March 2004 News

Benton Harbor Area Schools, in partnership with Benton Harbor Boys and Girls Club - $41,000
Genesis Outreach Development - $50,000
Jump Start Incorporated - $80,000

“We are focused on working with the Benton Harbor community to provide for enriching opportunities for our young people,” Granholm said. “These programs will help expand access to quality after school programs, and will have a direct, positive impact on the lives of Benton Harbor’s children, families, and citizens.”

Officials also announced that three Benton Harbor area schools will share a $410,000 grant to create 21st Century Community Learning Centers in their school buildings. The grant, awarded by the Michigan Department of Education, will target after-school programming services for Martin Luther King Elementary School, Henry C. Morton Elementary, and Sterne Brunson Elementary.

Initially, the grant will fund a project director and three site coordinators to organize activities at each school. The grants will focus on enhancing reading and mathematics programming, along with social and cultural enrichment.

Two of the schools (King and Morton) will offer school year enrichment programs, while the third site (Sterne Brunson) will feature a summer program.

The funds are part of the federal 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant. Michigan received a total of $21 million for FY 03-04; 37 other communities received the grants as well.

“Citizens for Progressive Change is committed to serving as a catalyst for positive change in the Benton Harbor community,” said Rev. James Atterberry, president of the Southwest Michigan Ministerial Alliance and chair of the Citizens for Progressive Change (CPC) board of directors. “These grant dollars will play an important role in the Benton Harbor community, both now, and during the summer months.”
The CPC was created in October 2003 as a result of a recommendation from a 23-member community task force charged with identifying the community’s priorities for improving the quality of life in Benton Harbor.

The CPC is comprised of community members and representatives of the Governor’s office, and is led by Atterberry; Greg Roberts, the Governor’s liaison to Benton Harbor; and, the newly-hired CPC Director Rose Hunt-Redd.

The Recreation, Arts and Culture Committee, a subcommittee of the CPC, was instrumental in establishing a competitive grant program to award funds to help local organizations serve youth in Benton Harbor.

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Michigan Awarded CDC Contract To Conduct Tuberculosis Tests For Half Of United States

Officials announced today that the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) Bureau of Laboratories has received one of two coveted contracts with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to conduct strain typing on human Tuberculosis (TB) for half the United States (U.S.).

The five-year, $2.5 million contract will fund genotyping – a very specific form of DNA fingerprinting that improves disease investigation and tracking efforts – for the eastern half of the country.

Human TB, caused by bacteria that usually attack the lungs, can lead to weakness, fatigue, weight loss, fever, chills, severe chest pain and coughing. Genotyping can help trace where the disease originated. Identifying specific strains will help the CDC and other states confirm clustered/related cases or outbreaks of the disease.

“This partnership with the CDC puts Michigan at the forefront of TB outbreak identification and will help control the potential spread of the disease,” said MDCH Director Janet Olszewski.

Today, a DNA fingerprint from a laboratory confirmed case is obtained within 10 days following receipt in the MDCH laboratory. Previously, it took 4 to 8 weeks to obtain the DNA fingerprint of a culture confirmed case of TB. TB, which causes two million deaths worldwide, is the second leading cause of infectious disease death in adults.

In 2002, there were over 15,000 TB cases in the U.S. In Michigan, there were 243 active human TB cases last year.

“Tuberculosis is treatable with a nine-month course of antibiotics,” said Dr. Matthew Boulton, Chief Medical Executive for the state of Michigan. “It is extremely important that patients continue with treatment, as the most serious aspect of the disease is the recent occurrence of drug-resistant TB, which poses an urgent public health risk.”

Ethnic and racial disparities in those afflicted with TB are cause for concern both nationally and in Michigan. For example, African Americans make up only 14.2 percent of Michigan’s population, but represent over 41 percent of the active TB cases in the state.

“African Americans and foreign-born individuals in Michigan, who are afflicted by this disease in disproportionate numbers, must get the treatment they need,” Olszewski said. “This CDC funded genotyping will complement Michigan and U.S. efforts to combat TB.”

Foreign-born students, immigrants, visitors and temporary workers represented 42 percent of the TB cases in Michigan last year. In 1995 foreign-born cases represented only 12 percent of those with active TB disease in Michigan, Olszewski said.

“We need to address the fact that at no other time in Michigan’s history has the percentage rate of foreign-born TB cases been so high,” she said. Although TB screening is required for people immigrating to the U.S., there are no pre-entry requirements at this time for students and temporary visitors/workers.

Just 50 years ago TB was the leading cause of death in the industrialized world and in the late 19th century, the disease - then known as “consumption” - killed one out of every seven people living in the United States.

World TB day was established March 24, 1982, a century after Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of the TB bacillus. At the time, his discovery was the most important step taken towards the control and elimination of this deadly disease.

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Michigan Youth Taking Fewer Health Risks - More Work Needed to Stop Teen Smoking

A new report from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that the number of Michigan teens engaged in risky behaviors and unhealthy habits dropped slightly since 2001, but much work remains to be done to get teens to quit smoking.

The survey showed that statistics for Michigan teens dropped slightly in behaviors such as smoking, drinking, carrying weapons at school, having physical fights, and riding with drivers who had been drinking. The Michigan Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is part of a nationwide surveying effort led by the CDC to monitor students' health risks and behaviors.

The Michigan YRBS is a collaborative effort between the Michigan Department of Education and the Department of Community Health.

“While it is important to note we are seeing a slight improvement in these numbers, it cannot go without saying that Michigan needs to focus more on the health and safety of our young people,” Governor Jennifer Granholm said. “In particular, the fact that 61 percent of Michigan teens have tried smoking is a disturbing statistic, especially with new research showing younger people get hooked on nicotine quicker than adults do. The Departments of Education and Community Health will collaborate on the best ways to reach out to teens and address the need for healthier behaviors that go beyond our present efforts."

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Watkins pointed out that Michigan is the only state in the country with a state-developed model curriculum in health education for elementary, middle, and high school students that addresses smoking, alcohol use, violence, HIV, nutrition, and physical activity.

The Michigan Model for Comprehensive School Health Education addresses these vital health issues in successive grades, and provides students with essential knowledge and prevention skills to avoid risky behaviors and improve health.

“We know the positive links between health and academic achievement,” Watkins said. “The survey results point to the importance of continued support for health education programs so that future generations of students will have the essential tools to stay healthy for life and succeed in school.”

More than 90 percent of Michigan school districts use the Michigan Model for Comprehensive Health Education, reaching over one million students and their families.

Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom, Michigan's Surgeon General, said that every day in the United States more than 2,000 children under the age of 18 become daily smokers. Among high school seniors, more than 73 percent of daily smokers are likely to remain daily smokers five to six years later.

“The research we have clearly illustrates that we need to make more rapid progress toward promoting tobacco cessation programs among our children,” Wisdom said. “Michigan has been presented with a unique opportunity to improve the health of hundreds of thousands of Michigan citizens. Higher cigarette taxes proposed by Governor Granholm in her 2004-05 state budget will mean that 60,000 adults will stop and 94,000 children will never start smoking. From a health perspective, this decision is an important first step toward helping citizens - and especially children - significantly reduce their dependency on tobacco and ultimately create a healthier Michigan.”

Survey results show the percentage of students who ever have tried smoking has dropped steadily from 75 percent to 60 percent since 1997 as well as the percentage that had smoked on one or more of the previous 30 days continuously fell from 38 to 23 percent.

Similarly, downward trends in the percentage of students in a physical fight during the previous 12 months fell from 36 percent in 1997 down to 31 percent in 2003. The percentage of students who carried a weapon on school property has continued to decrease from eight percent in 1997 and 1999 to five percent in 2001 and 2003.

The percent of students who rode in a vehicle with a driver who had been drinking has dropped over the series of surveys from 37 percent in 1997 to 30 percent in 2003. The percentage of students who ever drank likewise has experienced the downward trend from 82 percent in 1997 to 76 percent recently.

The survey, completed by 3,452 students in 41 public high schools in Michigan during the spring of 2003, included questions that address those behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death, disability, and illness in young people and adults.

The high response rates (school 84 percent, student 84 percent), allow results to be generalized to all Michigan students in grades 9-12.

The 2003 Michigan survey included 99 questions covering behaviors grouped by the CDC into six general health risk areas: 1) unintentional injury and violence; 2) tobacco use; 3) alcohol and other drug use; 4) sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy or disease; 5) dietary behaviors; and 6) physical activity.

Michigan is one of only a handful of states with high enough response rates on four consecutive YRBS survey administrations (1997, 1999, 2001, and 2003) to have scientific trend data.

Michigan added questions to the 2003 survey to reflect current issues such as soda consumption, diagnosis of diabetes and asthma, and asthma episodes.

To access the 2003 Michigan Youth Risk Behavior Survey, go here

For more information contact Brenda Fink at MDCH, (517) 335-8863 or Kim Kovalchick at MDE, (517) 241-4292

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Michigan Mental Health Commission to Hold Public Forums - Meetings in Grand Rapids, Detroit, Flint and Marquette

The Michigan Mental Health Commission today announced it would hold four public forums across the state to gather public comment on ways to improve the public mental health system in Michigan.

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm appointed the Mental Health Commission to recommend sweeping changes in both the delivery of service and effectiveness of Michigan’s mental health network.

While public comment is encouraged at all business meetings of the Michigan Mental Health Commission, these public forums offer an additional way for Commission members to hear directly from citizens on ways to improve the system.

Grand Rapids - Wednesday, April 7, 2:30 - 7:30 p.m., The Conference Centers, Western Michigan University, Grand Hall, 200 Ionia Ave, SW, Grand Rapids
Detroit - Wednesday, April 14, 2:30 - 7:30 p.m., Cobo Conference/Exhibition Center, 02-44 Oakland Hall, 2nd Floor, Room 44, One Washington Blvd., Detroit
Flint - Tuesday, April 20, 2:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Mott Community College, Ballroom of the Prahl Conference Center, 1402 E. Court Street, Flint
Marquette - Thursday, April 29, 3 - 8 p.m., Northern Michigan University, Great Lakes Room, 1401 Presque Isle Ave., Marquette

The Commission also announced that it is welcoming public comment via their website at www.michigan.gov/mentalhealth and is accepting written comments through the mail at: Michigan Mental Health Commission c/o Public Sector Consultants 600 W. Saint Joseph Street, Suite 10 Lansing, MI 48933 Or faxed to: (517) 484-6549

The Michigan Mental Health Commission, a temporary body appointed by executive order, is currently re-evaluating the state’s publicly-funded mental health system with the ultimate goal of using its recommendations to transform Michigan’s mental health system into a national model.

The commission is comprised of mental health consumers, advocates, providers, representatives from law enforcement and the courts, policymakers, and the public.

The Commission’s website is located at www.michigan.gov/mentalhealth.

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Kentucky Physician Loses Michigan License

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has summarily suspended the osteopathic medicine and surgery license of Yakov G. Drabovskiy, D.O., due to his felony convictions in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky.

Drabovskiy failed to report his convictions to MDCH as required by the Public Health Code. On April 7, 2003, Drabovskiy was convicted of one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule 3 and 4 Controlled Substances and two counts of Possession and Distribution of Schedule 3 Controlled Substances. Drabovskiy was sentenced to 41 months imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release.

On March 8, 2004, MDCH issued an order summarily suspending Drabovskiy’s license pursuant to the Public Health Code, which provides for the mandatory summary suspension of a health professional upon the conviction of a felony. An administrative hearing will be scheduled to address the status of Drabovskiy’s osteopathic medicine and surgery license.

More information about disciplinary actions taken by the health professional licensing boards is available on the MDCH website at: http://www.michigan.gov/mdch, then select the Health Systems and Licensing link.

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Measles Identified On Northwest Airlines Flight 39 - Passengers Urged To Seek Medical Evaluation

The Michigan Department of Community Health is reporting that a passenger who was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 39 from Amsterdam to Detroit on Friday was carrying a case of infectious measles.

Dr. Matthew Boulton, Michigan’s Chief Medical Executive, said Saturday that all passengers on Flight 39 who have not previously received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine should be seen immediately by either their physician or their local emergency room for measles immunization.

“Measles vaccine is most effective in preventing disease within 72 hours of exposure to an active case of measles,” Boulton said. “Measles is one of the most highly infectious diseases known to man, and because of very aggressive public health intervention, we see less than 100 cases in the United States per year.”

MDCH is working with other state health departments and Northwest Airlines officials to contact passengers who may have been on Flight 39. More than 200 passengers were reported to be on the flight.

The state of Michigan has only had infrequent isolated cases of measles over the past several years.

The passenger who had measles then boarded Northwest Airlines Flight 3786 from Detroit Metropolitan Airport to Cedar Rapids Friday afternoon. The passenger was first identified with measles in Cedar Rapids. Iowa health officials then contacted Michigan late Saturday.

Measles causes a high fever and a red rash over most of the body. It can cause pneumonia and deafness. In serious cases, measles can cause inflammation of the brain and even death.

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MDCH Debuts Michigan Disease Surveillance System

With the implementation of a new web-based system to share health information, the state of Michigan will be able to significantly improve response times in the event of a significant outbreak of disease.

The Michigan Disease Surveillance System (MDSS) marks a revolutionary transition in public health surveillance for the State of Michigan, said Janet Olszewski, Director of the Michigan Department of Community Health.

“Ultimately, the goal of the MDSS is to increase the state’s ability to detect and respond to newly emergent infectious diseases, like SARS, monkeypox, and bird flu,” Olszewski said. “Instead of days that it normally takes to share pertinent health information, we can now – with the advent of technology – reduce that time to mere hours. Our staff in the Bureau of Epidemiology working with the Department of Information Technology have labored tirelessly for more than two years to ensure that this successful system functions smoothly.”

The system, which began operating this week, now links local health departments to the state and also allows Michigan to greatly expand the information electronically stored on cases of disease.

“The key to identifying and responding to outbreaks of communicable disease is the timeliness of case information,” said Dr. Matthew Boulton, Chief Medical Executive for MDCH and Chair of the MDSS development team. “This transition to an electronically-based system allows health practitioners from around the state to share information in a real time basis.

The system will:

· permit timely, web-based reporting of infectious diseases and tracking of cases over time;

· issue automatic “alerts” when infectious disease activity exceeds certain levels; and,

· allow for much faster detection and response to infectious disease outbreaks.

The MDSS was recently mentioned by Dr. Joe Hendersen, Director of CDC’s Office of Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response, in his testimony before the U.S. Congressional Select Committee on Homeland Defense, as a model state public health surveillance system.

“We are pleased to provide this resource to health care providers and physicians around the state who ultimately are our first line of defense in preventing the spread of disease,” Olszewski said.

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Update: Bingham Farms Dentist Regains License

As a result of an order by a Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) Administrative Law Judge, the suspension of the dentistry license of Timothy Frank Kosinski, D.D.S. has been dissolved.

During an administrative hearing, Judge Gregory Holiday ordered the reinstatement of Kosinski’s license late Wednesday morning. Kosinski’s license was officially suspended from February 27 to March 10, 2004 by MDCH.

More information about disciplinary actions taken by the health professional licensing boards is available on the MDCH web site at: http://www.michigan.gov/mdch, then select the Health Systems and Licensing link.

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Bingham Farms Dentist Loses License

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has summarily suspended the dentistry license of Timothy Frank Kosinski, D.D.S., due to his felony convictions.

Kosinski failed to report his convictions to MDCH as required by the Public Health Code. On June 16, 2003, Kosinski was convicted in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, of one felony count of Conspiracy, five felony counts of Subscribing a False Tax return, and one felony count of Structuring Transactions to Evade Reporting Requirement.

Kosinski was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment and ordered to pay fines and assessments totaling $60,700.

On February 27, 2004, MDCH issued an order summarily suspending Kosinski’s license pursuant to the Public Health Code, which provides for the mandatory summary suspension of a health professional upon the conviction of a felony. An administrative hearing will be scheduled to address the status of Kosinski’s dentistry license.

More information about disciplinary actions taken by the health professional licensing boards is available on the MDCH website at: http://www.michigan.gov/mdch, then select the Health Systems and Licensing link.

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License of Brownstown Township Physician Summarily Suspended

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has summarily suspended the osteopathic medicine and surgery license of John W. Struthers, D.O., for failing to comply with an order of the Michigan Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery (Board).

The MDCH Bureau of Health Professions orders a summary suspension when it believes that the public’s health, safety, and welfare warrant emergency action. On October 4, 2001, the Board disciplined Struthers for negligent and incompetent treatment of a patient’s leg and back pain.

Struthers’ license was limited to prohibit Struthers from performing major surgeries, including hip and knee joint replacement procedures. On December 17, 2003, Struthers’ clinical staff privileges at Oakwood Southshore Medical Center in Trenton, Michigan, were suspended after it was learned that contrary to the Board order, he had performed at least 15 joint replacement surgeries.

On February 27, 2004, MDCH issued an order summarily suspending Struthers’ license. An administrative hearing will be scheduled to address the status of Struthers’ license.

More information about disciplinary actions taken by the health professional licensing boards is available on the MDCH website at: http://www.michigan.gov/mdch, then select the Health Systems and Licensing link.

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Michigan Patient Safety Awareness Week Starts Today

To provide information, promote education and engage in communication about patient safety in Michigan, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm proclaimed March 7 to 13 as Michigan Patient Safety Awareness Week.

“It is vitally important for individual consumers, entire communities and all providers to be actively involved in understanding and furthering patient safety, ” said Janet Olszewski, Director of the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH). “I am pleased that Michigan is committed to continually improving a culture of safety that encourages the prevention of errors.”

MDCH is partnered in the effort to raise awareness of patient safety with The Michigan Health and Safety Coalition (MH&SC). MH&SC, formed in 2000, is Michigan’s leader in the continual quality improvement effort designed to improve patient safety, and strives to bring together a variety of key health care leaders, stakeholders and consumers to aid this effort.

“The Michigan Department of Community Health is proud to play an involved role in the MH&SC,” Olszewski said. “The coalition provides leadership in developing guiding principles and strong policy for continued and increased patient safety.”

The goal of the MH&SC is to help improve health care quality in Michigan through cost-effective improvements in patient safety, including medical errors, across all health care settings.

The coalition is continually pursuing major initiatives and coordinating activities related to medical errors and patient safety.

Since its creation, MH&SC has undertaken projects to measure and improve health care for Michigan patients. The coalition has developed guidelines for eight areas of hospital care, established a web-based consumer report, and held annual conferences focused on reducing patient care errors and increasing safety.

For more information on patient safety, visit the Michigan Health and Safety Coalition website at www.mihealthandsafety.org

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National Problem Gambling Awareness Week Begins Today

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is partnering with communities across the country this week, as it proclaims March 8 to 14 as National Problem Gambling Awareness Week.

Throughout this week, communities nationwide are working to raise awareness of the consequences of problem gambling and increase public awareness for the availability and benefits associated with problem gambling treatment.

“In Michigan, we are making every effort to minimize the consequences of problem gambling among our citizens,” said Janet Olszewski, MDCH Director. “Problem gambling negatively affects the lives of thousands of people and cuts across all socio-economic levels. It is imperative that we increase our efforts to address this troubling problem.”

In the most recent survey of Gambling Behaviors, authored by researchers at Western Michigan University, it is estimated that at least 205,800 Michigan residents have a gambling problem. Additionally, risk behaviors surveys of youth now indicate that one to two percent of children under of age of 18 participate in some form of gambling.

Olszewski said the state also is currently considering research to determine the community impact of problem gambling and its associated effects on various populations.

Michigan allocates $3 million each year – primarily from casino licensing fees – for treatment, prevention, education, training, research and the evaluation of pathological gamblers and their families.

These funds are primarily used for:

A toll free, confidential number for information and assistance is available statewide. The number is published on the back of lottery tickets, available in Detroit casinos, phone books, and various public service announcements. Last year, 1,987 individuals who called the toll-free help line were referred to Gamblers Anonymous and other related services.

Confidential, no-cost treatment services, accessed through the toll-free number, are available statewide through a network of trained counselors. Last year, a statewide network of 50 licensed clinicians provided individual and group treatment to 393 individuals.

A gambling awareness curriculum is available for schools to use as part of their prevention curriculum. Last year, the curriculum was taught in 66 school buildings and 107 class sections, including 26 middle schools, 26 high schools, and four alternative education centers.

Prevention activities, through public service announcements and brochures

The Office of Drug Control Policy – through MDCH – also has established a speaker’s bureau to inform and educate the public about compulsive gambling.

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License of St. Clair Physician Summarily Suspended

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has summarily suspended the osteopathic medicine and surgery license of Steven B. DeWilde, D.O.

The MDCH Bureau of Health Professions orders a summary suspension when it believes that the public’s health, safety, and welfare warrant emergency action.

On January 22, MDCH received information that DeWilde was arraigned in the 31st Judicial Circuit Court, St. Clair County, on felony charges of Prescription Forms-Manufacture/Deliver.

The charges were brought after an undercover investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency and St. Clair County Drug Task Force revealed that DeWilde allegedly provided fraudulent prescriptions for Oxycontin in exchange for crack cocaine. A trial date in the criminal matter is scheduled for April 13.

On February 20, MDCH issued an order summarily suspending DeWilde’s license. An administrative hearing will be scheduled to address the status of DeWilde’s license.

More information about disciplinary actions taken by the health professional licensing boards is available on the MDCH website at: http://www.michigan.gov/mdch, then select the Health Systems and Licensing link.

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Lansing Nurse Has License Summarily Suspended

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has summarily suspended the nursing license of Jaime Alonzo Flores, R.N., L.P.N., due to a felony conviction. Flores failed to report his conviction to MDCH as required by the Public Health Code.

Flores was granted a licensed practical nurse license and a registered nurse license on July 2002, and June 2003, respectively based on the representations Respondent made on his applications.

A review of Flores’ nursing applications revealed that Flores failed to disclose an August 20, 1997, misdemeanor conviction of Person Under 21-Purchase, Consume, Possess; and January 29, 1999, misdemeanor convictions of Operating Under the Influence of Liquor/Per Se and Driving While License Suspended. On August 22, 2003, Flores pled guilty in the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court, Oakland County, Michigan to one felony count of Operating Under the Influence of Liquor – Third Offense and one misdemeanor count of Driving While License Suspended – Second Offense.

Flores was sentenced to 93 days in jail, placed on probation for a period of two years, and ordered to pay fines, costs, and fees totaling $3,810. On February 20, 2004, MDCH issued an order summarily suspending Flores’ licenses pursuant to the Public Health Code, which provides for the mandatory summary suspension of a health professional upon the conviction of a felony.

An administrative hearing will be scheduled to address the status of Flores’ nursing licenses. More information about disciplinary actions taken by the health professional licensing boards is available on the MDCH website at: http://www.michigan.gov/mdch, then select the Health Systems and Licensing link.

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