This has been a challenging and productive year at ECHD! On a Friday night in April 2009 we were informed that a child in Elyria was suspected of having contracted H1N1. This diagnosis was confirmed on the next day. Because it was the first diagnosed case in Ohio, we were the focus of much local (and some national & international) media attention. The Ohio Department of Health and the Centers For Disease Control provided us with guidance as we instituted procedures for emergency response. With the support of: the Lorain City Health Department, the Lorain County General Health District, the Lorain County Emergency Management Agency and the Elyria City Schools Administration, we responded quickly and appropriately.
By mid-summer it was clear that the next phase of H1N1 response would be provision of a vaccine that was being developed. We began our planning for public clinics to provide the vaccine. Our first clinic was held in October, and by December 31st, we had held 25 clinics and provided immunizations to 7219 people. Concurrently, the tireless staff continued to provide the many needed programs and services, barely missing a beat in any of them. Food service, public pool and school inspections were conducted by the environmental health division. The Nursing Division continued to provide nurse home visits in the Help Me Grow, BCMH and Bridge programs, prenatal care coordination was maintained as well as our adult and child immunization clinics. And of course - the seasonal flu clinics! I have described our response and continued program implementation as, "We landed on our feet!!"
We look forward to another year focusing on keeping Elyria healthy. We appreciate the collaborative environment that was generated by the H1N1 response (positive outcomes are often generated by negative events) - and look forward to another year of service to the citizens of Elyria by the professionals here at ECHD.
Kathryn Boylan, R.N. M.Ed, Health Commissioner
Public Health Nursing:
The Elyria City Health District Nursing Division provides many services to the public, focusing especially on services to families and children. Informational and supportive home visiting services are provided through the following programs:
Help Me Grow - Service coordination from prenatal through the child's 3rd birthday
Prenatal Intake/case management - Prenatal case management services in collaboration with private OB practices.
Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps (BCMH) - Case management services to the families of children birth to age 21 with medical and developmental challenges.
Birthing Readiness: Individualized Development and Growth through Education (BRIDGE) - Home visiting curriculum for pregnant teenagers.
Clinic services are provided at the Health District and other locations for children and adults through the following:
Children's immunization clinics - held twice each month at ECHD on a walk in basis
Adult immunization clinics - held twice each month at ECHD on a walk in basis
Travel immunization clinics - available by appointment at ECHD for those who may be traveling abroad and in need of vaccinations to protect against specific communicable diseases
Seasonal/Pandemic Flu clinics - held at various locations during the traditional flu season or as needed in response to a pandemic
Adult blood pressure clinics - Nursing service in collaboration with Elyria Parks & Recreation to provide blood pressure screenings and education to senior citizens.
2009 Nursing Division Statistics:
Help Me Grow home visits 1836
BCMH home visits 156
BRIDGE home visits 83
Prenatal Intake Screenings 314
Prenatal case management home visits 191
OIMRI home visits 730
Blood pressure screenings 1433
Lead Screenings/follow up 29
Adult Immunizations provided 867
Children's immunizations provided 2246
Travel immunizations provided 1221
Seasonal flu shots provided 3121
H1N1 flu shots provided 7219
Environmental Health:
The Environmental Health Division provides many services that touch all corners of the community. Program areas include: Inspection of food operations, public pools, schools, manufactured home parks, home daycares, tattoo operations and infectious waste generators. The division also investigates non-housing related nuisance complaints, animal bites and incidents of illegal dumping. Since 2000 the division has also collected mosquitoes for West Nile Virus surveillance. Beginning in 2006, the division has also been responsible for investigating possible violations of Ohio's ban of smoking in workplaces. The division is also a valuable resource of information, and handles well over 1000 phone calls per year in these and other environmental health areas.
2011 Environmental Health Statistics:
Home daycares inspected 6
Public pool/spas licenses issued 27
Public pools/spas inspections 163
Mosquitoes submitted for WNV testing 515
Food Service operations licensed (all types) 368
Inspections of food service operations 832
Foodborne Illness outbreak investigations 1
School inspections 40
Tattoo operations licensed/inspected 7
Animal bites investigated 99
Smoking complaints investigated 28
Nuisance complaints investigated 183
Manufactured Home Parks licensed/inspected 5
Public Education
Without a designated health educator, ECHD continues to provide vital health information to the public. Public health nurses teach a variety of classes to the community and business sector. Topics include: shaken baby syndrome, nutrition, bloodborne pathogens, CPR, communicable diseases and travel education as well as infant growth and development. Registered Sanitarians provide presentations on such topics as: Emergency Preparedness, lead safety, car seat & bike helmet safety, and West Nile Virus. The Sanitarians have also developed educational programs for the food service and public pool operators in Elyria. ECHD is a mainstay at community health fairs and the Midway Mall Community Room.