Health Department Overview Per AVC Communications Inc. (2017), the Guernsey County Health Department holds fast to their mission for improved quality of life …show more content…
In addition to the highly-detailed emergency plan for multiple disaster scenarios, the department also contributes to a regional emergency preparedness group. This team of departments host regular emergency disaster planning meetings, produces regional disaster exercises, and continually perfects disaster strategies. Staff have also been trained and certified in multiple disaster relief management services that assist with emergency disaster services statewide. Per Cambridge - Guernsey County Health Department All Hazards Emergency Response Plan (2016), public health emergency support includes many elements including help from local governments, private support agencies, and local citizens to reinforce the preparedness of an emergency disaster. Therefore, in the event of a natural or man-made disaster the department provides both further disaster preventive plans, action plans, and recovery …show more content…
The emphasis is on the entire population and consists of promoting all levels of health and disease prevention. The public nurse offers services and support to all individuals throughout the life span. From immunization clinics, educational classes for teens, breastfeeding support to new mothers, and end-of-life resources for the elderly, the community health nurse is a key unit for the overall health of the local population (Nies & McEwen, 2014). After working at a correctional facility for almost 3 years, my daily work experiences are closely related to those of the public health nurse. Inmate Medical Services (IHS) offers medical services to over two-thousand incarcerated male offenders in the facility. Nurse services include infectious disease monitoring, health education classes, monthly immunization clinics, daily walk-in nurses sick call hours, and 24-hour medical emergency response. Many offenders never received medical care throughout their pre-incarcerated life and lack basic health knowledge. These gaps in medical care and education can be filled by the correctional nurse and IHS services if the inmate wishes to partake. When prison sentences are expired, correctional nurses work with the offender’s local community resources to provide continued support after incarceration. Local health departments are contacted to provide the completion of immunization series started while the