Jasper Health Center Is Open, Working
The Jasper County Health Department has a new nurse manager—Sherry Cook of Forsyth, but she is not new to public health or to helping struggling health departments.
Nancy Mason of the Central Georgia Health District addressed the Jasper County Commissioners in October, saying the department was in “crisis.” She had discovered a problem with the finances, and the local health department was operating with a $29,900 deficit. That deficit had been reduced to $4,800 by the end of 2006.
Meanwhile, though, the department lost all but one of its employees, not necessarily because of the problems. One left to further her education and become an LPN, for example.
Environmentalist David Mercer has stayed through the most trying times, but the office has been without its own office manager and clerical staff and without its own nurses. However, being part of a state agency, the district has kept the service up and running throughout the transition.
With Mrs. Cook now employed to work here half-time; she splits her time with Crawford County, the district is moving forward with interviews so the office can be staffed.
When it is again fully staffed, there will be a nurse specialist, preferably a public health specialist; two clerical positions, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), the environmentalist and Mrs. Cook. There are no plans to employ an office manager at this time. The district office has been doing Jasper County’s books, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
Both Ms. Mason and Mrs. Cook are passionate about public health. Mrs. Cook stressed that the face of public health is the face of your neighbor. She pointed out so many places that public health steps in to handle problems that there is no one else available to handle. She mentioned things such as a tuberculosis outbreak, dog bites, family planning services and more.
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Mrs. Cook said she the department is here to serve the people who live here regardless of income, status, etc. In seeking employees for the department, she was insistent that they be non-judgmental and recognize they are providing a service. She said she is looking forward to getting the department fully staffed and serving the community better than ever.
Right now she is in the process of learning what other services are available in the community to coordinate the care of patients at the health department. She talked of coordinating with local doctors, for example, with blood work that can be done for a much lower price through the health department than through a private lab. She talked about blood pressure services offered through the health department and the need to coordinate some of that care with other providers.
This is Mrs. Cook’s second week serving as nurse manager here. She lives in Forsyth so she said it is easy to split her time between Crawford County and Jasper County because her home is halfway in between. The 1992 graduate of Macon State College is married to a Monroe County Sheriff’s Department employee and they have two children, Morgan, 12, and Preston, 9.
She became a Registered Nurse (R.N.) in 1992, but in 2005 returned to school and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix. She worked as a nurse at the health department in Butts County for 10 years before being named nurse manager in Crawford County in July, 2005.
That county was experiencing some of the same problems that Jasper faces, and she has turned it around. Mrs. Cook is dedicated to public health, and expects the other employees to also be dedicated. She said she will serve the people of this community whatever their needs are. She is excited to help Jasper County through its restructuring, and looks forward to making the health department the best it can be.
The department offers many services, and currently is able to offer “open access,” service without an appointment. Anyone can walk in at any time and expect to receive care. The health department offers immunizations as well as other services already mentioned and many more. (Look for a future article in The News detailing many of the services offered.)
Ms. Mason and Mrs. Cook said the doors never closed, and they are here to serve. Please use our services, was their message.
The health department is funded by the state, county, and user fees. Its current budget is $121,604 from the state; about $120,000 from user fees, and $58,063 from Jasper County.
Ms. Mason said the health department has remained open daily through the transition period. She praised the local Board of Health for its support, and has a called meeting with them next Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 8 a.m. at the health department to update them on the status of the department.
Monticello Mayor Susan Holmes is chairman of the Board of Health. Other members include County Commissioner Jack Bernard, Dr. Shannon Barton, School Supt. Jay Brinson, Pharmacist David Leach, Collene Tillman and Dorothy Thomas.
