BURLINGTON –Alamance County Health Department Health Educator Kelley Kimrey was named the 2014 Asthma Champion on May 7 by the Asthma Alliance of North Carolina.

Kimrey has worked tirelessly to implement numerous asthma initiatives in area schools and the community including:

– Air Quality Awareness Flag Program

– Expanding the Love My Lungs campaign

– Observation of World Asthma Day

– Dissemination of the Asthma Resource Guide to school nurses, community members, and the Alamance Regional Medical Center education department

– Collaboration with area pharmacies to implement the Nebulizer Loan program to assist families in need

– Partnered with the Environmental Health section of the local health department to offer the Healthy Homes Program

– Leads local Safe Kids Coalition

The Asthma Champion Award was created in 2007 to recognize the outstanding efforts of those dedicated to improving the lives of people with asthma in North Carolina.

BURLINGTON – The North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health in Raleigh has confirmed Alamance County’s first rabies case for 2014.

On May 7th, an individual in Burlington woke up to a bat flying in their bedroom. The individual promptly vacated and closed the room then called Burlington Animal Control for assistance. The bat was removed by an Animal Control Officer and was the sent to the state lab for testing. The individual involved is seeking medical consultation as a result of the incident.

“This individual did exactly what they should have done. If you find a bat in your home, isolate it to one room, leave the room and close the doors,” states Environmental Health Director Carl Carroll. “Call animal control immediately to capture the bat for testing.”

In 2013, there were eight confirmed rabies cases in the county. Of those eight cases, two were bats. There were a total of 380 confirmed rabies cases statewide in 2013 and of those 28 were bats.

If you are bitten by any animal:

•        Wash the wound with soap and running water for ten (10) minutes and seek medical attention immediately.
•       Write down the location of the animal and a description of the animal to provide to animal control. If the animal is someone’s pet, also get the owner’s name and address. Give this information to animal control or the health department.
•       Do not try to catch any wild animal

For more information or questions about rabies control and vaccination requirements, contact the health department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367.

Rabies Vaccination Clinic for Dogs and Cats Planned for April 26                      

Health officials urge residents to keep their pets up-to-date on rabies vaccinations

BURLINGTON – The Alamance County Health Department will be hosting a rabies vaccination clinic on April 26 from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Environmental Health Office located at 209 N. Graham-Hopedale Road in Burlington.

The cost of the rabies shot at the clinic will be $5.00 per pet. Pet owners attending the vaccination clinic are reminded to keep dogs on leashes and cats in carriers.

“Vaccinating your pet is the best way to protect them from rabies,” states Environmental Health Director Carl Carroll. “The law requires pet owners to stay up-to-date on rabies vaccinations and this clinic is one way to comply with the law at low-cost.”

Area veterinary offices will also be providing low-cost rabies vaccines for one week beginning May 5-May10. Participating veterinary offices include:

– Mebane Veterinary Hospital (919) 563-5006

– Graham Animal Hospital (336) 228-1600

– Tri-County Veterinary Service (336) 376-6838

Alamance Animal Emergency Hospital, available at (336) 228-7226, will provide rabies vaccinations May 5-9 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and again on May 10 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. only. Please call the veterinary office for clinic hours and to schedule an appointment for the participating clinics. Rabies vaccines at the participating offices above will cost $5.00 per animal.

To date, there have been no confirmed cases of rabies in 2014 for Alamance County. In 2013, there were eight confirmed rabies cases in the county. For more information or questions about rabies control, vaccination requirements, or upcoming clinics, contact the health department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367.

BURLINGTON – The successful and comprehensive integration of the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program within pediatric primary care practices in Alamance County is unique not only in the state but across the US.

Triple P America Implementation Consultant, Randy Ahn said lessons learned from this implementation site will be used to inform Triple P rollouts in other states and other countries. “As I spoke with several key providers and colleagues around the world, it’s become clear that Alamance County has put together one of the most coherent and complete models for introducing and integrating Triple P in primary care thus far,” said Dr. Ahn.

Alamance County’s two largest pediatric practices, Burlington Pediatrics and Kernodle Clinic Pediatrics, through NC Project LAUNCH, have implemented a Family Centered Medical Home model that incorporates Triple P into each doctor’s visit. Triple P is a parenting support resource that encourages small changes in parent/caregiver and child behavior to build positive relationships within the family. In this Family Centered Medical Home model, physicians and nurses implement basic level parenting education at each doctor’s visit and if additional social-emotional support is needed, providers at the office use warm hand-offs to connect families to a co-located Early Childhood Team. “Triple P takes advantage of in-the-moment care and opens the door to better, ongoing communication between parents and health care professionals,” said Dr. Robin Gary Cummings, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary for Health Services/Medicaid Transformation and Acting State Health Director. “As consistent application of these techniques grows throughout the child services community, the doctor-parent-child bond becomes stronger, encouraging future opportunities to improve parenting skills.” Within the practices, 16 medical practitioners and staff have been trained and accredited in Triple P. Additionally, local Project Manager for NC LAUNCH, Ann Meletzke, has overseen training and accreditation for more than 150 staff at child-serving agencies in the county, offering parent education and support for caregivers throughout the community.

“Triple P is an incredible tool that allows providers, community resource staff, and parents to use the same language when talking about parenting and child behavior,” said Martha Kaufman, Local Project Director for NC LAUNCH. “We know that when a parent receives support at their doctor’s office, they will receive the same message and support when they interact with staff within the school system, at child care facilities, or at the hospital.” Triple P’s Dr. Ahn adds, “Speaking a common language and coordinating services across agencies and sectors is a hallmark of successful public health programs and should benefit all children and families in the county.”

Funding for NC Project LAUNCH (Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health) is made possible through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, HHS to the NC Division of Public Health. Project LAUNCH uses evidence-based programs to support families of young children, promote early childhood learning, development and overall child wellness. “Alamance County has developed a strong model for integrating mental health supports and services into primary care practice,” says Dr. Jennifer Oppenheim, the federal lead for this national grant program. “We’re so pleased to see how these pediatric practices have embraced Triple P and are now able to offer parents a wide array of services to help children thrive.”

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Free Dental Care to Children In Need

BURLINGTON

– The 11th Annual Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) event was held February 1 at the Alamance County Children’s Dental Clinic. The event brought local dental professionals together to volunteer and provide free dental services and education to children in need.

More than 60 children received care at the event resulting in approximately 400 dental procedures including exams, fluoride varnish and sealants valuing more than $15,800. In addition, 24 children were adopted by area dental offices for further oral health needs. “We are so glad to serve children who would not otherwise have dental care,” states Give Kids A Smile Coordinator Margaret Hooper, “And we are so thankful for the sixty-five volunteers who gave their time to the event. We could not make it happen without their dedication”

In addition to free dental services, children were greeted by the Tooth Fairy and also enjoyed face painting by local artist, William Gattis. Colgate, one of the national GKAS sponsors, provided the Bright Smiles Bright Futures mobile dental van along with their mascot, Dr. Brushwell, to support the event.

Alamance County Board of Health Receives State Recognition

Board member also recognized for service

BURLINGTON

– On January 23, the Alamance County Board of Health received the Outstanding Board of Health Award from the Association of North Carolina Boards of Health. The Alamance County Board of Health was recognized for their local public health advocacy regarding the maintenance of fluoridation in local water systems as well as their support of public-private partnerships, such as Project LAUNCH, to address the needs of young children in Alamance County. The Board was also recognized for their dedication to fostering the next generation of public health leaders through professional development and student engagement.

In addition, Alamance County Board of Health member Dr. Donald Courtney, DVM received the Carl Durham Award from the Association of North Carolina Boards of Health. This award is given to an individual Board of Health member who has made significant contributions to public health. Dr. Courtney was recognized for his nine years of service to Alamance County and his enduring passion for public health including the establishment of the Spay and Neuter Clinic of Alamance County. The facility is now a division of the Burlington Animal Services and provides low-cost spay and neuter surgery for dogs and cats. Dr. Courtney was also recognized for his unwavering advocacy of community rabies vaccination efforts.

The awards were given at the 2014 North Carolina Health Director’s Conference in Raleigh.

Outstanding Board of Health Award

(Board of Health Chairman, Kent Tapscott and Board of Health Member, Kathy Colville accepting award)

Carl Durham Award

(Board of Health Member, Dr. Donald Courtney accepting the award)

 First Flu-Related Death Reported in Alamance County

Flu vaccine still available at Health Department

BURLINGTON

– On January 22, the Alamance County Health Department received notification of the county’s first flu-related death for the 2013-2014 flu season. The death occurred in a child. In order to protect the family’s privacy, no other details are being released.

“This is deeply saddening news and we extend our thoughts and prayers to the family,” stated Alamance County Health Director Barry Bass. “Please use precautions this flu season and if you haven’t already, we encourage you to get the flu vaccine.”

Flu activity has been widespread in North Carolina since mid-December. As of January 16, the NC DHHS had reported 27 total flu-related deaths in the state. Most of those deaths have occurred in young and middle-aged adults. High levels of flu activity are expected to continue over the coming weeks, as flu season typically peaks during January and February.

The flu vaccine is available by appointment at the Health Department and protects against the strains of flu circulating this year, including H1N1, the most common flu strain so far in the 2013-2014 flu season. Individuals interested in receiving flu vaccine may call 336-227-0101, Monday-Friday to make an appointment.

In addition to flu vaccination, public health experts recommend taking additional precautions against illness, including washing your hands often with soap and water, and staying away from others who may have the flu.

 Give Kids A Smile Scheduled for February 1

Appointment scheduling begins January 14

BURLINGTON

The Alamance County Children’s Dental Clinic and the Alamance-Caswell Dental Society will be commemorating National Children’s Dental Access Day with the 11th Annual Give Kids A Smile event on February 1. Scheduling for the free Give Kids A Smile dental appointments will begin Tuesday, January 14 and will end Thursday, January 16. There are a limited number of appointments available, and those interested should call 336-221-1267 between 9:00 a.m. and noon or from 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

In order to be eligible for the Give Kids A Smile event, a child must meet the following criteria:

– Be in preschool – 8th grade

– Reside in Alamance County or Caswell County

– Reside in a family that has financial need

– Have no dental insurance OR be enrolled in Medicaid or Health Choice BUT does not have a regular dentist.

Give Kids A Smile provides an opportunity for children without dental insurance to receive free dental services. The event began in 2003, and since that time, participating dentists have performed more than $1 million in free dental services for children in Alamance and Caswell counties.

“This event continues to grow each year,” says Give Kids A Smile coordinator, Margaret Hooper. “This year, three and four year olds will be able to make appointments for free screenings on the Colgate Dental Van by a pediatric dentist. This is a wonderful opportunity for children who would otherwise not receive dental services to get the care they need.”

The Alamance County Children’s Dental Clinic is located at 1914 McKinney Street in Burlington.

GIVE KIDS A SMILE (GKAS) FACT SHEET:

– 97 children received dental exams in 2013 through GKAS event

– 573 dental procedures were provided in 2013 through GKAS event

– 54 children were adopted by an area dental provider for further treatment at no cost in 2013 through the GKAS event

– 73 volunteers participated in the 2013 GKAS event

Health Department Releases 2013 State of the County Health Report

BURLINGTON

– The Alamance County Health Department has completed the State of the County Health (SOTCH) report for 2013. The report provides updates on health statistics and information on progress in priority health areas as determined in the 2011 Community Health Assessment.

Community health priorities highlighted in the SOTCH include obesity, substance abuse, mental health and access to health care. The SOTCH details various initiatives, activities and strategies employed to improve the health of the community related to those four priority areas. Additionally, the SOTCH highlights ongoing public health work such as maternal child health outcomes and air quality improvement. The emerging issue section of the SOTCH was first included in 2008 to highlight health issues of importance that were not initially identified or anticipated in the Community Health Assessment.

The SOTCH is a collaborative effort between the Alamance County Health Department, Alamance Regional Medical Center, Healthy Alamance, United Way and other community partners. The SOTCH report is an annual report required by the North Carolina Division of Public Health from all local health departments in the years between Community Health Assessments.

To view the SOTCH, please visit https://www.alamance-nc.com/healthdept/ then choose Health Reports and Statistics.

Low Cost Rabies Vaccinations Available at Local Clinics November 4-9

BURLINGTON – Several local veterinary offices will be offering rabies vaccinations for $5.00 per animal beginning November 4 and ending November 9.

Vaccination clinics will be held during that week at the following local veterinary offices:

– Mebane Veterinary Hospital (919) 563-5006

– Graham Animal Hospital (336) 228-1600

– Tri-County Veterinary Service (336) 376-6838

– Creekside Animal Clinic (919) 563-9663

In addition, Alamance Animal Emergency Hospital, available at (336) 228-7226, will provide rabies vaccinations November 4-Novmber 8 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and again on November 9 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. only. Please call the veterinary office for clinic hours and to schedule an appointment for the participating clinics.

State law requires the vaccination of cats and dogs against rabies. Animals should begin receiving rabies vaccination at 4 months of age. For more information or questions about rabies control, vaccination requirements, or upcoming clinics, contact the Health Department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367.