GUARDING YOUR HEALTH
District keeps tabs on outbreaks in area
By JIMMY GALVAN

THROUGH ITS MAIN OFFICES ON Lamar Street, the Jasper-Newton County Health District aids the general public on several health levels.

Name the county group that deals with bioterrorism emergency preparedness. Before you answer, the same group also deals with breast and cervical cancer control and environmental and consumer health issues as well.

The Jasper Newton County Public Health District deals with these issues and much more through its main office in Jasper and satellite offices in Kirbyville and Newton.

"There is definitely a need for the services that we provide in Jasper and Newton counties," said Director Danny Brackin. "We are set up for Jasper and Newton counties, but the state may ask us to Sabine and San Augustine counties for certain services.

"Most of our programs deal with uninsured people," Brackin said. "One of the traditional roles of the health department is monitoring outbreaks of flu and West Nile Virus."

He noted that if the area encountered a major West Nile outbreak, the regional office in Tyler would be contacted for further support.

He pointed to a possible meningitis outbreak that was reported in 1996 in which immunizations were provided for children in Jasper and Newton counties.

All the services are provided on a sliding fee scale, depending on patient's income. All the services are available to anyone that is at 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

Brackin said that the majority of the service through the district comes with the primary health care that is provided. Dr. James Spencer sees patients two days a week

The departments the district deals with include:

Bioterrorism emergency preparedness and response - Bioterrorism readiness and response provides training and resources to local healthcare professionals and emergency first responders on biological agents and treatment of associated diseases.

"This is a program that has us prepared in the case of biological threat," Brackin said. "But if there was a flu outbreak in the area, it would also fall under this category as well."

Breast and cervical cancer control - JNCPHD provides clinical breast exams, cervical pap smears and mammograms for women 50 to 64 years of age. The exams are available to women without insurance (no Medicare or Medicaid).

Children with special health care needs - CSHCN is a benefit and/or case management program for kids with chronic diseases or disabilities (under the age of 21 and a Texas resident) that qualify financially and medically. The district pays for medical bills, transportation, equipment, medicine, supplies and therapy for an approved diagnosis.

Communicable disease - The district is responsible for the prevention and control of infectious diseases. Doctors, health care agencies and schools require the reporting of diseases.

This includes HIV and AIDS testing for the general public.

"That is one of the most traditional roles of the health department," Brackin said. "This testing is open to anybody."

Environmental and consumer health - Provides food service establishment inspections and food handler training. Enforces local and state laws regarding motels, childcare facilities, mobile home parks and public schools. Investigates general sanitation complaints and issues permits for septic systems installations in Newton County only.

Brackin pointed out the district will investigate any complaints made against area restaurants for bad food being served. Every year, the district conducts restaurant inspections.

Family planning - Provides a complete physical exam, health education, counseling on methods of contraception and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.

Immunization - Given to children and adults for vaccine preventable diseases. Vaccines are given according to the recommendations of the Texas Department of Health.

Maternal services - Provide pregnancy testing, prenatal and postpartum care. Clients receive presumptive eligibility screening for Medicaid and referral to appropriate programs including Women Infants and Children (WIC) and case management.

Primary health care (PHC) - Provides physicians visits, transportation, and assistance with prescription medicines.

Texas Health Steps - Children receive a complete health history, physical exams, vision and hearing testing, lab tests, immunizations, nutritional counseling, developmental testing, dental and physician referral, parent and child education.

WIC (Women, Infants and Children) - WIC is a nutrition education program that provides supplemental foods, which promote good health for pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children up to the age of five.

This program covers Jasper, Newton, Sabine and San Augustine counties. The district has seven sites open that provide the vouchers for the program.

"If you look at our numbers, you can see we affect just about everybody," Brackin said. "But there a lot of things that we don't do that the general public thinks we handle."