1. New Employee Orientation
(Insert name) County Health Department

2. (Insert Mission, Vision, or values statement)
Welcome!!
(insert name) County Health Department was established in (mm/dd/yyyy).
(insert #) employees
(insert #) clients
(Insert Mission, Vision, or values statement)
Our mission is to achieve a health community by protecting and promoting public health through education, training, provision of health services, and advocacy.

3. Public Health In North Carolina
Public health is about promotion, intervention, and prevention.
North Carolina Public Health Statutes are the principle sources of public health law (G.S. Chapter 130A.)

4. Core Functions of Public Health
Assessment
Policy Development
Assurance
*Taken from the CDC

5. 10 Essential Public Health Services
Monitor health status
Diagnose and investigate health problems
Inform, educate, and empower
Mobilize community partnerships
Develop policies and plans
Enforce laws and regulations
Link people to health services
Assure a competent public health workforce
Evaluate public health efforts and services
Research solutions to health problems
*Taken from the CDC

6. Roles of Health Department Employees

7. Board of Health
The Board of Health (BOH) is a governmental body comprised of elected and appointed community members.
11 members
Major responsibilities include:
Assessing health needs
Establishing policy and program direction
Assuring that the local health services are responsive to the health needs of the community

8. Health Director Administrator of the local health department
Major responsibilities:
Enforcing public health law and ordinances
Administering funds
Supporting staff
Executing board of health policies and plans

9. Physician and Mid-level Providers
Our Physician (fill in the role your physician plays at the health department/district).
A Physician’s Assistant is a licensed health professional who practices under the supervision of a physician to provide basic medical services.
A Nurse Practitioner is a registered nurse who has at least a master’s degree and advanced training for providing health care, including many tasks customarily performed by a physician.

10. Major Responsibilities
Counseling and educating patients
Diagnosing and treating acute illness, infections, and injuries
Diagnosing, treating, and monitoring chronic diseases
Obtaining medical histories and conducting physical examinations
Ordering, performing, and interpreting diagnostic tests
Prescribing medications
Providing prenatal care and family planning services
Providing well-child care
Providing health maintenance care for adults

11. Public Health Nurse
Registered nurse with special training in community health.
Educates clients about disease prevention, nutrition, sexually transmitted diseases, family planning, and child care.
Works with community leaders, teachers, parents, and physicians to improve communities’ understanding of important health issues and services.

12. Major Responsibilities
Provide preventative health services to reduce the rate of disease
Provide health education, care management, and primary care
Evaluate health trends and risk factors
Respond to public health emergencies
Collaborate with advisory boards and coalitions to promote health
Work with communities or specific population groups to develop public policy, promote health, and disease intervention strategies
Participate in monitoring health departments to assure the provision of quality care
Link people to public health services and programs

13. Laboratory Staff
Provide supportive services to the clinic and environmental health in order to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, conditions, and environmental hazards.
Other major responsibilities:
Monitor patient response to treatment
Screen for asymptomatic disease and conditions

14. Public Health Educator
Main objective is to prevent disease and promote healthy lifestyles through knowledge and changes in behaviors.
Major responsibilities:
Assess individual and community needs
Plan and implement educational programs
Evaluate the success of the programs

15. Public Health Social Worker
Works to identify children, adults, families who are in need and helps them make behavioral or situational life changes.
Focuses on prevention and early intervention.
Coordinates services and provide resources.

16. Environmental Health Specialist
Focuses on preserving and improving environmental factors affecting the health and safety of our community.
Major responsibilities:
Food and lodging inspections
On-site waste water inspections
Swimming pool sanitation inspections
Lead investigation
Radon testing
Animal disease control

17. Public Health Nutritionist
Educates individuals about the role of nutrition in disease prevention and health promotion.
Major responsibilities:
Create partnerships
Facilitate policy changes
Assure nutritional expertise
Identify areas for nutrition intervention

18. Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
Federal program that provides nutritious foods, education, and referrals to health and other social services to participants at no charge.
Target population is low income pregnant women and children who are nutritionally at risk.

19. Public Health Dentist
Helps prevent and control dental disease and promotes dental and oral health through organized community efforts.
Major responsibilities:
Assess the oral and dental health needs of the community
Develop and implement policies aimed at improving the community’s oral and dental health needs
Provide programs and services that address oral and dental health issues and needs

20. Administrative Staff Support Staff Translators
Medical and front-desk receptionists
Medical records
Billing coordinators
Technology
Translators
Health Check/Health Choice Coordinators

21. Vital Records
North Carolina Vital Records Unit registers all births, deaths, fetal deaths, marriages, and divorces which occur in North Carolina.
Health Departments verify birth and death certificates.
Health Director must sign off on the documents before sending them to the Register of Deeds for certification.

22. Home Health/Hospice Nurse
A home health nurse provides services to patients at home who are recovering from illnesses, accidents, surgeries, or childbirth.
A hospice nurse provides care to terminally ill patients outside of hospitals.

23. Questions??