesday. Vaccines are in short supply this year because of contamination during their manufacture.
The records requests were left Wednesday morning on Morehead's answering machine at the health department. He did not respond. Morehead has not responded to other Vindicator requests for information on public health issues.
Other efforts
The requests under the public-records law also were made to the county prosecutor's office, which is the health department's statutory counsel. The law requires public agencies to promptly provide information.
Under state law setting the duties of the health board and commissioner, Morehead is required to inform the public. ORC Section 3709.11 reads in part, "The commissioner shall keep the public informed in regard to all matters affecting the health of the district."
Barb Knee, the health department's nursing supervisor, last month provided information to area press about a meningitis outbreak. Three area students died in 2001 after a meningococcal outbreak, a severe form of meningitis.
Knee cited the policy when she refused to provide the same information to The Vindicator. Morehead did not subsequently provide any information.
The health department in recent months gave information to other media concerning rabid animals and cleanup efforts after heavy floods.
Dr. Jack Amato, health board president, and Shawn Apple, vice president, were aware of Morehead's policy.
Amato is on vacation, but Apple discussed the issue with Morehead on Wednesday.
According to Apple, Morehead said the department was only answering questions from the media and had not issued a press release. Apple said he told Morehead that The Vindicator can talk to health officials.
Apple said he was not aware of the board's setting the policy.
When asked if the policy existed in writing, Apple said, "Not that I'm aware. Who knows? It's done."
Ongoing audit
The Vindicator then contacted Knee about the vaccines. She said the state has told the county it will not get any more vaccine.
When asked if she would provide information in the future to The Vindicator, Knee said she would, "If Mr. Morehead OKs that."
The Ohio Auditor's Office is conducting an audit of the department's spending. The audit began earlier this year after a Vindicator series questioned Morehead's spending on books and other items.
The state auditor's office has indicated that its review of health board operations should be done soon. The auditor's office did not return a call to answer the question as to when the audit will be released to the public.
wilkinson@vindy.com