Carson City health’s 2012 in review

This column appears in the Nevada Appeal Wednesday health pages. It addresses topics related to the health of our community.As we begin 2013, it seems that it was only yesterday that we were starting out 2012. So much has happened in the past year at Carson City Health and Human Services, and we wanted to let everyone know about a few of our proudest accomplishments — after all, we are here to serve you, our community.This year brought with it a brand new division at CCHHS, Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. It has long been a goal of the Health Department to establish programs geared toward helping our community achieve healthier lifestyles. By combining the already-existing Tobacco Prevention and STD/HIV education programs with upstarts Promoting Health Among Teens and Safe Routes to Schools, this new division represents a big step toward promoting healthier lifestyles in Carson City and beyond. In the Human Services Division, this year was all about new faces and programs. CCHHS was thrilled to welcome new Division Manager Mary Jane Ostrander and her experience and expertise to Carson City. The department kicked off our Community Access to Medication Program through NeedyMeds, and our Workforce Development program is re-structuring to expand services to job seekers. Additionally, Women, Infants, and Children has increased outreach efforts by partnering with the Pregnancy Center and Salvation Army to bring services to those in need. The Epidemiology and Environmental Health Divisions have continued their work of keeping our community safe by performing inspections at restaurants, pools, and more. This year, they were successful in helping over 300 people to become certified food handlers, so more of those serving you in restaurants in our community understand how to serve food safely.CCHHS’ clinical services department has had an active year. In addition to over 9,000 visits to our clinic for family planning, Immunizations, STD testing, tuberculosis screening, and well child exams, we have been involved in many community outreach activities. In 2012, the clinic participated in National Infant Immunization Week by promoting free immunizations to Carson City Day Cares, offered free HIV testing for National HIV Testing Day, providedfree adolescent vaccines at the local mobile food pantry and ended the year with the Food for Flu food donation program.Perhaps the year’s biggest accomplishment was the approval of the Community Health Improvement Plan by the Board of Supervisors. Two years of evaluation and meetings with community stakeholders went into preparing this very important achievement, which will serve as a guide for public health in Carson City in the coming years. The priorities outlined in the document represent the most pressing health needs in our community, and the Health Department is excited to implement this plan.As we begin another year, our resolution is to continue providing the best service we can to our community. We thank all of our partners from the past year, and hope to build even stronger partnerships in 2013. We hope you will make resolutions too — to a healthy, happy 2013.Carson City Healthand Human Services:900 E. Long St., Carson City.Call 775-887-2195.Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Friday; call for appointment. Well-child visits: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays. Men's clinic: 4-6 p.m. Mondays. Immunization Day: 8:30-11:30 a.m.; 1-4:30 p.m. Thursdays.Douglas CountyCommunity Health:1538 Highway 395 North (corner of Spruce Street and Cemetery Lane).Call 775-782-9038.Hours: 8:30 a.m. to noon Monday; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. Monday is Immunization Day: No appointment needed, 1-4:30 p.m.