Public Health Nursing

Public Health Nursing Program Overview

The Highland County Health Department, Public Health Nursing Division provides invaluable services to the residents of Highland County. The division is divided into many different programs. Each program works together to improve the health and safety of the public. The Public Health Nursing Division prides itself in continuing to be an active and influential piece of the community health care system.

The Infectious Disease Program monitors various infectious diseases in Highland County that do not fall under other programs. Activities include receiving reports of over 70 notifiable infectious diseases from local health departments, hospitals, laboratories, and other providers; analyzing the data from these reports to identify trends such as increased incidence of diseases ("clusters" or "outbreaks") and changes in antimicrobial resistance patterns; and disseminating information derived from data analysis.

The Bureau for Children with Mental Handicaps (BCMH) is devoted to providing assistance to eligible parents/guardians of children with special needs. BCMH is sponsored by the Ohio Department of Health.

The Health Department provides child and adult immunizations. All childhood vaccines, like the MMR (Measles Mumps, and Rubella), adult tetanus shots are free of charge to Highland County Residents. Local school districts often work closely with the health department to ensure that students receive the required vaccinations prior to attending school.

The Care-A-Van (CAV) is a unique service provided by the Health Department. The CAV is a mobile unit, providing preventative services to many areas in the community. The Highland County Health Department was one of the first jurisdictions in the state to offer this type of service, and it continues to be a very popular service with the community.

The Health department offers regular hearing, vision, and cardiac clinics. Check the Clinic Calendar page for more information on upcoming clinics.