Tag: west piedmont health district

West Piedmont Health District Receives “Project Public Health Ready” Recognition

Posted on by lindascarborough

January 22, 2024
Media Contact: Nancy Bell, Population Health Manager, nancy.bell@vdh.virginia.gov

West Piedmont Health District Receives “Project Public Health Ready” Recognition

(MARTINSVILLE, Va.) – The West Piedmont Health District (WPHD) is being recognized by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for its ability to plan for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies.

WPHD demonstrated these capabilities by meeting the comprehensive preparedness benchmarks required by Project Public Health Ready (PPHR), a unique partnership between NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. WPHD joins a cohort of more than 550 local health departments across the country that have been distinguished for excellence in preparedness through PPHR, either individually or as part of a region, according to NACCHO.

“We are pleased that WPHD has received this recognition,” said Dr. Kerry Gateley, WPHD Director. “A team representing all aspects of public health worked very hard over the course of nearly a year to document the health district’s strengths in all required areas.”

Gateley added that the WPHD’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic provided opportunities to test existing emergency response efforts. Some processes were strengthened and streamlined as a result, he said.

“Public health preparedness planning, response, and recovery begins at the local level. Local health departments play an essential role in creating healthy, resilient communities that can respond to and recover from disasters,” said Lori T. Freeman, NACCHO Chief Executive Officer. “NACCHO commends the West Piedmont Health District for being a model of public health emergency preparedness.”

PPHR recognition confirms that the WPHD has a thorough and coordinated emergency response plan in place and that staff have the training to protect the health of the community during an emergency. Local health departments recognized by PPHR undergo a rigorous evaluation by peer review to assess their ability to meet a set of national standards for public health preparedness. These standards align with federal government requirements and other national best practices, according to NACCHO.

PPHR recognition also requires health departments to collaborate with state, local and community partners to develop plans that account for all the constituents in their jurisdictions.

NACCHO, the voice of the nearly 3,000 local health departments across the country, provides resources to help local health department leaders develop public health policies and programs to ensure that communities have access to vital programs and services that people need to keep them protected from disease and disaster. Its mission is to be a leader, partner, catalyst, and voice for local health departments in order to ensure the conditions that promote health and equity, combat disease, and improve the quality and length of all lives.

The West Piedmont Health District covers the counties of Franklin, Henry and Patrick and the City of Martinsville, Virginia.

For more information on Project Public Health Ready, including recognized sites, project tools, and resources, visit http://www.naccho.org/PPHR.

 

CEO of NACCHO?  I think you need the organization here.  [S(1]

West Piedmont Health District Receives “Project Public Health Ready” Recognition

January 22, 2024
Media Contact: Nancy Bell, Population Health Manager, nancy.bell@vdh.virginia.gov

West Piedmont Health District Receives “Project Public Health Ready” Recognition

(MARTINSVILLE, Va.) – The West Piedmont Health District (WPHD) is being recognized by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for its ability to plan for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies.

WPHD demonstrated these capabilities by meeting the comprehensive preparedness benchmarks required by Project Public Health Ready (PPHR), a unique partnership between NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. WPHD joins a cohort of more than 550 local health departments across the country that have been distinguished for excellence in preparedness through PPHR, either individually or as part of a region, according to NACCHO.

“We are pleased that WPHD has received this recognition,” said Dr. Kerry Gateley, WPHD Director. “A team representing all aspects of public health worked very hard over the course of nearly a year to document the health district’s strengths in all required areas.”

Gateley added that the WPHD’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic provided opportunities to test existing emergency response efforts. Some processes were strengthened and streamlined as a result, he said.

“Public health preparedness planning, response, and recovery begins at the local level. Local health departments play an essential role in creating healthy, resilient communities that can respond to and recover from disasters,” said Lori T. Freeman, NACCHO Chief Executive Officer. “NACCHO commends the West Piedmont Health District for being a model of public health emergency preparedness.”

PPHR recognition confirms that the WPHD has a thorough and coordinated emergency response plan in place and that staff have the training to protect the health of the community during an emergency. Local health departments recognized by PPHR undergo a rigorous evaluation by peer review to assess their ability to meet a set of national standards for public health preparedness. These standards align with federal government requirements and other national best practices, according to NACCHO.

PPHR recognition also requires health departments to collaborate with state, local and community partners to develop plans that account for all the constituents in their jurisdictions.

NACCHO, the voice of the nearly 3,000 local health departments across the country, provides resources to help local health department leaders develop public health policies and programs to ensure that communities have access to vital programs and services that people need to keep them protected from disease and disaster. Its mission is to be a leader, partner, catalyst, and voice for local health departments in order to ensure the conditions that promote health and equity, combat disease, and improve the quality and length of all lives.

The West Piedmont Health District covers the counties of Franklin, Henry and Patrick and the City of Martinsville, Virginia.

For more information on Project Public Health Ready, including recognized sites, project tools, and resources, visit http://www.naccho.org/PPHR.

West Piedmont Health District Advises Area Residents of Wildlife Testing Positive for Rabies

November 3, 2023
Media Contact: Nancy Bell, population health manager, nancy.bell@vdh.virginia.gov

West Piedmont Health District Advises Area Residents of Wildlife Testing Positive for Rabies

ROCKY MOUNT, Va. –  To protect the health of residents and visitors, the West Piedmont Health District is advising the community that two skunks have tested positive for rabies. They were found in in the same general area of Glade Hill within the past two weeks.

On October 13, a skunk testing positive for rabies was found in the vicinity of Old Franklin Turnpike and Brooks Mill Road. Most recently, on October 31, another skunk testing positive for rabies was found in a neighborhood around Crafts Church Road in Glade Hill.  Due to the relative proximity and timing of these cases within Glade Hill/Union Hall, the West Piedmont Health District wants to remind everyone, and especially pet owners, of the risks of rabies.

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system.  It is almost always fatal, unless preventive treatment is administered before symptoms develop. “Prevention is everything when you’re dealing with rabies,” said Dr. Kerry Gateley, director for the West Piedmont Health District. “We have to do everything we can to minimize exposures, from vaccinating pets to avoiding unnecessary human contact with unvaccinated animals. This includes not creating situations in which feral or wild animals might expose each other.”

Virginia law requires that all dogs and cats four months of age and older be vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian, and that vaccinations be kept current.

Additional Steps to Protect Against Rabies Exposure:

  • Do not feed stray animals. Avoid wild animals, especially raccoons, bats, foxes and skunks. Feed your pets indoors and do not let them wander.
  • Make sure your pets are vaccinated against rabies and their shots are up to date. By law, all dogs, cats and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies.
  • Teach children to avoid contact with wild animals and pets they are not familiar with.
  • Do not handle sick, injured, or dead animals.
  • Keep wild animals out of homes by capping chimneys with screens and blocking openings in attics, cellars and porches. Ensure trash cans have tight fitting lids.
  • Do not try to trap or handle stray and wild animals.
  • If bitten by a wild or stray animal, do not panic. Wash the wound(s) thoroughly with warm soapy water and contact animal control, a local medical provider or the Franklin County Health Department for further recommendations.

For additional information, visit https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/animal-contact-human-health/rabies-control/ or call the Franklin County Health Department at 540-484-0292.   To report a rabies incident after hours, please contact Franklin County Animal Control at 540-483-3000.

September 11, 2023
Media Contact: Nancy Bell, Population Health Manager, nancy.bell@vdh.virginia.gov

West Piedmont Health District Collaborates with Community Partners
to Share Quality of Life Briefing

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – The West Piedmont Health District (WPHD), the Harvest Foundation of the Piedmont, and a group of citizens called the Equity Collaborative have been working to better understand the needs of citizens from every census tract, ethnic, racial and income group. A briefing will be held Friday, September 15 at 11:30 p.m. The event is open to the public and will be held at New College Institute, 191 Fayette St., Martinsville.

Two separate studies were conducted to identify the health outcomes of local residents. A few of the topics that were included in the study and will be addressed during the briefing include infant mortality, chronic health conditions, education, economic wellbeing, housing, food access, transportation and more.

The health district routinely leads community health assessments, but this one is different,” said Nancy Bell, population health manager, WPHD. “This time we approached data-seeking from an equity perspective using a formula of inclusion and outreach to underrepresented groups and doing so in nontraditional ways.”

The health district’s equity coordinator and project manager, Pamela Chitwood noted, “This is not just about determining the needs of citizens; it’s about better understanding the barriers that keep them from achieving optimum health. In the coming months, groups of citizens will work to identify effective solutions to those issues detailed within the report.”

The Harvest Foundation supported and supplemented the work by partnering with the University of Virginia. According to President of the Harvest Foundation, Kate Keller, understanding inequities within the community are vital in order for everyone to work towards better health outcomes. “Through the complementary studies it was determined that there is a difference of 14 years between the life expectancy of those living on different sides of the same street in Martinsville/Henry County. The goal now is to dig into those specific reasons and work with local communities to shrink that gap,” said Keller.

Links to the two data documents will be shared with those who attend the briefing. Attendees will also have the opportunity to join “solution teams” and work together with other with an interest in a particular area of public need.

Additional support in gathering and analyzing the data was provided by Community Health Solutions, Virginia Tech’s Center for Public Health Practice and Research, and the Weldon Cooper Center for Survey Research at University of Virginia.

Patrick County Nurse Named Virginia’s Public Health Nurse of the Year

May 10, 2023

Media Contact: Nancy Bell (nancy.bell@vdh.virginia.gov / 540-488-5004

Patrick County Nurse Named Virginia’s Public Health Nurse of the Year

STUART, Va.— Pamela Rorrer, who has spent much of her career as a public health nurse in Patrick County, received this year’s Virginia Department of Public Health Nurse of the Year award. Kyndra Jackson, DNP, MPH, RN-BC, director of public health nursing for the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), made the announcement as part of National Nurses Week.

“One-man-show” describes the day-to-day public health nursing practice of Pamela Rorrer,” said West Piedmont Health District’s (WPHD’s) Nurse Manager, Verna Burnette, who serves as Rorrer’s supervisor. Burnette made the nomination in support of Pamela’s excellent work ethic, ability to rapidly adjust to changing needs, and commitment to the people of Patrick County. “Pam is 110% deserving of this award,” said Burnette. “For her, this is a higher calling.”

According to the nomination, Rorrer wears many hats, serving as nurse, epidemiologist – even electrician when needed at the Patrick County Health Department. She has a heart for the people she serves, and often presents unique solutions to get the help her patients need, it said. Rorrer connects the dots to obtain resources and works diligently to establish new practices based on demonstrated needs. “She is one of those people who, when times get tough, we can call upon,” said Dr. Kerry Gateley, WPHD health director.

As health district employees throughout the state watched the recognition virtually, Dr. Jackson proudly described the plethora of merits exhibited by nurses within the field of public health. She also touched on their many contributions made throughout Virginia’s communities.

During the special event, invited guests included Virginia’s newly appointed Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Shelton; Deputy Commissioner for Public Health and Preparedness and Acting Deputy Commissioner for Community Health Services Robert Hicks; Patrick County Interim County Administrator, Tim Hall; and Assistant County Administrator Donna Shough. Prior to the announcement, more than a dozen of Rorrer’s family members made a surprise entrance to celebrate her achievement.

The annual Public Health Nurse of the Year award can be obtained by any nurse within the 35 state health districts. It is based on a peer nomination process with the final recipient selected by a state-level panel.

 

If you live in Martinsville or Henry County, we want to hear from you!

December 15, 2022
Media Contact: Nancy Bell (540) 488-5004 or nancy.bell@vdh.virginia.gov

If you live in Martinsville or Henry County, we want to hear from you!

MARTINSVILLE, Va.- The West Piedmont Health District (WPHD) and its partners are looking for vital feedback from residents. Through a brief online survey, area residents will be asked to share their input on quality-of-life issues. The public’s comments will serve to guide important decisions made within three years. It is important to know where residents feel available funding should be invested, as well as the issues needing the most focus. The survey can be accessed via social media at WPHD Facebook, on the West Piedmont Health District website, and through this link: Community Equity Survey.

“We want to give everyone the opportunity to have a voice by sharing their opinions about the priorities needing the most attention over the next few years,” said Project Leader Pamela Chitwood, Population Health Community Coordinator for the West Piedmont Health District. The survey will be available in English and Spanish. For census purposes, respondents will be asked to provide a street address. This will not be used for any type of identification as this information will remain confidential.

“We are striving to get an overwhelming response to this survey as it will serve as a guide to indicate what is most important to our residents,” Chitwood said. “We are hoping the community will help us spread the word about this opportunity,” she added.

Once all survey results are collected and analyzed, the results are expected to be shared during the spring of 2023. For information about the Henry County Equity Collaborative or the survey, please contact: Pamela Chitwood at pamela.chitwood@vdh.virginia.gov or (540) 484-0292 Ext. 223.