The Nursing Division provides nursing services to individuals, families and groups in homes, public health centers, schools and other sites as well. No matter where these services are provided, emphasis is placed on the prevention of disease, the promotion of health and rehabilitative measures by administering treatment and health counseling. Public health nursing interweaves its services with those of all other health and allied health workers.
Services/Programs
The services provided by the public health nursing division involve activities in the following areas:
Well Child Clinics
These clinics are State funded by The Ohio Department of Health. The sessions are usually attended by well children between the ages of six weeks and 21 years of age. In addition to a physician, a social worker and public health nurses are present in order to assure comprehensive care. Services include the identification of health problems as early as possible with thorough history taking, physical examination, assessments and testing, early and continual health guidance relating to all aspects of growth, development, nutrition and the administration of immunizations. Immunizations are administered according to recommendations of the Ohio Department of Health.
Immunizations include those that protect against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus (lockjaw), measles, mumps, rubella (German measles), polio, hepatitis B, varicella (chicken pox), and meningococcal disease. Lead tests and tuberculin screening tests are also administered. The nursing staff provides information and educational presentations regarding immunizations to teachers, parent groups, health fairs, schools and community groups who request this information.
Immunization Only Clinics
Walk-in clinics are held monthly for school age children, college students, and adults. Immunizations are available for those individuals who are in need of protection from diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus (lockjaw), measles, mumps, rubella (German measles), polio, hepatitis A & B, varicella (chicken pox), meningococcal disease, lyme disease, and pneumococcal disease.
Influenza clinics are held yearly from October through the winter months as recommended by the Ohio Department of Health. These clinics are open to the public. Satellite clinics are held throughout the city at various locations for the administration of the vaccine.
Infant Immunization Initiative
To increase the number of children receiving immunizations by age two by the year 2010, the Ohio Department of Health funds the Infant Immunization Initiative. Clinics are held at seven locations throughout Mahoning County to assist in this effort. The result has been a 90% series completion for children who are seen in these clinics.
Communicable Disease Control
The nurse contacts the individual to assure that they remain under medical care, understand and follow through with the recommended medical plan of treatment and understand the disease process and the precautions necessary to prevent spread of the disease to others. Some of the diseases include shigella, salmonella, campylobacter and hepatitis A, B and C.
Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)
The STD clinic is a state funded grant program for this region, although we see clients from many surrounding counties as well as Pennsylvania. Individuals are seen and examined by a physician. They are tested and treated in the clinic for gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, genital warts and other STD’s.
The staff also provides information and educational presentations of the totality of sexually transmitted diseases to at-risk teen groups at community centers, Youngstown State University’s health classes and teachers, at health fairs and other community groups.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Counseling and Testing
This clinic is one of Ohio’s counseling and testing sites. It provides anonymous (numbers only identification) one-on-one HIV/AIDS prevention and testing services to clients at-risk for HIV infection. By informing at risk clients of their antibody status and providing individual counseling, it is the goal of this program that these persons will be more likely to adopt sexual and drug use behavioral modifications that may reduce transmission of the AIDS virus.
Clients who test positive for the virus are given the tuberculin test or advised to receive it. If that test is positive, they are referred to the Mahoning County Tuberculosis Clinic and given further counseling and educational material pertaining to the prevention and spread of the disease. They are also referred to medical infectious disease specialists or a physician of their choice, other psychosocial professionals, and social services for persons with HIV and HIV/AIDS support groups. There is no out of pocket charge for the testing. The State Health Department pays for the cost.
Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)
WIC is a government nutrition supplement program funded through the Youngstown Area Community Action Council (YACAC). The city health department contracts with YACAC by providing public health nurses to perform height, weight and hemoglobin or hematocrit monitoring in the clinic to those who participate in the program. The women must be pregnant or breastfeeding. Children’s ages can be from birth to their fifth birthday. Income and qualifying medical conditions are criteria for determining eligibility to the program.
Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps
This is a state program for children up to 21 years of age (but through adulthood for those with cystic fibrosis) with chronic handicapping conditions. These conditions are hemophilia, heart or birth defects, cerebral palsy, cleft lip and palate, paralysis or spinal problems. The nurse visits the family to provide teaching and supervision of family members regarding counseling, the medical regimen, the condition itself and to ensure that medical care is maintained. A report is sent to the Bureau on each child’s progress and needs intervention.
Nursing Home, Group Home and Tattoo/Body Piercing Establishments
Inspection and Licensing Program
The nursing and group home inspection in the City are licensed and monitored to assure that each patient/resident has a safe and healthy environment. Tattoo and body piercing facilities are inspected and records audited to assure that diseases are not transferred through those operations. Nurse inspectors inspect these homes and facilities.
Homeless Program
The nurse for the homeless has provided access to the health care system for homeless and indigent clients in our community who otherwise would not seek medical services. Health screenings and services along with follow-up to the homeless are provided at shelters, transitional homes and congregate meal sites located throughout the city. Medical services of the Youngstown hospitals as well other community agencies network to supply the needs of this population. Homeless health fairs have been held yearly at the various congregate sites and shelters. Local health and social service agencies participate by volunteering their services for physical, dental, eye and podiatry exams, lead testing and tuberculosis screenings. The public health nurse helps plan the affair and provides blood pressure screening, hemoglobin testing for iron deficiency anemia and literature on health education relating to but not limited to sexually transmitted diseases, child growth development, nutrition, immunizations and other services the health department provides.
Local eye care professionals have provided free eye examinations, eyeglasses, and other services to this population. The nurse has made necessary appointments, assisted with transportation to appointments by securing bus passes and has obtained needed medications as well as other services for this population when other resources have been exhausted.
Dental Sealant Program
The Dental Sealant Program will work with the Youngstown Public School System to provide dental sealant to children at-risk that are in the second and sixth grades. Either these families cannot afford health insurance or are ineligible for Medicaid.
The Nursing Division provides nursing services to individuals, families and groups in homes, public health centers, schools and other sites as well. No matter where these services are provided, emphasis is placed on the prevention of disease, the promotion of health and rehabilitative measures by administering treatment and health counseling. Public health nursing interweaves its services with those of all other health and allied health workers.
Walk-in clinics are held monthly for school age children, college students, and adults. Immunizations are available for those individuals who are in need of protection from diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus (lockjaw), measles, mumps, rubella (German measles), polio, hepatitis A & B, varicella (chicken pox), meningococcal disease, lyme disease, and pneumococcal disease.