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Features

Health Matters

A monthly feature from  Logan County Health Department

April 1-5 is Public Health Week

[APRIL 2, 2002]  Traditionally, we take this opportunity to recognize the "nurses in blue" — public health nurses — who are employed by local health departments. Though the traditional blue cape and starched white uniform of the public health nurses of yesteryear are no longer visible, public health nurses continue to be on the forefront of preventive health services in Logan County. Through tax support and money received from grant funding, client services are provided for a reduced fee.

Public health nurses carry a caseload of clients in a range of ages and conditions across the health-illness continuum. These nurses are challenged to deliver health services in many settings — the school, the home, the workplace and clinics. Public health nurses draw from a broad base of nursing knowledge, as well as community resources. The goals of public health nursing are health maintenance and client independence.

Logan County Health Department nurses work in a variety of program areas. Women, Infant, Children, or WIC, is one such area. WIC is a federally funded supplemental food program for pregnant women, breast-feeding women, infants and children up to age 5. WIC nurses provide participants with specific nutritious supplemental foods and education on nutrition.

The communicable disease investigator is the nurse who conducts the investigation and control of communicable diseases. There are presently over 70 diseases and conditions that the Illinois Department of Public Health requires to be followed.

Tuberculosis, or TB, is not a disease of yesteryear. Clients who have positive TB tests receive education, counseling, treatment and follow-up by the nurse working in that program.

There is a Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at Logan County Health Department. Lead screening and prevention activities, as well as follow-up of children with elevated blood lead levels, are the responsibilities of the nurse involved.

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The maternal-child health nurse works in several programs designed for parents and infants. A pregnant woman may have no physician. The maternal-child nurse helps those clients access services that are available in our county. Two types of visits may be made for infants. Special Delivery visits provide an in-home nursing assessment and teaching for any new parent and infant living in Logan County. Adverse Pregnancy Outcome Reporting System, or APORS, visits allow the maternal-child health nurse to follow high-risk infants for a prolonged period of time. If mothers have questions with breast-feeding, a certified lactation counselor is on staff to answer those questions. In cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, the maternal-child health nurse can provide support and education to the family.

Carrying out general educational activities in the area of preventive health is the role of the health educator. She assists in planning, organizing, presenting and evaluating programs designed to promote public awareness of good health practices. Individual and community needs for health education are assessed.

As you can see, the "nurses in blue" continue to provide a wide variety of services throughout the Logan County community.

For more information on services provided at the Logan County Health Department, phone (217) 735-2317 or stop by at 109 Third St. in Lincoln.

[Logan County Health Department]

Red Cross

Events

April 2002

Monday, April 22
SPONSOR: Domestic Abuse and Violence Task Force of Logan County
WHO: Public
WHAT: Monthly meeting
WHERE: Logan County Health Department, Conference Room B, 109 Third St.
WHEN: 8 am

SPONSOR: U of I Extension
WHO: Preregistered participants
WHAT: “Dining with Diabetes,” presented by Jananne Finck, nutrition educator; second of three sessions
WHERE: Extension office, 980 N. Postville Drive
WHEN: 7-8:30 pm

WHAT: Meeting of support group for Parkinson's disease patients and their caregivers
WHERE: ALMH Room A, lower level
WHEN: 7 pm

Sunday, April 28
SPONSOR: Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital and Lincoln Junior Woman's Club
WHO: Public
WHAT: Special Deliveries sibling class; free
WHERE: ALMH Education Room in the Family Maternity Suites, third floor
WHEN: 1-3 pm

Monday, April 29
SPONSOR: U of I Extension
WHO: Preregistered participants
WHAT: “Dining with Diabetes,” presented by Jananne Finck, nutrition educator; last of three sessions
WHERE: Extension office, 980 N. Postville Drive
WHEN: 7-8:30 pm

May 2002

Wednesday, May 1
SPONSOR: American Red Cross
WHO: Public
WHAT: Blood drive
WHERE: Lincoln Sports Complex
WHEN: noon-5 pm

Wednesday, May 15
SPONSOR: American Red Cross
WHO: Public
WHAT: Blood drive
WHERE: Lincoln Sports Complex
WHEN: noon-6 pm

Honors & Awards

Announcements

Parkinson’s support group

[APRIL 9, 2002]  A support group for Parkinson’s disease patients and their caregivers meets on the fourth Monday of each month at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, 311 Eighth St.  Meetings are in Room A on the lower level of the hospital at 7 p.m.

For more information contact Dr. Dean Hauter, (217) 732-3368.

The Rural Health Partnership has announced the schedule for its mobile health unit for 2002.

For more information on the mobile health unit schedule and services, contact Dayle Eldredge at (217) 732-2161, Ext. 409.

Community resource list

This family resource list to save and use is provided by the Healthy Communities Partnership and the Healthy Families Task Force, 732-2161, Ext. 409.         

(updated 2-15-02)

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