Health officials confirm first case of EEE in sentinel chicken this year

MOBILE, Alabama -- A sentinel chicken in the 36613 ZIP code has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis, according to Dr. Bernard Eichold, Health Officer for the Mobile County Health Department.

The Mobile County Health Department’s Vector Control division monitors encephalitis in sentinel poultry flocks strategically placed throughout the county to detect the presence of viruses carried by mosquitoes. Additionally, mosquitoes are trapped throughout the county and tested for Eastern Equine Encephalitis, West Nile Virus, and St. Louis Encephalitis. According to Vector Control personnel, aggressive surveillance and control activities are ongoing.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis and other mosquito-borne viruses such as West Nile Virus are transmitted from bird to mosquito to bird. Mosquitoes can spread these viruses by feeding on the blood of infected birds and then biting another host animal or mammal such as a horse or human. Although humans and horses can become ill from the infection, the diseases cannot be spread from people or horses. The likelihood of transmission to humans and horses can be decreased by personal mosquito avoidance and the use of an Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus vaccine in horses. There is no vaccine available for humans, Eichold said.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis can be more dangerous to people and other mammals than other mosquito-borne viruses. However the same mosquito-prevention measures reduce exposures to all such viruses. Bites to children should be watched for secondary infections that need to be treated by a physician.

Mosquito bites can be treated with topical agents such as calamine and menthol lotions. Cortisone creams

and oral antihistamines are available as over-the-counter medications that can reduce itching.

Real Talk: Recognizing and speaking out against dating violence topic of Saturday, June 29 workshop at Semmes Clinic

  

Image Courtesy CDC

MOBILE, Alabama – A Real Talk outreach event for teenagers, young adolescents and parents is planned from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 29, at the Semmes Clinic, 3810 Wulff Road E., to offer education and meaningful information on how to recognize and speak out against dating violence.

Translation services will be provided.  The event is free and open to the public.

The focus of the Real Talk session, said Mobile County Health Department clinical administrator Steven Murray, is to educate and help empower teens to speak-out against dating violence, to more easily recognize the signs, and how to seek protection, if necessary.

Teen dating violence is defined as the physical, sexual, or psychological/emotional violence within a dating relationship, as well as stalking, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can occur in person or electronically and may happen between a current or former dating partner.

Adolescents and adults are often unaware that teens experience dating violence, health data shows. In a nationwide survey, 9.4 percent of high school students reported being hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the 12 months prior to the survey. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey).

An estimated 1 in 5 women and nearly 1 in 7 men who ever experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner, first experienced some form of partner violence between the ages of 11 and 17, according to the same CDC report.

The Saturday Real Talk event also will include an educational session on teen pregnancy prevention from a trained family planning staff member. The Real Talk outreach is being presented in affiliation with the Mobile County Health Department’s Teen Center, a community resource for young mother’s between the ages of 10 and 19.

Known for her service to the community, Olivia Pope retires from the Health Department

Olivia Pope, center in the pink jacket, surrounded by friends and coworkers in

the pediatric department at MCHD on June 26, 2013.

You know you are beloved when coworkers jockey for position to throw you going-away parties. On Olivia Pope's last day in the office, there was a buffet breakfast complete with a banner signed by dozens of staff members, followed by a large-scale lunch that included gifts and more sincere well-wishes.

Pope, a registered nurse and a director in Clinical Administration with the Mobile County Health Department, is retiring this summer from the agency after more than 12 years. Pope has been recognized by Health Department leadership for her service to Alabama’s oldest public health agency and the people she diligently helped care for.

Those who know her describe Pope as someone who is dedicated and hardworking with a deep love for performing community outreach. “She always goes above and beyond for her community,” said Termika Smith, a clinic administrator who oversees the Ryan White Clinic. Going above and beyond, Smith said, meant that Pope was consistently looking for new and innovative ways to reach those whom the rest of the world often forgets.  “She was always the first person to create programming for an initiative if one did not already exist.”

A dedicated mother, wife and sister, Pope has been a nurse for more than 33 years. In 2007, her role at the Health Department transitioned from that of a supporting nurse to clinic administrator. That move allowed her to dramatically expand her outreach activities, coworkers said. It’s no secret that Pope’s favorite part of her work week was when she could gas up the Mobile unit and hit the streets, as she liked to say.

“I have never seen a woman who waited so patiently for the age changes to occur in the Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program,” Smith said, so that more women could be included in the vital screenings. “She will be missed.”

Free cribs being offered to TEEN Center clients

Mobile, Alabama – Nearly 50 portable cribs have been given to qualifying clients of the Mobile Health Department’s TEEN Center in recent months, said Tony Bondora, who coordinates the Alabama Baby Coalition. A grant from the Children’s Trust Fund allowed the Fetal Infant Mortality Review program to provide the safe sleeping environments to young parents after completing a mandatory safety class.

Health Department officials recently learned they will receive another 50 portable cribs from the Children’s Trust Fund to distribute to TEEN Center clients who complete the classes, health officials said.

“Young moms sit through an hour infant safety class,” Bondora said.  “We show them how to assemble the cribs and take them down and teach them the proper ways to put their baby to sleep.”

Bondora’s job is to research the deaths of Mobile County children between birth and their first birthday, as well as the fetal deaths that occur beyond 20 weeks of gestation. He also attends community outreach events, working to spread the word about keeping babies safe while they sleep.

In 2011, 44 infants died in Mobile County before their first birthday. That was up slightly from 2010 when 43 infants died. While the rate of deaths among infants remained roughly the same, Bondora noticed a trend in his research: “We had a decrease in sleep-related deaths last year,” he said. “It was about 23 percent in 2010 and in 2011 it was 18 percent.”

Sleep-related deaths include suffocation, roll-over deaths caused when a parent or another child rolls on top of an infant, sudden unexplained death in infancy, also known as SUDI, and improper sleep position.
Infants should sleep in the parent’s room in their own bed or crib, completely alone with no pillows, blankets or stuffed animals, health officials said.

A good alternative to bed sharing is to place the infant’s crib or cradle near the parent’s or caregiver’s bed to allow for more convenient contact.

A new addition to Bondora’s classes has been to include information about a safe sleep environment for every infant and child in a home.  “We talk about the crib itself,” he said, “making sure the crib is uncluttered, making sure there is no cigarette or cigar smoke in the room, making sure the baby is not overheated.”

Bondora also goes over other vital details about keeping babies safe while sleeping. Health providers recommend that children younger than 12 months old sleep in a bed or crib alone with no other children, adults or pets. There should be no pillows, blankets or padded baby bumpers inside cribs. If a sheet or blanket is used, he said, it should be tightly tucked on three sides so there is no chance the baby can pull the fabric over his or her mouth and nose to restrict breathing.

“The basic point,” Bondora said, “is you want to try to control as many of those variables as you can so you don’t have something over the baby’s airway.”

Last week, Bondora attended Babypalooza, a baby expo in downtown Mobile, where he handed out 400 T-shirts featuring safe sleep positions among other messages. He also administered 400 safety quizzes. He hopes the real-time research will provide him with a better understanding of where the community is in terms of knowledge about safe sleep for infants and young children.

Bondora, who also coordinates the Alabama Baby Coalition, urges parents and caregivers to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that all infants less than 12 months old should be placed on their backs every time they are put down for sleep, whether for napping or at night.

It’s also critical that parents make sure babysitters and caregivers know to place infants on their backs to sleep. Research shows that infants placed on their stomachs who are accustomed to sleeping on their backs are at greater risk of dying, Bondora said.

Other risk factors for infant death include cigarette smoke, shaking a baby and improper car seat use. The Alabama Baby Coalition is working to make Mobile a safer place to be a baby by partnering with local hospitals, medical and social services providers. For more information about the coalition, call 251-694-5007 or visit www.alabamababycoalition.org. 

The Alabama Baby Coalition will present a conference on Sept. 27 at the American Red Cross headquarters on Sage Avenue in Mobile. Typically, nurses, physicians and health care administrators attend the event that offers continuing education hours.

“The overarching message is preventing and controlling infant mortality,” Bondora said. The state group is working this year on a collaborative improvement and innovation network to reduce infant deaths. To do that, the group will focus on three main areas: obesity among mothers, pre-term births and safe sleep habits. 

Pam Denham talks about a dynamic service culture at Mobile County Health Department

Mobile County Health Department staff took part in a smile-while-talking

exercise during a presentation by Pamela Denham on June 25. The idea is

that those who smile while talking enhance the customer experience culture.

MOBILE, Alabama -- On Tuesday, June 25, Pam Denham, of Pamela Denham & Associates Marketing PR Solutuions LLC, met with Mobile County Health Department staff members who have been involved in working to improve employee engagement and the customer experience at Alabama's oldest public health agency.

Hers was the second of four groups to make presentations as the MCHD moves forward with its strategic plan that includes embracing a service culture across its bureaus and departments.  

Denham outlined five core principles her team uses to guide employers who seek her services, with a goal of "responsible leading, not mindless reacting," she said. To rise from successful to dynamic, she said, companies must know its customer base which includes employees and clients; it must select, train and reward staff for delivering quality customer service; it must ensure that every facet of the business -- from the front line representatives to the back room employees -- operate at an optimum level to offer a seamless quality experience that extends from the parking lot to the front desk to halls and exam rooms.

Promoting and maintaining a service culture, she said, is the last vital piece to the process.

Business Alabama Magazine has recognized Pamela Denham & Associates Marketing and P.R. Solutions LLC in Mobile as one of Alabama's top "2013 Public Relations Firms." The company ranked No. 10 out of 18 in the category of "public relations firms"where agency's were judged on the number of active public relations clients. At the time of the award, the firm had 12 active clients, including White-Spunner Construction, Baldwin Bone & Joint and Comprehensive Pain & Rehabilitation.

In business since 1998, Denham said she has retained many of the same clients she started with. Her firm caters to a broad array of industries including health and science, real estate, business and finance and non profit organizations.

Two other regional firms are set to make presentations to the Mobile County Health Department staff during the week of July 1-5.       

All Together Fest features gospel and jazz acts for National HIV Testing Day in Bienville Square

 MOBILE, Alabama – The All Together Fest, a gospel and jazz music event planned for 5 p.m. Friday, June 28, at Bienville Square in downtown Mobile, is being presented in recognition of National HIV Testing Day.  Free and open to the public, confidential HIV testing will be available.

Entertainment will be provided by the following groups: GAP, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Hallelujah Choir, Yvonne Mathews, Henry Clay, Arnold, Malinda Leigh Dance Studio, Cotton Jazz Sax* DJ, United Voices, Gentle Spirits, Wings Of Life Choir with Ms. Inez Spencer, Clown Bk., Gabriel Ezell, Shaulanda Norwood, Living Word, Divine Purpose, Monica Henry, Lynn Mackie, Ashleigh Brown Greer, Men’s Group, Dallas Spoken Word, Devon Mason and Wilson 8:1.

Events such as the All Together Fest are held to raise awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic because too many people don’t know they have HIV. In the United States, nearly 1.2 million people are living with HIV, and almost one in five don’t know they are infected, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Getting tested is the first step to finding out if you have HIV.

In Mobile, there is an estimated 2,876 people living with HIV/AIDS, health data shows.

Sponsors of the AllTogether Fest include the Mobile AIDS Coalition, which is comprised of the Mobile County Health Department, Franklin Primary Health Centers, Missing Link Consumer Group, USA Children’s and Women’s Specialty Clinic and AIDS Alabama South.

Later this week, free rapid HIV testing will be available at the Walgreens location at the Loop in Mobile, 2050 Government St., on June 27 and 28 from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. and on June 29, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. in support of National HIV Testing Day.

The tests will be confidential and provided at no cost. The Mobile County Health Department, along with other groups, have partnered with the Walgreens pharmacy chain and a coalition of public and private sector groups known as Greater Than AIDS to provide the free testing.

For more information about the AllTogether Fest, contact event coordinator Tyrome Tover, a Peer Mentor for the Mobile County Health Department, at 251-690-8170.

Health Officer Dr. Bernard Eichold responds to American Medical Association's official designation of obesity as a disease

MOBILE, Ala. – It’s been called an epidemic for more than a decade now. And earlier this week, the nation’s largest physician’s group, the American Medical Association, voted to officially recognize obesity as a disease, a move that will likely have health care providers and insurance companies paying closer attention as more new diet drugs and weight loss procedures are introduced.

Dr. Bernard Eichold, Health Officer for the Mobile County Health Department, said he thought the move was a positive step meant to draw more attention to a critical problem plaguing millions of Americans.

"Having the diagnosis of a disease will help motivate patients to treat the condition," said Eichold.

Dr. Eichold was featured on the evening news on two television stations, WPMI and WKRG, this week.

At least one in four people in the U.S. is considered obese, health data shows. That number is much higher in Alabama and Mobile, with nearly one in three adults categorized as obese.

“Over nutrition is a real problem in Mobile County,” Eichold said. “Hopefully people will begin to take it more seriously. This is something that needs to be addressed. In and of itself, it can shorten your life.”

In making the decision to recognize the health condition as a disease, delegates at the association’s annual meeting in Chicago on Tuesday overrode a recommendation against doing so by a committee that had studied the matter, according to published reports.

 “Recognizing obesity as a disease will help change the way the medical community tackles this complex issue that affects approximately one in three Americans,” Dr. Patrice Harris, a member of the association’s board, said in a written statement. She suggested the new definition would help in the fight against Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, which are linked to obesity.

The AMA’s decision has no legal authority, health officials said.

Eichold, a medical doctor, said there are many small steps people can take to lose weight and lower their risks for developing other life-threatening diseases.

“It’s extremely important to look at your own weight and look at your Body Max Index and talk to your doctor about a personal intervention plan,” he said. “And remember, it’s probably going to take you as long to get out of the woods as it took you to get in the woods.”

GED classes now offered at the Health Department's TEEN Center in Mobile

MOBILE, Alabama -- The Mobile County Health Department's Teen Center has become a preparation site for those who want to take the GED, a high school equivalency exam given to those who did not complete 12th grade. The MCHD has partnered with Bishop State Community College to offer classes to clients of the agency and anyone else in the community who wants to be better prepared for the GED.

Felecia Allen, who is the Teen's Center's director, said the classes have already begun, and are offered twice a week in a group setting in the auditorium of the Newburn Building on Cox Street in Mobile. Classes are from 9 a.m. until noon on Mondays and from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, she said.

The Teen Center serves clients between the ages of 10 and 19, many of whom are pregnant or are new mothers. Many of them have dropped out of high school because of the challenges facing young mothers with little family support. "Taking the GED will help them become more self-sufficient," Allen said. "In the long run, it will help them be better prepared to take care of themselves and their families."

The push to get more high school drop outs to take the GED now instead of later has become an issue because plans have been announced to make the test more expensive beginning in January 2014, with the price rising from about $50 to $150 to take the test. The GED also will change with the new year and become more of a college entrance exam, according to those familiar with the new test. 

On January 2, 2014, GED Testing Service will unveil a new assessment  that ensures the GED testing program is no longer an endpoint for adults, but a springboard for more education, training, and better-paying jobs, according to officials with the testing service.

The new assessment will continue to provide adults the opportunity to earn a high school credential, but it goes further by measuring career- and college-readiness skills. Four content areas—literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies—will measure a foundational core of knowledge and skills that are essential for career and college readiness.

According to the GED testing company, evidence suggests that test-takers who demonstrate fluency with the skills measured in the new assessment will be better prepared for the future. The company called it a stepping-stone toward a college classroom or a better career and a family sustaining wage.

"We are trying to get as many clients as we can to take it now," Allen said. If someone is already attending at another site and wants to change to the TEEN Center they need to bring their GED assessment scores with them and contact the TEEN Center to ensure a spot in the program, she said.

Those who are not already part of a GED study program can visit the Bishop State Carver Campus on Mondays and Thursday at 6:30 a.m. to sign up. A 9 a.m. sign up is also available at the Clinton Johnson Community Center on Fridays, Allen said. For more information about the Teen Center program, call Allen at 251-694-5039.

  

Who was at Babypalooza on Saturday? Your Health Department staff, that's who

WIC staff member Stacy Parrish waits to speak with those

taking part  in Babypalooza on Saturday, June 15, at Government Plaza

in downtown Mobile. 

Mobile, Alabama -- Hundreds of expectant mothers, new parents and grandparents crowded Government Plaza in downtown Mobile on Saturday for Babypalooza, a baby expo held to showcase services and products available for families and caregivers of young children.

The Mobile County Health Department participated in the community outreach initiaitve, with representatives from its WIC (Women, Infants and Children) nutrition education program, as well as Aura Wellness Center, manning tables at the day-long event. Other vendors included Springhill Medical Center, the county Head Start program, local preschools, area law enforcement agencies and other businesses.

Elizabeth W. Smith, who oversees the WIC program in Mobile, said she is always looking for creative ways to spread awareness about the nutrition initiative among postpartum and breastfeeding women and the parents and caretakers of young children up to age 5. The goal of WIC is to educate the community of the vital need to balance food intake and daily physical activity, as well as promote increasing the healthy consumption of fruits and vegetables, and to increase awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding.

Elizabeth Williams, Aura's administrator, said she passed out more than 150 gift bags that included a promotional card, to those who stopped by the table to find out more about the wellness center. She talked with expo participants about the need to maintain a healthy lifestyle no matter what stage of life, which includes keeping up with annual wellness screenings.

Aura administrator Elizabeth Williams talks with visitors during Babypalooza.

"Everyone was very positive and very excited," Williams said of those she spoke with about the Health Department's newest program. "Thye loved the wellness concept."

While Aura began in late 2012 as an incentivized wellness program only for patients of the Mobile County Health Department, Williams said, it quickly has transformed into a resource for the entire community and is open to all. Now, Aura offers laser hair reduction treatments and other collagen stimulating services that have been shown to improve skin laxity resulting in smoother skin.

Other programs coming soon to Aura inlcude customized facial treatments and chemical peels as well as clinical weightloss and nutrition programs, Williams said. To find out more about all of these programs, and many others offered by the Mobile County Health Department, visit www.mobilecountyhealth.org Or check us out on facebook and Twitter.

An Aura gift bag handed out at the event.

Free HIV rapid tests offered June 27-29 at Walgreens Loop location in Mobile

MOBILE, Alabama -- Free, rapid HIV testing will be available at the Walgreens at the Loop, 2050 Government St., in Mobile on June 27 and June 28 from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m., and June 29, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., in support of National HIV Testing Day, health officials said.

The tests will be confidential and provided at no cost. The Mobile County Health Department, along with other groups, have partnered with the Walgreens pharmacy chain and a coalition of public and private sector groups known as Greater Than AIDS to provide the free testing. Other similar events are being held throughout the state during the same time period.

Locally, the Mobile County Health Department, AIDS Alabama South and Franklin Primary Health Center are partnering with the local drug store for the testing initiative in response to the domestic epidemic. In Mobile, there are an estimated 2,876 people living with HIV/AIDS, health records indicate.

“Statistics show that as many as 20 percent of those who have HIV/AIDS are not aware that they have it. That’s about a quarter of a million people who don’t know,” said Dr. Bernard Eichold, Health Officer for the Mobile County Health Department. “We encourage residents to get tested for HIV and know their status.”

State and local health departments and AIDS service organizations are coordinating testing and providing on-site results at participating Walgreens locations, as well as supporting outreach. Research indicates that about a third of those who are infected with HIV/AIDS are diagnosed so late in the course of the illness that they develop AIDS within one year. Early diagnosis and treatment saves lives and is known to reduce the spread of HIV, Eichold said.



Health officials: Make appointments for blue cards and needed immunizations now

Courtesy/National Institutes of Health

MOBILE, Ala. – Appointments are now being accepted at the Mobile County Health Department’s Immunization Clinic in downtown Mobile for children who need vaccines to update their Certificate of Immunization, also called a blue card, for the upcoming 2013-14 school year. Appointments also are accepted at the agency’s other clinics located throughout the county.

"Now is the perfect time for people to come because there won't be a huge line or long wait," said Monica Z. Knight, Director of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control at the Mobile County Health Department. "When you come, please be patient and prepared."

Previously, clients were seen on a first-come first-served basis at the immunization clinic at 251 N. Bayou St. In the days leading up to the start of school, crowds of up to 100 people or more have been common as parents and caregivers seek to make sure students have the paperwork needed to attend public schools and day care centers across Mobile.

Now, when you schedule an appointment to update vaccines, you won’t have to go to the back of the line, and will instead be seen at the appointed time, health officials said. Appointments for the immunization clinic may be made by calling 251-690-8908. Because of high volumes, among other factors, it typically takes 48 hours to process and create a new Immunization Certificate.  

Children in Alabama who will attend day cares, Head Start programs, or public or private schools must have an Immunization Certificate showing that immunizations are up-to-date, health officials said. Aug. 19 is the first day of classes for public school students in Mobile County.

New immunization certificates are issued when appropriate immunizations are received. Students who are not changing schools this year, and don't have an expired blue card, should already have their Immunization Certificates on file at the school. If your child sees a private physician or other provider, their blue card can be obtained from the medical clinic where you see that doctor, health officials said. 

Useful tips

Here's what to bring when coming in for school immunizations and Immunization Certificate:

Parent’s photo ID; Child’s Social Security number; Child’s immunization record; Insurance card.

Immunizations are available on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mobile County Health Department's Immunization Clinic. All required and recommended vaccinations are free or low-cost based on eligibility. 

If a child’s immunizations are up-to-date and only the child’s Immunization Certificate is needed, the parent may drop off the child’s immunization history at the MCHD’s Immunization Clinic in downtown Mobile at 251 N. Bayou St., and the certificate will typically be available for pick-up 48 hours later.

Mobile County Health Department begins seasonal mosquito control efforts

Image courtesy CDC

MOBILE, Ala. – The Mobile County Health Department’s Vector Control Division has begun its seasonal mosquito control program, according to Jerry Folse, who oversees the initiative.

A fleet of trucks will conduct the spraying procedure primarily in early evening hours, typically from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., unless otherwise warranted, Folse said. Mosquito activity peaks at dusk and dawn.

The vehicles used for spray operations dispense low volumes of insecticides through variable flow technology at vehicle speeds up to 20 mph. The insecticides are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in mosquito control. Health officials ask that people not approach spray trucks while they are operating.

Those engaged in beekeeping activities and those who are allergic to insecticides used for mosquito control, and have not been recently contacted by the Mobile County Health Department, should notify the agency's Vector Control Division at 251-690-8124.

Vector Control workers drive as many as 50 unique routes across the county, Folse said, noting that later this summer, a department-owned airplane will be used to cover sites not accessible by trucks, primarily in coastal areas. Mobile County includes some 1,200 square miles.

The risk of mosquito-borne viruses is highest from August through the fall, according to Dr. Bernard Eichold II, health officer for the Mobile County Health Department.

Mosquitoes can spread diseases, including West Nile virus, by feeding on the blood of infected birds, then biting another host, such as a human.

Tips for keeping mosquitoes away

·       Eliminate breeding sites by emptying all water from old tires, cans, jars, buckets, drums, plastic wading pools, boats, tarps, toys and other containers.

·       Because mosquitoes are more active at dusk and dawn, limit outdoor activities at those times.

·       Use a good repellent on exposed areas. Some of the most reliable repellants contain the chemical DEET.

·       Repellents containing DEET in concentrations up to 30 percent can be used on children as young as 2 months.

·       Wearing long sleeves and long pants used with a mosquito repellent help to limit bites.



Mobile County Health Officer: New bridge needs a lane for bikes and pedestrians

MOBILE, Alabama -- A longtime champion for healthy communities, the Mobile County Health Department’s Dr. Bernard Eichold is gaining media attention this week for a letter he sent to Victor Mendez, head of the Federal Highway Administration, asking that a proposed bridge spanning the Mobile River include a plan for pedestrians and cyclists.

The same day the letter was published on al.com, the Mobile Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee voted (Wednesday, June 5) to recommend to the Department of Transportation that bicycle and pedestrian facilities be included on the future Interstate 10 Mobile River Bridge, according to Tom Piper, Senior Transportation Planner with the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission.

If that plan is deemed unfeasible, according to Piper, the MPO asked that mitigation alternatives to crossing the river be included in the Environmental Impact Statement.

The June 5 resolution, along with comments, letters, and a petition the MPO  received, will be formally submitted to ALDOT during the upcoming comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Piper said in an email sent to community members.

A petition also is being circulated asking for the inclusion of a bicycle and pedestrian path along the proposed I-10 bridge to be constructed over the Mobile River. More than 1,800 electronic signatures had been collected by Wednesday afternoon.

Another opinion piece published last week pointed out that bridges in other states have been well received and successful in drawing tourists in their respective communities. For example, the Cooper River Bridge in Charleston features a walking/biking path that is 2.7 miles long. Since opening in 2005, hundreds of thousands of cyclists and pedestrians have visited. The city of Charleston now holds a popular Cooper River Bridge Festival and Run that also brings in visitors from across the U.S.

The recently rebuilt Woodrow Wilson Bridge between Maryland and Washington, D.C., lies on the I-95/I-495 corridor. Since 2009, the 1.1-mile long bridge trail across the Potomac River has been shared by cyclists and pedestrians.

Eichold also sent a copy of the May 29 Mendezletter to President Barrack Obama. To read the letter in its entirety, which was published on al.com June 5, click here: http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/06/county_health_officer_bert_eic.html#incart_river

Disney Institute staff shared culture strategies with Mobile County Health Department

Kelly Warren holds up some of the props brought in by members of the Disney

Institute who were in town to talk corporate strategy with members of the Mobile

County Health Department this week.  

Team Disney was in the house this week -- sort of. Representatives from the Disney Institute visited the Mobile County Health Department on Tuesday, June 4, to present ideas on how to take the agency from good to great when it comes to everything from corporate culture to customer service. During a two hour discussion, MCHD staff members -- who have been heavily involved in strategic planning -- talked about internal and external challenges and asked questions about how the Disney Institute team could help bring about meaningful changes on North Bayou Street and beyond.

Without giving away the keys to the kingdom, the Disney team outlined some of the strategies they have successfully used with other private and public organizations seeking to be more successful. They also talked about what works for the Walt Disney Company, a publicly traded entity with more than 80 years in the entertainment business and some 65,000 employees worldwide.

“It’s common sense, it’s just not common practice,” said the Disney Institute’s Angie Deluca.

Deluca and her associate, Patrick Jordan, offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse at how they make the magic happen at theme parks and resorts 365 days a year. It’s not really magic at all, said Jordan. It’s about working hard, paying attention to every detail, exceeding expectations and embracing a culture that gives employees permission to do their jobs.

Jerry Folse, Paul Betros, Joel Tate, Peggy Howat and Stephanie Crawford

wait for the Disney Institute presentation to begin on June 4, 2013 in Mobile.

Here’s a good example, he said. When he went to work for Disney in Orlando a few years ago, he wondered how they managed to keep the streets and parks so sparkling clean. They don’t use pixie dust to keep Main Street U.S.A. pristine. They power wash it every single night. Every Disney employee, from the CEO to the street sweepers, is expected to wear a name tag, dress modestly and pick up trash whenever they encounter it.

“It’s not for the faint of heart,” said Jordan of changing a company’s culture. “It calls for some fearlessness.”     

The leadership difference at Disney, Jordan said lies in transferring much of the decision-making authority to those who are closest to the issues, including front-line workers. “Everyone gets a seat at the table because everyone has a story to share,” he said during the Monday presentation.

For the last 25 years, thousands of professionals from more than 35 countries and 40 industries have collaborated with the Disney Institute, learning how to adapt Disney’s best practices within their own organizations, according to information provided by the Disney Institute.

Mobile County Health Department leaders will see presentations from three more local and regional groups in coming weeks as they determine how to move forward with creating and sustaining dynamic customer service and corporate culture practices.