SEK Health Department: Prevent-Promote-Protect

Rebecca Johnson, SEKMCHD Director.

Submitted by Rebecca Johnson BSN, RN; SEK Multi-County Health Department Administrator/SEK Local Health Officer

Prevent-Promote-Protect

 

Who are we?

We are the SEK Multi-County Health Department.

1971, the Bi-County Health Department was started with Anderson County and Linn County. Kansas Department of Health and Environment worked with these two counties because of their low immunization rates. Several years later, Allen, Bourbon, and Woodson Counties joined to form the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department. In 2006, Linn County left the SEKMCHD leaving the four counties – AllenAndersonBourbon, and Woodson.

 

Who are our staff?

Allen County: Megan Neville, RN-Public Health Nurse; Traci Ridge-Accountant; Susan Belt, MT(ASCP)- Reg. PHEP Coordinator/Planning & Outreach Coordinator; Vicki Howard-Home Visitor; Ruby Gulick-Administrative Assistant; Deidre Wilson, RN-WIC Coordinator/Public Health Nurse; Dr. Rebecca Watson-Medical Director; Cara Walden, RN-Public Health Nurse; Cynthia Frisbie, RD, LD-Dietician

Anderson County: Samantha Mason BS, RN-Public Health Nurse; Mika Mader-Administrative Assistant

Bourbon County: Hannah Geneva, RN-Public Health Nurse; Kendell Mason-Administrative Assistant; Holly Fritter-Home Visitor; Linda Lawrence-Special Projects Assistant; Rebecca Johnson, BSN, RN-Administrator/SEK Local Health Officer

Woodson County: Tiffany Davidson, RN, BSN-Public Health Nurse; Joni Diver-Administrative Assistant

 

What do we provide to our community?

Public Health

 

What is Public Health?

Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. This work is achieved by promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention, and detecting, preventing and responding to infectious diseases. Overall, public health is concerned with protecting the health of entire populations. These populations can be as small as a local neighborhood, or as big as an entire country or region of the world. (CDCfoundation.org)

 

Why is Public Health important?

Public health professionals try to prevent problems from happening or recurring through implementing educational programs, recommending policies, administering services and conducting research—in contrast to clinical professionals like doctors and nurses, who focus primarily on treating individuals after they become sick or injured. Public health also works to limit health disparities. A large part of public health is promoting health care equity, quality and accessibility. (CDCfoundation.org)

 

The 10 Essential Public Health Services:

 

The strength of a public health system rests on its capacity to effectively deliver the 10 Essential Public Health Services:

  1. Assess and monitor population health.
  2. Investigate, diagnose and address health hazards and root causes.
  3. Communicate effectively to inform and educate.
  4. Strengthen, support and mobilize communities and partnerships.
  5. Create, champion and implement policies, plans and laws.
  6. Utilize legal and regulatory actions.
  7. Enable equitable access.
  8. Build a diverse and skilled workforce.
  9. Improve and innovate through evaluation, research and quality improvement.
  10. Build and maintain a strong organizational infrastructure for public health.

The 10 Essential Public Health Services provide a framework for public health to protect and promote the health of all people in all communities.

To achieve optimal health for all, the Essential Public Health Services actively promote policies, systems and services that enable good health and seek to remove obstacles and systemic and structural barriers — such as poverty, racism, gender discrimination, and other forms of oppression — that have resulted in health inequalities.

Everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to achieve good health and well-being.

 

 

Other services we provide to our community:

 

Family Planning:

Breast Exam, Pap, Lab Work, STD testing, Blood pressure screening, hemoglobin, blood sugar, nutrition counseling & birth control if desired.

Immunizations:

Infants, Children, & Adults

 

KanBe Healthy Screening:

For Kancare eligible children up to 18 years of age. Full physical, hearing & vision screenings, and lab work.

 

Healthy Start Home Visitor:

Provides home visits to pregnant mothers and parents of newborns. Provides parents with resources and referrals for various assistance programs they are eligible for. Breastfeeding education provided.

 

Adult Physicals:

Basic adult physical provided by registered nurse for employment purposes. Physicals also provided for State of Kansas foster care or adoptions.

 

Childhood Physicals:

Physicals for public schools, daycares, Headstart or preschool. Full physical, hearing & vision screens, lab work. No Athletic Physicals.

 

Blood Pressure & Glucose Checks:

We will monitor blood pressure/blood glucose and keep a record for you.

 

Pregnancy Tests:

Provided for $15.00. Referrals to DCF, WIC, HSHV, and family doctor are provided.

 

WIC:

Women, Infant, & Children – State Program to help promote the healthy development of children. Call for more information.

 

STD Testing & Treatment:

We will test for and treat gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis.

 

Lab/Blood Draws:

Cholesterol, diabetes, drug screens, pregnancy, CBC, Thyroid, prostate. For a full list and pricing please call.

 

Child Care Licensing:

 

Call for more information

 

 

 

 

 

How to contact us:

Allen County: (620)365-2191

Anderson County: (785)448-6559

Bourbon County: (620)223-4464

Woodson County: (620)625-2484

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *