Public Health

Public Health Message

Carol Worrall

Director

Please check back soon for more information.

Main phone number: 970-641-0209

Additional emergency numbers:

Poison Control: 800-222-1222

Suicide Prevention: 24 hrs Crisis Line: 970-252-6220

To reach Public Health after hours, please call dispatch at 641-8200 ext 1

Program Information

Public Health:

• Be Tobacco Free
• County Board of Health
• Emergency Preparedness
• Family Planning
• Gunnison-Hinsdale Early Childhood Council (ECC)
• Immunizations
• Medical Care Vouchers
• Multicultural Resources
• Nurse Family Partnership
• Nurturing Parenting Program
• Retail Food Inspections for Gunnison and Montrose Counties
• Seasonal Flu Information
• Vital Records (Birth and Death Certificates)
• Women and Infant Children (WIC) Program
• Women's Wellness Connection

Public Health

Public Health protects and improves the health of all members of our community through education and promotion of healthy lifestyles. We work to prevent serious health threats and strive to assure community-based health promotion and disease prevention activities. Many of our programs (for individuals) listed below are available to all regardless of income, while others are income based. Public Health also monitors our community for such things as disease prevalence, clean water, and safe food in restaurants, to name just a few. Public Health strives to ensure that all kids grow up healthy by assuring available prenatal care, nutrition counseling, immunizations, ability to see doctors for sick and well check-ups, to get mental health, dental & vision care and health consultation to childcare providers.

Be Tobacco Free

There are numerous resources to help you be tobacco free including:

• Counseling and coaching.
• Nicotine replacement and pharmacotherapy.
• Acupuncture.
• Hypnotherapy.
• Breathing techniques, yoga and stress reduction.

If you need assistance locating any of the above options, or for additional information call Public Health at (970) 641-0209.

Other resources include:

• Colorado QuitLine, (800) QUIT-NOW, www.coquitline.org.
• www.SmokeFreeColorado.org.
• www.GCSAPP.net.

County Board of Health

Gunnison County Board of Health consists of the three County Commissioners.  The BOH meets quarterly in the BOCC meeting room and is attended by the County Medical Officer, Public Health Director and Director of Health and Human Services.

Commissioners:  Paula Swenson, Phil Chamberland, Jonathon Houck.

County Medical Officer:  Dr. John Tarr

Emergency Preparedness

To reach Public Health after hours, please call Dispatch at 940-641-8200 ext 1. For life threatening emergencies call 911. The State Health Department information line is CO-HELP 877-462-2911.

Public Health’s Emergency Preparedness Response Coordinator works closely with the County Emergency Manager to address a wide variety of health related emergencies.

Please see the Emergency Management section for more information.

Family Planning

Offers services and testing for males and females in Gunnison County, including:

• Birth Control Options
• Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing and treatment
• Emergency contraception (Plan B)
• Women’s annual exams
• Pregnancy Testing
• Women’s Wellness Connection (For women 40+ years old who qualify)

All appointments are strictly confidential.

Cost for services based on an income dependent sliding fee scale. 

Call us for more information or to set up an appointment.

Phone: 970.641.0209

Location: Family Services Building, 225 N. Pine Street, Suite E, Gunnison, CO

PATIENT FORMS:

• New female patients, download paperwork here (all four forms are required):
  Client Registration Form
  Consent Form
  Initial History
  
  
• Existing female patients, download paperwork here (both forms are required):
  Client Registration Form
  Interim History Form
  
  
• Male patients, download paperwork here (both forms are required):
  Client Registration Form
  Male history and exam form

BIRTH CONTROL OPTIONS:

• Birth Control Pills
• Condoms (Male and Female)
• Depo-Provera (Shot)
• Diaphragm
• Nexaplanon and NuvaRing (Vaginal contraceptive ring)
• Intrauterine Device (IUD) Including Mirena and Paragard
• Vasectomy (Contraceptive patch)
• Skyla (IUD)

EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION:

Things do not always go as planned. Plan B provides a second chance to prevent pregnancy. While Plan B is most effective when taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex, it may be taken up to 5 days after.

Plan B may be used to prevent a pregnancy when:

• Condom broke
• Forgot to take Birth Control Pill
• Late to get Depo Shot
• Had unprotected sex
• Forced to have sex

STI TESTING AND TREATMENT:

Some STIs have no symptoms but can still be spread and cause health problems.

Protect Yourself: 1 out of 4 people in the United States have or have had a sexually transmitted infection.

Signs and Symptoms of STIs:

• Burning with urination
• Abnormal discharge
• Sores or bumps on the penis or vagina
• Odor from the genital area

Please call us if you have any questions, potential exposures, and/or signs/symptoms.

Immunizations

Immunization clinics are every Tuesday in Gunnison and first Wednesday of the month in Crested Butte.

Call 641-0209 for an appointment.

All childhood vaccines are available for all children 0-18 years of age. Medicaid, CHP+ and private insurance are accepted. According to federal law, no person may be denied vaccine that is purchased with federal immunization grant funds for inability to pay. Some adult vaccines are available through Public Health, call to confirm. TB skin testing is available by appointment. College students regardless of age can receive the MMR vaccine.

There are thousands of websites on vaccinations. It is a challenge for parents to sort through all of it. When considering vaccinations it is just as important to consider risks associated with not vaccinating. There have been lab confirmed cases of Pertussis (Whooping Cough) in Gunnison County recently. This disease can be fatal to newborns. To help parents locate a list of credible resources see the following:

Immunization Resources for Parents:

• Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
  Information for parents includes Common Concerns About Vaccines, Are Vaccines Safe, and a Look at Each Vaccine.
  www.vaccine.chop.edu

• AAP’s Childhood Immunization Support Program (CISP)
  Information for providers and parents
  http://www.aap.org/immunization/
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Immunization Program
  Information about vaccine safety, including Parent’s Guide to Childhood Immunizations
  http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/spec-grps/parents.htm
• National Network of Immunization Information (NNii)
  Includes the NNii Resource Kit-Communication with Patients about Immunizations. A guide to help answer patient’s questions and provide the facts about immunizations.
  www.immunizationinfo.org
• Institute for Vaccine Safety, John’s Hopkins University
  Provides an independent assessment of vaccines and vaccine safety to help guide decision makers and educate physicians, the public and the media about key issues surrounding safety of vaccines.
  www.vaccinesafety.edu
• www.ImmunizeForGood.com. This is the official site for the Colorado Immunization Program.
• www.Immunize.org. This is the nation's premier sources for immunizations for all ages.

Medical Care Vouchers

As of May 3, 2013 we have depleted our funding for this program for adult services. We have applied for additional grant funds. Also beginning January, 2014 through the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid will be expanding and may be another resource for access to health care for low income individuals. Assistance to get on the expanded Medicaid is being developed through Human Services.

The Light Program is a Low Income Sliding Fee scale Voucher that provides the uninsured access to Healthcare. All primary care physicians and practitioners in the Valley are participating in this program. Qualifying clients who meet the Federal Poverty Level guidelines will pay $20-$35 for an Office visit. The goal of this program is to provide access to healthcare without duplicating services offered elsewhere in the Valley. If a client can receive services or financial support from another program, they will be referred to that program first. Vouchers for children include primary, mental health, dental, and vision care. The Light Program is funded by grants and private donations. Call Public Health at (970) 641-0209 for more information on qualifying. A limited number of vouchers are available.

Nurse Family Partnership - Helping First-Time Parents Succeed

Download Brochure: English / Spanish

What is Nurse-Family Partnership? Nurse-Family Partnership is a program for women who are having their first baby. If you enroll, a specially trained nurse will visit you in your home throughout pregnancy and continue to visit until your baby is two years old.

How much does the program cost? Nurse-Family Partnership is FREE to all eligible women!

How often will my nurse visit? Your nurse will visit every week or two, during your pregnancy and up until your baby is two years old. You and your nurse will decide the exact schedule.

My nurse will help me:

• Have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
• Become a better parent.
• Build a strong network of support for me and my baby.
• Make my home a safe place for my baby to live and play.
• Get referrals for healthcare, childcare, job training and other support services available in my community.
• Find ways to continue my education and develop job skills.
• Set goals for my family's future and find ways to help me reach them.

Can my baby's father participate too?

• Nurse-Family Partnership encourages fathers, family members and even friends to be involved in the visits and learn how they can best support you.
• You and your nurse decide who gets involved.
• Because you are the one who carries the baby and you are the first person to take care of your baby, you are the one who is actually enrolled in the program and you are the main focus of the nurse.

Who can enroll in the program? Any woman who is:

• Pregnant with her first child.
• Meets income requirements.

How do I sign up? Call (970) 641-0209.

Retail Food Inspections for Gunnison and Montrose Counties

Retail food inspections in Gunnison County are provided through a contract with Montrose County. Inspection results are posted on the Montrose County website. Select Gunnison County for local reports. Please click here for more information.

Seasonal Flu Information

Influenza is a year-round infection and it is never too late to be vaccinated.  The information below is for the 2012-13 season.  In September the information and forms will be modified for the 2013-14 season.

Flu vaccine for children 6 months through 18 years and adult flu vaccine is available at Public Health.  Call 641-0209 for appointment.

• For people 9 years old and up: One dose every year.
• For children 6 mos to 8 years: Children 6 months to 8 years MAY need two doses:
• If they have gotten the flu vaccine every year, they only need one dose.
• If they have only gotten one dose since July 1, 2010 the child will need 2 doses (separated by 4-6 weeks)
• If the child has gotten 2 doses since July 1, 2010 the child will need 2 doses (separated by 4-6 weeks)
• If the number of doses is unknown then 2 doses are recommended.

Forms:

• Adults (19 years & older) - English / Spanish
• Children (6 months thru 18 years) - English / Spanish

Vital Records (Birth and Death Certificates)

Birth Certificates: Birth certificates may be obtained locally if the individual was born in Colorado.

Death Certificates: Death certificates may be obtained locally if the individual died in Gunnison County.

IMPORTANT: Valid identification is required for all requests.

FEES (As of August 1, 2012): ID REQUIRED!

• Birth Certificates: $17.75 for first copy, $10 each for additional copies.
• Death Certificates: $20.00 for first copy, $13.00 for each additional copies.
• Cash, Check or Credit Card accepted for the above services.

For local information, call Gunnison County Vital Records at (970) 641-0209.

More detailed information can be obtained from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Vital Records Section. Phone: (303) 692-2200, Email: vital.records@state.co.us, Website: www.cdphe.state.co.us/certs.

For birth and death certificate applications, click here:

• Birth (English/Spanish)
• Death (English/Spanish)

Women and Infant Children (WIC) Program

WIC is a nutrition program for:

• Pregnant women
• Breast-feeding women (up to one year postpartum)
• Non-breastfeeding, postpartum women (up to 6 months postpartum)
• Infants
• Children until the age of 5 years

The WIC Program provides:

• Nutrition education including breast-feeding support
• Nutritious foods to supplement a person’s regular diet
• Screening and referral

WIC participants must meet certain financial requirements and be "nutritionally at risk" to qualify for the program. For more information, visit the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website.

Women's Wellness Connection

The Women’s Wellness Connection program offers screening for cervical and breast cancer for qualifying women ages 40-65, services include:

• Free breast exam
• Free Pap smear
• Free pelvic exam
• Free mammogram

Eligibility criteria for free exams:

Women who may receive free breast and cervical cancer exams must meet the following criteria:

• Live in Colorado or live in a state bordering Colorado and receive breast and/or cervical health care in Colorado;
• Have limited or no insurance to pay for these exams;
• At least one year since last Pap test or Mammogram;
• Meet income requirements (click here to download the Federal Poverty Guidelines). Please note:
• For families with more than 8 persons, add $9,900 annually or $825 monthly, for each additional person.
• Persons in Family (Household): As defined by the Bureau of the Census for statistical purposes, a household consists of all the persons who occupy a housing unit (house or apartment), whether they are related to each other or not. If a family and an unrelated individual, or two unrelated individuals, are living in the same housing unit, they would constitute two family units, but only one household.
• Size of Family Unit supported by Total Gross Household Income. Gross income is money made by individual BEFORE taxes.

AND

• Age 40 to 64 for pap test, pelvic exam and clinical breast exam; OR
• Age 50 to 64 for a mammogram and pap test, pelvic exam and clinical breast exam.

To learn more about qualifying for this program, please click here.

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