Community Health Promotion

• Scoliosis Screening
  Screening of children for Scoliosis is done in the 6th and 8th grades by trained school staff. A Public Health Nurse re-screens any children referred to her after this initial exam. Any child requiring further examination is referred to their family physician.
  
• School, Daycare and Pre-K Audits
  The immunization nurse assesses the immunization status of all children enrolled in all private and public kindergarten, pre-K and 6th grade classes, and all children enrolled in day care (privately-owned, and church-owned) facilities. Education on the purpose and necessity of childhood immunization is provided through parent letters, articles, workshops for daycare facility staff, physician office staff, and school nurses.
  
• Community Collaborative Efforts
  We serve as members and consultants to boards, councils, committees, and community service-related organizations in the county. Our purpose is to stay abreast of the thoughts, needs, concerns, and climate of the community, and assist the citizenry to maintain its highest level of wellness. Some of the groups we are currently involved in are: Fayette County Bioterrorism Task Force, Fayette FACTOR, Fayette Human Services Council, The Association of Village PRIDE, Child Abuse/Fatality Committee, County Technical Review Committee (TRC).
  
• Outside Clinics/Workplace Wellness
  Assist area industries and other organizations in promoting health and preventing disease in their workers. This is accomplished by holding clinics and providing education in that organization’s facility.
  
• Health Fairs
  Provide set up and manning of information booths, limited screening activities (i.e. basic cholesterol and glucose testing, blood pressure screening), provide nutritional education, etc. for local health fairs.
  
• Health Education
  Provide health and wellness education to the community through telephone triage; consultation with area physicians; distribution of written information; newspaper articles; provide staff to lecture on various health/environment-related topics upon request (as staffing allows); assist local parochial / college students, citizens, and organizations by providing public health information and statistics; organize and participate in public health forums; and proctor nursing students during the clinical rotation phase of their training. Additionally, each nurse in the health department has charge of a particular program that is administered through us. As they follow through with that program, attend hours of continuing education in that area, and gain daily experience: they become our experts in that particular area (i.e. the “infectious disease nurse”, or the “immunization nurse”) and a valuable community resource.