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Programs
Preventive Health Services
Carol Paluck, Supervisor
Telephone: (315)
376-5453
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:30AM - 4:30PM |
OVERVIEW:
Our Preventive Health Services are intended to prevent disease,
promote healthy lifestyles and protect the health and safety of county
residents.
- We monitor the community
and identify health problems continually as we update a Community Health
Assessment every year and publish results every 6 years.
- We investigate health
problems and health hazards in the community when we investigate cases
of whooping cough and when we make a home visit to a child with an
elevated blood lead level.
- We continually inform,
educate, and empower our citizens about health issues when we have a
booth at the fair or when we go into the schools and teach children
about hand washing.
- We enforce laws and
regulations that protect health and ensure safety when we offer free
rabies clinics for pets and when we conduct Child Passenger Safety Seat
Checks.
- We link people to needed
personal health services and ensure the provision of health care when it
is otherwise unavailable when we offer immunizations to children, public
flu clinics and home visits to pregnant women and newborn babies.
Services we offer:
(click a link to learn more)
» Maternal - Child Home
Visiting Program:
Lewis County Public Health offers two ways pregnant women, new
mothers, and babies can receive home visits from our maternal child
nurses. The visits are free. When you are having a baby, it is helpful
to have someone who can teach you about all the important things you
need to know, like what foods you should eat, how your body will
change with pregnancy, and how to be a good parent. Our nurses are
available to help with this. Their visits support the information you
will be getting from your doctor.
1.The MOMS HSS Program
The MOMS program, or Maternal Obstetric Medicaid Service program,
provides visits to any pregnant or new mother who is:
- Medicaid eligible during or
after pregnancy
- Receiving primary care form a
doctor who is a MOMS provider
2. Health Guidance
Program
The Health Guidance Program provides visits to any pregnant or new
mother who does not qualify for the MOMS program.
We can also arrange for free pregnancy testing and HIV
screening for anyone who comes to our office.
Referrals
Referrals for our home visiting program can be made by:
- Participating MOMS Providers
- Any other physician
- Planned Parenthood
- WIC
- DSS
- Self, family or friend
The Admission Process
Admission visits take place at our office so that we can assist women
in enrolling in the Medicaid Program. New clients will meet with a
Public Health representative who will screen them for eligibility for
Medicaid or MOMS. The following items should be brought to this first
visit:
- Picture ID
- Due date (signed by MD)
- Social Security Card
- Birth Certificate
- Insurance Information
- Proof of residence
- Proof of income (4 weeks of
wage slips, if self employed, current year income tax forms)
The second half of the
visit is with one of our Public Health Nurses. She will collect
medical information, check vital signs and evaluate nutrition. She
will also help the client sign up for WIC and any other needed
services.
This first visit may take a couple hours.
The rest of the visits will be done in the client’s home. How often
the nurse visits is based on the needs of the client, but they will
visit at least once per trimester and after delivery. These are the
things the nurse can do:
During pregnancy
- Check vital signs, monitor
weight
- Listen to the baby’s heart
- Help with immediate needs such
as food, housing, and doctor bills
- Educate about good nutrition
and common symptoms pregnancy can cause
- Offer help to quit smoking by
certified smoking cessation specialists
- Provide information about
eating right, baby growth and development, labor and delivery
After Delivery
- Provide information about
breastfeeding, baby care and parenting
- Monitor Baby’s growth and
development
- Offer information on family
planning
Useful links:
North Country Prenatal/Perinatal Council – Provides coordination of
services for pregnant women, free access to educational videos, books
and brochures. They also provide assistance to families to enroll in
Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus and Medicaid.
1-800-279-8679
Planned Parenthood of Northern New York – Provides pregnancy testing,
counseling, routine check-ups, assessment and treatment of STD’s and
other infections, HIV testing, fertility awareness. Services are
available for males and females.
788-8065 or 376-7421
www.ppnny.org
North Country Children’s Clinic – Offers dental clinic, WIC services
in Lewis County.
376-6427
www.childrens-clinic.org
Catholic Charities – offers prenatal counseling and education, parent
education, counseling for fetal loss .
http://cathcharities.org/otherservices.html
Cornell Cooperative Extension – Offers a wide variety of services;
nutritional education through the Eat Smart NY program, breastfeeding
support, parenting classes.
376-5270
http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/lewis/
Nancy Engle, RN, IBCLC, RLC
Feedemright – a certified lactation counselor
315-376-2311
www.parentmap.com/babymap
- helps parents and babies transition from womb to world
www.childbirthconnection.org - information on childbirth
http://uuhsc.utah.edu/wcservices/parenttoparent - support for
families of premature infants
www.cpsc.gov - provides information
on recalled items such as car seats and items that contain lead and
other safety issues.
www.homesafetycouncil.org/safety - information on safety in the
home for children
www.dnacenter.com - Information
about paternity testing
