The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1959-11-06


tive action in Ohio. BY
acts of the recent l03rd
General Assembly a number
OF new responsibilities, oppor-
tunities and challenges were
given 10 the Ohio Department
OF Health and 10 local health
departments.
The result will be a broad
err and more intensified pro
lection of the general public
against hazards TO health.
The average person or fam
iIy felt the impact OF new
health legislation mutually
in connection with the
compulsory immunizsfion law.
passed as an emergency meas
ure by the General Assembly.
The Act requires that all
school children shall be inn
munized against the five ser
ious and highly communicable
diseases: polio, te'anus, small
pox, diphtheria and whoopins
cough.
Actually the enforcement
OF the immunization laW falls
on the shoulders Of the local
school authorities. Primary re-
Sponsobillty for providing i'm
munizatlon rests on parents
and guardians
Illumination 10 cases where
parents or guardians fan 10 do
50. local health departments
are to act The State Health
Department was gwen the re
sponsiblllty by the Assembly
OF approving means OF I'M
munlzation
The Legislature did not ap
propriate any State funds for
this program, but by use OF
Federal funds the state
Health Department Will be able
to supply basic materials for
immunization OF about l5es
OF the school population
against smallpox diphtheria,
whooping cough and tetantls.
The Legislature transferred
the supervision Of nursing and
rest homes from two other de-
partments TO the Department
OF Health. This was a major
change. II involves some 200
homes and about 10000 pa.
fients and residents. After .
thorough study OF existing reg
ulations and licensing require.
manis, new regulations will be
adopted.
IL is the intention OF the
Health Department to work
CLOSELY with nursing and rest
home operators on a cooper
alive basis towards reaching
the final goal Of providing the
best possible patient care and
enyironmental conditions In
addition to carrying out IN
Spection and licensing, The
Department of Health will
provide expert consuitantS TO.
wards these ends
INSPECTION
The 1O3rd General Assem-.
bly, provided additional funds
for the Hospital Facilities III.
VISION Of the Department OF
Health so that an expanded
inspection and d licensing pro
gram for general hospitals
can be lnaugurated This pro
gram was authorized several
years ago, but until this year
no funds have been provided
BY the General Assembly.
Several entirely new pro.
urams are BEING inaupursfed
in the Department OF Health
S result OF Legislative ae'
ton. One Of them Is the as
pollution control. The Gener
al Assembly gave funds TO fhs
Department OF Health 10 ss
fablish an air pollution labor
atory and TO employ air pol
LUTON control experts. These
services will be available u
local Health Departments, 9th
sr official agencies. and X
industry. Regulatory actor
will remain at the local lsve.
since this is a highly tech
meal and complex field. Few
local communities would hav'
the funds OF the experts fo'
surveys and guidance IN sstab
fishing programs.
Still another new program
initiated by the l03rd Gener
al Assembly and gwen 10 The
ONO Department OF Health Il
the supervision Of all radia
ton sources The stale Depart
ment Of Health will have &
assume leadership provide
education. training and assist
snee TO the local departments
II il obvious that this program
will become = large projee
with the increased number o
nuelear reactions in OHIO
with increased usage OF radio
active isotopes, and with med
ical and dental Xray units
numbering in The nelghbor
hood of 10. 1000.
A. third new program IN tn
Department Of Health call
FIR lahaItfuu of h~ayardouk Slh