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B. Organizational Capability
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<br />The health department continues to reach all parts of the county for environmental health, communicable disease
<br />control, community health education, outreach, comprehensive school health programs in the five county schools, basic
<br />school health in the remaining schools, and the WIC and nutrition program. The health department's communicable
<br />disease and epidemiology team has responded to TB, rabies exposures, GI illnesses, Hepatitis A, and meningitis this
<br />past year.
<br />In 2018, we had a large-scale rabies exposure investigation in response to a rabid cat. The health department provided
<br />community education in multiple forums for outdoor cats and the risk of rabies as well as other diseases and leveraged
<br />GIS mapping to detail the full impact of this problem. In late 2018 and 2019, we were heavily involved in Hepatitis A
<br />outbreak response. From late 2019 and throughout 2020, many of our personnel were assigned to COVID-19
<br />pandemic response.
<br />We work in partnership with multiple agencies to maximize resources. Domestic security, preparedness, and response
<br />activities have permeated every aspect of public health, never more obvious than the health department's response to
<br />the pandemic and hurricanes. Our partnerships have enhanced our Wabasso satellite site, which is being developed
<br />according to resident identified priorities from the recent PACE -EH survey.
<br />The health department maintains core health department services such as immunizations, family planning, and
<br />communicable disease control. This includes sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS primary care, and Tuberculosis
<br />treatment. We continue all our community health improvement activities including PACE -EH. In addition, Environmental
<br />Health, School Health, Epidemiology, Vital Statistics, Preparedness, WIC, and Health Education and promotion all are
<br />important services to the residents of Indian River County.
<br />By Florida Statute 154.01, the county health department performs three main functions to the extent funds are
<br />available. These include:
<br />(a) "Disease prevention and control services" - those services that protect the health of the public through the detection,
<br />control and eradication of diseases that affect humans. Such services include, but are not limited to, epidemiology
<br />(disease tracing), sexually transmitted disease detection and control, HIV/AIDS education and treatment, immunization,
<br />tuberculosis control and treatment, chronic disease prevention and control, and maintenance of vital statistics (birth and
<br />death) and community health statistics. In addition, lead community groups in population based health planning and
<br />evaluation.
<br />(b) "Environmental health services" - those services that are organized and operated to protect the health of the general
<br />public by monitoring and regulating activities in the environment that may contribute to the occurrence or transmission
<br />of disease. Examples of environmental health services include, but are not limited to: assuring a safe drinking water
<br />supply, occupational health, epidemiology, toxic material control; inspection of: sewage and solid waste disposal,
<br />swimming pools, group care facilities, migrant labor camps, indoor air quality and radiological health.
<br />(c) "Primary care services" - preventive services and medical care that are made available to well and sick persons who
<br />are unable to obtain such services due to lack of income or other barriers beyond their control. These services are
<br />provided to benefit individuals, improve the collective health of the public, and prevent and control the spread of
<br />disease. Examples of primary health care services include, but are not limited to: first contact medical and health care
<br />services; chronic disease such as diabetes and hypertension detection and treatment; child health care, family
<br />planning; nutrition; school health; and supplementary food assistance for women, infants and children (WIC), and dental
<br />health.
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<br />The county health department is the only agency charged by Florida Statute with control of communicable disease, the
<br />provision and regulation of environmental health services, and primary care, primarily to those who are uninsured or
<br />underinsured. We are responsible for protecting the public health of the community. By Florida Statute 154.01, county
<br />health departments operate in partnership with the county. This relationship is solidified each year in the state and
<br />county contract, signed by both agencies. We are in the process of our PACE -EH project in Wabasso. We have
<br />completed the survey and are working with Wabasso residents on their identified community improvements. We are
<br />developing a food forest at the Wabasso site and a viewing trail The food forest will be self sustaining and will integrate
<br />into our nutrition education programming. We provide HIV/AIDS primary care through our medical director, who is an
<br />HIV specialist. The health department maintains core health department services such as immunizations, family
<br />planning, environmental health, and communicable disease control. This includes sexually transmitted diseases,
<br />HIV/AIDS services, and Tuberculosis treatment. We will continue all our community health improvement activities
<br />including PACE -EH. In addition, Environmental Health, School Health, Epidemiology, Vital Statistics, Preparedness,
<br />WIC, and Health Education and promotion all are important services to the residents of Indian River County.
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