Local health department offers many services

by Buckley Jensen

The Southeastern Utah District Health Department encompasses all the communities of San Juan, Grand, Emery and Carbon Counties. P. O Box is 127 and telephone is 435-587-2021. The Office in Blanding is at 193 E. Center. Katie Knight, RN, PHN is in charge with Mitzie Balch as clerk and assistant. They are open Mon-Thurs from from 7-6. Immunizations are Mon-Wed from 3:30-5:30. The office telephone is 435-678-2723.

Marilee Bailey, RN, PHN is the director of the Monticello Office with Sue Morrell as clerk and assistant. Hours are 8-5 Mon-Thurs. Immunizations are given Tues. and Thurs. from 3-4:30 p.m. The public is invited and encouraged to stop by the office for any of the services offered below. Enter the Courthouse in Monticello at the East entrance, and go down the stairs. The Office is the first door on the right.

The Health District offers a plethora of services. A brochure with complete details of services provided is available upon request. Briefly, specific services available at the Monticello and Blanding offices are as follows:

Cancer screening: All women 50-64 years of age are eligible. The fee is based on a sliding income scale. Appointments are necessary.

Car seat sales and education: Children under 8 are now required by law to be secured in an approved car or booster seat.

Chec: Office provides screening for children up to 21 years of age who are eligible for a Medicaid card. Services are paid for by Medicaid.

Case Management: Changing or adding a primary care provider to a medical card. Referrals to another physician or clinic are provided. No charge for this service.

Child Health Clinic: Assists parents in keeping children healthy with preventative medical assistance of all kinds. Fees are based on income.

Children with Special Health Care Needs: This service is designed for children with handicaps from newborns to age 21.

Communicable Diseases: Anyone is eligible for almost any communicable disease from HIV to childhood diseases. Fee is determined by services rendered.

Environmental Health: Health concerns related to water supplies, solid waste management, sanitation of public food establishments, private water supplies, swimming pools, day care inspections and air quality are some of the services rendered hereunder. Fees are variable.

Family Planning: Many educational services along with screenings for various health problems associated with pregnancy. Those under 18 must have parental approval. Fees are on a sliding scale determined by income.

Health Education: A full-time Health Educator is available to give film and oral presentations on a broad range of topics from tobacco use to injury protection. Fee is variable.

Immunization clinics: Shots for most communicable diseases are available at the times listed above. A fee schedule is posted at the office.

Prenatal…(Baby your Baby): Educates on all aspects of pregnancy and childcare. Fee is a sliding scale.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Counseling and services related to all STD’s. Fee is income based.

Tobacco Cessation: Assistance in reducing the used of tobacco products: Fee is variable.

Tuberculosis: Assistance with testing and treatment.

HIV Testing: Available

Monticello Mill Tailing Victims Program. (See last week’s issue of the San Juan Record.)

Vital Statistics: Office has state vital records data base to produce birth and other certificates. Hours Mon and Wed 3-4 p.m..

WIC: Program for infants and children 1-5 years. Professional nutritional assistance of all kinds. No fee.

Preparedness for Bioterrorism and all other disaster events.

In addition to these services offered locally, there are additional services such as hypertension, injury prevention and others offered at some of the other offices within the four-county health district.