We served more than 10,302 clients and presented at 47 different community events and/or schools in 2019, serving Edgar County residents and the surrounding areas. Call or stop by to see what we can do for you!
To prevent premature death and disease and to increase the quality of life among all residents by promoting the health and wellness of its citizens through intervention, public education, and by providing direct health services.
I have been honored to continue to serve as President of the Edgar County Board of Health this past year. This board is responsible for overseeing the operations of the Edgar County Public Health Department, while providing direction and support. I must say, I received more calls regarding public health this past year than I ever have before, so Im sure the staff can say the same.
During 2020, certain ECPHD services may have closed their doors to the public, but that did not mean staff werent busy still meeting our community needs. The public looked to ECPHD for guidance in the midst of confusion and chaos. ECPHD went above and beyond, working tirelessly on prevention and protection efforts, while quickly adapting and re-adapting previously offered services to a new normal.
In my role as a Hospital CEO, I am well aware of the physical and mental strain COVID-19 placed and continues to place on healthcare staff. This certainly extends to our partners at ECPHD. Janet and her employees, as well as additional temporary personnel, have been crucial to Edgar Countys COVID-19 response. They are often unsung heroes of this pandemic as they performed hours upon hours of contact tracing, daily data reporting to multiple agencies, fielding hotline calls, vaccination efforts, and working and communicating with other county and state agencies and industries on a weekly, if not daily, basis on top of their regular duties.
The Board is thankful for the continued dedication of the staff at ECPHD, and we would like to recognize their hard work and achievements this past year. Our success is directly correlated to their service. On behalf of the Board and the staff, we look forward to continuing to serve the needs of our communities.
The Edgar County Public Health Department (ECPHD) worked diligently during 2020 to continue our mission to prevent disease, promote health, and protect our community against health threats. This was a challenge in the face of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Our department had to focus our efforts on mitigating the risks associated with the Coronavirus. Many of our normal activities had to take a back seat as we adapted our emergency/disaster response plans to address the specific threat posed by COVID-19. ECPHD staff was frequently called upon to engage in activities that were outside the realm of their everyday duties and experience. Responding to the pandemic required long hours, working on weekends and holidays, and learning new skills in effort to protect our community against the spread of the virus.
As you review our annual report, it is impossible to miss the significance of COVID-19s impact on our normal day-to-day activities. To the extent possible, ECPHD programs were adapted and accomplished. These programs include Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, Family Case Management (FCM), the Edgar County Dental Clinic, Illinois Tobacco-Free Communities Programs, Environmental Health Programs, Emergency Preparedness, Health Education, the Lead Prevention Program, and the Chronic and Communicable Disease Program. In addition to these programs, we created a COVID-19 response team, who lead our efforts in COVID-19 case investigation, contact tracing, COVID-19 data reporting, hotlines, a large scaled mass vaccination program, infection control reviews and risk assessments for businesses and schools, and continuous adaptation of plans and guidelines in the face of the quickly changing circumstances.
On behalf of the staff at ECPHD, I wish to thank our community for their continued support and our Board of Health for their support and guidance. We remain committed to our public health mission and to the residents of Edgar County. We look forward to serving you in the coming year.
The Edgar County Dental Clinic Staff Dentist plays a crucial role in providing access to primary dental care to the underserved population of Edgar County and surrounding counties. The prime focus will be examining, diagnosing, and developing treatment plans for dental conditions, infections, and injuries of the teeth and mouth. The staff dentist is responsible for carrying out the treatment plan competently and efficiently, using a patient-centered approach. All services are rendered according to Edgar County Dental Clinic (ECDC) approved clinic protocols and guidelines.