Physical Health Department
Programs
- Family Planning (based on receipt of Title X funds)
Provide education regarding childbearing and sexual health, birth control, pregnancy testing, annual pelvic examination and Pap, clinical breast exam and referral for mammography. - BreasTEST & More
Provides clinical breast examinations, referral for mammography, and case management/referral for further diagnostic testing and treatment for clients who qualify. - Cervical Cancer Screening
Perform pelvic examination and pap, case-management/referral for further diagnostic testing and treatment for clients who qualify. - Sexually Transmitted Disease
Provide education, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted disease. Also perform or assist in contact investigations (tracking of contacts). Act as the information and referral point for community entities. - HIV Screening
Screening requires detailed history-taking, pre & post-test counseling, recall for results, and possible referral for treatment. - Communicable Disease Program
Serve as a community information base for communicable disease. The dept, with the help of the district: tracks contacts, and secures and administers the appropriate prophylactic medications/vaccines. It also educates the case (person with the illness), their contacts, and the concerned public re: the disease, mode of transmission, treatment options, signs and symptoms of illness, and methods of avoiding infection.
- Tuberculosis Program
Local administration and documentation of the Statewide TB program. Track, test, and administer medications to TB cases and those who have been exposed to TB cases. - Chronic Disease
Provides screening for diabetes and hypertension, as well as education on diet and healthy lifestyle choices. - Immunizations
Educates the public and our clients re: vaccine-preventable disease and immunizations. Vaccines are administered to children, and adults. In some cases, the cost of the vaccine is covered by the Vaccine For Children Program (State) for the uninsured / underinsured, and those on Medicaid/Peachcare. Some are self-pay clients. - Travel Clinic
Informs clients who anticipate foreign travel regarding what immunizations are desirable / required for country they will be visiting, and of any travel advisories that are in effect. All vaccines are available for administration in our facility with the exception of Japanese Encephalitis. - WIC (Women, Infants, & Children)
Provide education in the areas of infant/child growth and development, healthy nutrition habits for mother (pre & post-natal) and child, monitoring of physical and nutritional health status for mothers and children, and provision of food vouchers to enhance nutritional health. - High Risk Nutrition
Provision of education and guidance for those who are at nutritional risk. Risk may be associated with any number of health issues (i.e. high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, etc.). The program serves adults and children who are seen by a nurse or a registered dietitian. A person does not have to be enrolled in the WIC program to qualify.
- Children 1st
Program identifies “at risk children” at birth and offers in-home family assessments to identify strengths and needs and to provide information about health, child development, and parenting resources. Children 1st helps identify community resources that families most commonly need, including difficult-to-locate services. - Health Check
Provides a thorough head-to-toe physical assessment for children. - Child Health
This covers a broad range of examinations and treatments. (I.E. Pinkeye, ear infection, head lice, Impetigo, Pinworms, iron deficiency anemia, etc.) These are considered minor illnesses and are covered under Public Health Nursing protocol. Child Health also includes hearing, vision, and dental examinations for school, and Child Health Checks. - Babies Born Healthy
Provides prenatal care for undocumented clients, paid for through contracts that District 4 has with private physicians, with funds issued by the state. The cost of delivery is also covered at a contracted rate. - Safe Kids
Provides car seat instillation and occupant safety training for parents, check of installed car seats for correctness, provision of new car seats and/or booster seats for parents who have worn out or recalled models, or who financially qualify for assistance. The public is educated through articles, traffic stops, set-ups at health fairs, bicycle rodeos, and public speaking engagements. Staff members are also trained as poison prevention educators, and as such go into the schools to teach safety.
- PKU Follow-Up (Universal Newborn Screening)
Follows up with infants who were discharged from the hospital before having PKU done. Test is performed and results are given to the parents. - Breastfeeding and Breast Pump Education/Issuance
Clients are able to consult with a registered nurse who is a lactation specialist when having breastfeeding difficulties, or questions. The nurse also maintains and manages the equipment for the breast pump-lending program, and educates clients on how to use the equipment. - Emergency Response
Public Health responds to disasters and emergency situations in the community in conjunction with the EMA director and EMS chief. As the situation demands we are tasked to: provide public information and education, technical advice, consult with command personnel, assist with emergency shelters, and to provide on-site assistance as needed. - Bioterrorism Response Public Health has become one of the lead organizations in community planning for bioterrorism response. On a District, county, and area level: each health department is involved in planning and response, and becomes a component of the incident command center.
- Refugee Services
Provides physical assessments, screening for communicable diseases, immunizations, diagnostic testing, treatment (dependent on findings) and/or referrals for treatment or further testing.