City May Join State Health Program

Prospect Heights health officials are urging the city council to join in on a state plan bringing local health departments together to strengthen the statewide public health system.

The Illinois Public Health Mutual Aid System was first presented for consideration by Illinois Department of Public Health officials in August. In October, Gov. Rod Blagojevich asked local health departments to join the program.

The goal is for local departments to assist one another in the case of a catastrophic event or outbreak of disease, according to state officials.

At this week’s city council meeting, Prospect Heights Director of Public Health Dr. Densil A. Brown requested the city take part.

“It does create another layer of government that I’m not always in favor of,” Brown said. “But it’s worthwhile in this case.”

Brown was notified about the plan by the governor’s office when it was first introduced, but he said he had to first do research to verify the plan and to see if it fit the department’s state- mandated enforcement codes.

He said it’s a loose and voluntary agreement that formalizes communication between departments.

If a town or municipality has a severe incident of any nature, that town can tap into the resources of health departments that agree to help, Brown said.

Brown said the agreement is similar to what New York did after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when many police and health departments came together to assist New York City.

With increased concerns over the potential threat of bioterrorism, Blagojevich wanted to put a system in place as soon as possible, Brown said.

He added that it would benefit several small health departments in the state that do not have vast resources.

There are no restrictions to join the agency, according to Jennifer Williams, spokeswoman for Illinois Department of Public Health, and there would be no costs to the stricken community.

In terms of Prospect Heights, Brown said the city’s costs would be minimal.

“Costs for emergency equipment would be less than $1,000 for biohazard protective gowns and hard hats,” he said.

Based on the size of Prospect Heights, Brown said the city would benefit from the plan more than other surrounding communities.

“We’re a small health department, while the municipalities around us have more equipment and people,” he said. “And since we’re a small community, the chance of bioterrorism is less of a risk.”

Mayor Rodney Pace said he believes joining the agency is a great idea because “when it comes to public health you can’t do enough.”

Illinois Department of Public Health spokesman Tom Schafer said that in a short time the state has made progress in getting local departments to join in on the effort.

“The program already has 82 out of 95 local health departments signed up,” Schafer said.

In Cook County, Evanston, Oak Park and Stickney public health departments have already signed up.

All of DuPage, McHenry and Will counties have enlisted, while Lake County is pending, according to state officials.