Washburn County Health Department Celebrates 81 Years

National Public Health Week April 3-9

2016 Annual Report is available by clicking here.

News Release - This Public Health Week, Washburn County Health Department celebrates 81 years of service to the citizens of Washburn County.  Annual Reports dating back to 1937 tell the story of how a Department of two, along with the Local Health Providers and Volunteers, tried to meet the health needs of the entire community.

It is said “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”  Public Health continues to monitor the health of the county and through public funding, support vital programs that do not exist in the private sector.  Public Health views the whole county and assesses the availability of resources and the needs of the individual communities.  We advocate for the people. 

In 1936, Edithe Turner became the first Public Health Nurse in Washburn County.  Dr. John Lowe, the District Health Officer from Ashland, and the Health Committee consisted of 7 members.  Programs initiated were: Communicable Disease Investigation and Follow-up, Tuberculosis Screening, Smallpox and Diphtheria Immunization Clinics, the Goiter Prevention Program in the school and Prenatal and Postpartum Home Visits.

In 2009, we held a H1N1 Influenza Mass Vaccination Clinic just as they vaccinated for Smallpox in 1936, Polio in 1956, and Swine Flu in 1976.  Today we are ready to mobilize a whole community in the event of a mass immunization campaign just as Public Health did in the past.  There are better prepared systems and trained volunteers now. 

The Public Health Nurse spent much of her time educating the public on how to recognize and limit the spread of communicable diseases in the school, home, and community settings.  “Field Visits” were made to identify cases and encourage diagnosis and treatment.  In 1936, 978 children received Smallpox vaccinations.  Wisconsin had 207 cases of Smallpox in 1937, down from 1,790 cases in 1922.  Global health risks still exist.  In 2015, Public Health responded to the threat of Ebola transmission.  At-risk travelers were monitored or quarantined by Health Departments until they no longer posed a threat of spreading disease.

Diphtheria vaccination began in 1923.  There were 358 Diphtheria deaths in Wisconsin that year decreasing to 27 deaths by 1937.  In 1936 2,372 Diphtheria inoculations were given in Washburn County as a result of community and school outbreak.  It is reported, “Vaccination no doubt accounts for the decrease in the number of cases reported.” 

In 1937, there were 1,005 deaths in Wisconsin from Tuberculosis (Tb).  The Washburn County Public Health Nurse made nearly 500 “Field Visits” following up Tb patients.  The school PTA, Civic Clubs and the Christmas Seal Program sponsored Tb Skin Testing Clinics in the schools.  Up to 85% of the children were tested, with 11% reacting positively and requiring follow-up chest x-rays.  The Wisconsin Anti-Tuberculosis Association sent their portable x-ray equipment since there was not an x-ray machine in the county.  Public Health funded the cost of chest x-rays for those unable to pay. 

In the past, school-age children with “orthopedic abnormalities were motored” to Superior and Eau Claire for orthopedic examinations sponsored by the Crippled Children’s Division.  Public Health provided care determined by the recommendations.  Vision Screening was done in the schools and Public Health and Public Welfare Departments funded “corrective glasses” for children whose parents were unable to pay. Public Health continues to support hearing and vision screening in the schools through the equipment lending program, while volunteers conduct the screens.  We continue to assist families in securing funding for additional testing and corrective lenses. Today children have access to medical providers for screening and treatment.

The County Board funded The Goiter Prevention Program and supplied iodine tablets to 1,930 school children. A  Dental Program was started in the schools in 1937.  The dentists offered students free exams in their offices to encourage dental corrections.  Fifteen percent of students participated.  Today, limited government-funded dental services are offered in the schools and at the Health Department.

Maternity, Infant and Preschool Services took about 1/3 of the Public Health Nurse’s time in 1937.  The State Bureau of Maternal and Child Health sent a doctor and a nurse who provided six clinics in Washburn County that year giving free physicals to 180 infants, children and pregnant women.  Community organizations made free infant layettes for the “needy.”  Now all newborns have access to medical care.

Today we still spend much of our time involved with preventative services.  Communicable Disease Investigation and Follow-Up continues to be a priority. Immunizations have removed the threat of Smallpox, Polio, Tetanus and Diphtheria but cases of Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Pertussis continue as parents challenge the science of vaccination.  State funded Tuberculosis Screening and follow-up continues today to high risk populations only.

Reproductive Health Services were added in 1975 and have continued for 42 years with the support of local medical providers and the County Board. In 1994, the Wisconsin Well Woman Program (WWWP), a Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment Program began.  Hundreds of women have been screened, and uninsured women diagnosed with cancer received treatment through the WWWP Medical Assistance Program.  None of this could have happened without the support of the local Health Care Providers and County Board.

Public Health was there in 1976, when the need for Home Care Services became a priority.  The Washburn County Home Care Program continued for 27 years.  At the height of services in 1980, the Health Department staffed 19 persons including 9 Registered Nurses and 6 Nurse’s Aides. Today we have three Public Health Nurses and one WIC Registered Dietician.  

We have been known by many names over the years.  In 1936, we were called the Washburn County Public Health Services.  In 1952, the name changed to The Washburn County Health Department, followed by the Washburn County Public Health Agency, the Washburn County Public Health Nursing Service, The Washburn County Public Health/Home Care and finally back to the Washburn County Health Department.  In 2003, the Health Department merged with Human Services and became the Washburn County Health and Human Services Department.  In 2010, the Child Support Department joined, and we became the Washburn County Health and Human Services and Child Support.

Maternal Child Health Services continue today through the WIC (Women, Infant and Children) Program.   WIC is a supplemental food voucher program for at-risk income eligible pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women and children to age 5, provides education to families about the benefits of proper nutrition.  The Childhood Lead Screening Program identifies those children at risk for lead poisoning and provides early intervention. 

The Health Department provides School Services as requested, including Student Health Education, Consultative Services and Communicable Disease Surveillance.

Jail Nursing Services were added in 1992 with the Public Health Nurse providing service one day a week. A Public Health Nurse is now a Certified Jail Nurse and provides daily care to inmates, saving the Sheriff’s Department thousands of dollars annually.

In 1936, transportation was a barrier to services so the nurse went to the people. Today most services are provided on-site through the “One-Stop-Shopping” model where clients can receive several services at one visit.  In 2016, there were over 1500 Public Health and WIC appointments. Through the CDC funded Vaccine for Children (VFC) Program we administer all childhood and limited adult vaccines to uninsured/underinsured and those eligible for BadgerCare at no charge.  

The Affordable Care Act mandates insurance coverage which allows medical care (including vaccinations) for all persons.  Washburn County Health Department has responded to the public’s need for assistance when applying for ForwardHealth programs.  Partial federal funding has supported Forward Health Application Assistance Programming for 9 years.  

What does the Public Health Nurse do?  “Public Health is Everywhere” working with many different partners.  We might be testing contaminated water, tracking the spread of a Sexually Transmitted Disease to ensure testing and treatment, quarantining an animal following a human bite, helping a new mother learn to breastfeed, assisting the uninsured in securing medical coverage/care, administering immunizations or co-creating the mandated Emergency Response Plans and Exercises with local partners. 

Washburn County Health Department is a level 2 Health Department and has strived to meet the health needs of the community for the past 81 years. Public Health continues to do what no one else does. Programming continues to evolve as Public Health identifies the unmet health needs of the community.

We would like to believe Edithe Turner would be proud to see how her work has evolved.  Dedicated Public Health Nurses, Community Partners and conscientious County Board Members have supported Public Health programming for the past 81years and continue to recognize the value of Public Health in Washburn County. The 2016 Annual Report is available by clicking here.