The local public health department moved from behind the Bourbon County Courthouse to a more spacious building and reopened on July 29 to offer health services to the community.
The new space for Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department is located between 6th and Horton and 6th and Lowman Streets at 524 S. Lowman.
In former years the building has been Mercy Home Health, Curves-a woman’s fitness center, then Cornerstone Bible Church.
The location on two main streets in Fort Scott will be an advantage.
“We hope this location makes people more aware of the health department,” Alice Maffett, health department nurse, said.
Now the employees can serve the community in a larger and more visible building with services such as physicals, immunizations, pregnancy tests, family planning, Kan Be Healthy Screenings, blood pressure and blood glucose checks, hearing and vision screenings, SRS referrals, Sexually Transmitted Disease testing and treatment, and lab/blood draws.
Rebecca Johnson, BSN, RN is the administrator of SEKMCHD and her primary office will be in Fort Scott. Maffett is the Registered Nurse in Bourbon County and Kristi George is the administrative assistant.
A physical exam and current immunizations are required for entrance into kindergarten.
New this year in immunizations, is the state-required meningitis shots for 7th and 11th-grade students, Maffett said, which the department offers.
The WIC program will be utilizing the building and also available are breastfeeding classes.
The health department board is working to build community partnerships.
“It is a great building and we are looking for other community groups or agencies to utilize our conference room.
The conference room is approximately 25 feet by 16 feet and has an adjacent kitchenette for use, she said.
Dave and Jan Elliott will be offering Love and Logic Parenting classes in the future.
The health department board is also interested in exploring the option of telemedicine in the future, Johnson, said.
Another possibility in the future is to hire a Nurse Practitioner, Maffett said.
The hours of operation: Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information: 620.223.4464. The fax number is 620.223.1686. or www.sekmchd.com
