In an effort to improve access to care and become more customer-friendly, Macon County Public Health will officially discontinue its long-standing practice of established “clinic days” in favor of an “open access” system. Macon County Health Director Jim Bruckner explained, “Open access is a scheduling system where patients are seen at the first available appointment slot, regardless of the reason for their visit.” Bruckner went on to explain that open access will improve customer service by reducing wait times often associated with participating in a public health service. “For example,” stated Bruckner, “children will longer have to wait for the twice a month Child Health Clinic; they will be given the first available appointment slot and still receive all of the customary services.”
The open access system at the public health center will result in an experience which is similar to what patients are accustomed to with a regular physician’s office visit. Patients will call in for a service and be given the first available appointment slot; often falling on the actual day they call for service. The open access scheduling will be used for most clinical services including laboratory work.
“This project is a result of our on-going Quality Improvement program” stated Bruckner. “Our staff has been working on the transition to this system for some time and to facilitate a smooth process, we’ve enlisted the help of the NC Center for Public Health Quality, the NC Institute for Public Health, and the Area Health Education Center.” Professionals from these organizations will be on-hand at the public health center the week of January 17th to ensure an efficient transition. Bruckner said the agency’s goal is to reduce the current wait times from up to three weeks to less than three days for certain programs.
Bruckner emphasized that the public health center is not changing the type of services they offer, only the scheduling system. “Patients will still receive the same high quality service; however, in order to have this new system work efficiently for everyone, appointments will be required for all clinical services.” Bruckner also explained that this new system will not change the Highlands and Nantahala clinic days. Access to services and office hours in those communities will remain the same.
Macon County Public Health currently offers a variety of personal health services to residents of Macon County. These services include the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program; child and adult health screenings, family planning, prenatal care, routine and international travel immunizations, WIC, laboratory services, communicable disease services, dental services for all ages, medical nutrition therapy, and diabetes counseling. The Macon County Public Health Center sees patients Monday – Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm in Franklin and sponsors special outreach clinics in Highlands and Nantahala. Macon County Public Health will file Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Tricare, Cresent, and certain Medicare replacements for its patients. To schedule an appointment for any of the services listed above, please call 349-2081. To learn more about these and other public health services, visit http://www.maconnc.org/health-department.html.
Your connection to current events at the Macon County Public Health Center in North Carolina
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Macon County's State of the County Health Report 2010
Macon County Public Health and Macon County Healthy Carolinians are pleased to issue Macon County’s State of the County’s Health Report for 2010. This report informs community members, leaders, organizations and others about Macon County’s progress on certain health issues. It also provides the most current data on a number of leading health indicators such as: county demographics, leading causes of death, chronic disease mortality, injury prevention, access to care, maternal and child health, and health promotion.
The State of the County Health Report, or SOTCH report as it is commonly known, highlights both the county’s progress and barriers during the year in relation to health priorities identified in the 2007 comprehensive Community Health Assessment. The report compares Macon County residents to four peer counties (counties with similar population and demographic characteristics) and the state as a whole to see what areas could be improved upon. The report also celebrates the accomplishments of local collaborations and coalitions that have made an impact on Macon County’s health through chronic disease prevention and access to care.
Positive highlights noted in the report include:
• The Franklin Community Care Clinic opened in February, 2010; improving access to health care for low income and uninsured residents.
• Self-reported data collected from youth indicated improvements in tobacco use initiation, consumption of fruits, and cocaine and inhalant use.
• The rate (per 1000) of teen pregnancies (ages 15 -19) dropped from 59.6 in 2006 to 53.4 by the end of 2009.
• Body mass index (BMI) trends were favorable when measured at Macon County elementary school health fairs.
• Macon County’s rates for bacteria positive well water samples fell from 70% in July, 2008 to less than 30% in July, 2010 due to improvements in chlorination practices.
Issues noted in the report indicating opportunities for further improvement included:
• More than half of Macon County deaths between 2005 and 2009 were due to chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
• Macon County’s death rates attributable to unintentional injury and suicide were significantly higher than the state’s rates.
• The latest available data on maternal smoking showed that Macon County’s percent of live births where the mother smoked was 22.3%; more than double the state’s rate of 11%.
• The 75 and older population growth rate is exceeding the growth rate of health care services in the community.
In 2011, Macon County Public Health will conduct a new comprehensive Community Health Assessment. This assessment will be used to establish long-term health priorities for Macon County. It will also be used as the standard for measuring progress in future State of the County Health Reports. The Community Health Assessment will be conducted using many data collection techniques, including telephone interviews, focus groups, key informant surveys, as well as statistical analysis.
Macon County Public Health values the public’s input, questions, and comments about the SOTCH report as well as the Community Assessment process. To access current and historical SOTCH reports and CHA reports, please visit http://www.maconnc.org/healthy-carolinians.html or contact Becky Barr at 349-2437 for more information.
Macon County Public Health and Macon County Healthy Carolinians are pleased to issue Macon County’s State of the County’s Health Report for 2010. This report informs community members, leaders, organizations and others about Macon County’s progress on certain health issues. It also provides the most current data on a number of leading health indicators such as: county demographics, leading causes of death, chronic disease mortality, injury prevention, access to care, maternal and child health, and health promotion.
The State of the County Health Report, or SOTCH report as it is commonly known, highlights both the county’s progress and barriers during the year in relation to health priorities identified in the 2007 comprehensive Community Health Assessment. The report compares Macon County residents to four peer counties (counties with similar population and demographic characteristics) and the state as a whole to see what areas could be improved upon. The report also celebrates the accomplishments of local collaborations and coalitions that have made an impact on Macon County’s health through chronic disease prevention and access to care.
Positive highlights noted in the report include:
• The Franklin Community Care Clinic opened in February, 2010; improving access to health care for low income and uninsured residents.
• Self-reported data collected from youth indicated improvements in tobacco use initiation, consumption of fruits, and cocaine and inhalant use.
• The rate (per 1000) of teen pregnancies (ages 15 -19) dropped from 59.6 in 2006 to 53.4 by the end of 2009.
• Body mass index (BMI) trends were favorable when measured at Macon County elementary school health fairs.
• Macon County’s rates for bacteria positive well water samples fell from 70% in July, 2008 to less than 30% in July, 2010 due to improvements in chlorination practices.
Issues noted in the report indicating opportunities for further improvement included:
• More than half of Macon County deaths between 2005 and 2009 were due to chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
• Macon County’s death rates attributable to unintentional injury and suicide were significantly higher than the state’s rates.
• The latest available data on maternal smoking showed that Macon County’s percent of live births where the mother smoked was 22.3%; more than double the state’s rate of 11%.
• The 75 and older population growth rate is exceeding the growth rate of health care services in the community.
In 2011, Macon County Public Health will conduct a new comprehensive Community Health Assessment. This assessment will be used to establish long-term health priorities for Macon County. It will also be used as the standard for measuring progress in future State of the County Health Reports. The Community Health Assessment will be conducted using many data collection techniques, including telephone interviews, focus groups, key informant surveys, as well as statistical analysis.
Macon County Public Health values the public’s input, questions, and comments about the SOTCH report as well as the Community Assessment process. To access current and historical SOTCH reports and CHA reports, please visit http://www.maconnc.org/healthy-carolinians.html or contact Becky Barr at 349-2437 for more information.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Health Department Retirements
The Macon County Public Health Center has recently bid farewell to two dedicated public health employees. Linda Tyler, RN, BSN, the Nursing Supervisor for the agency, retired after 26 years of service to Macon County. Also, Margaret Sustarsic who worked as Processing Assistant retired this summer with 10 years of service. Both employees were honored with retirement receptions attended by co-workers, family members, friends, and County Commissioners. Both employees received Michael Rogers prints from the county as a token of appreciation for their years of service and dedicated work for Macon County residents. Tyler is pictured above at her July 12th reception with Commissioner Ronnie Beale and Sustarsic is pictured at her June 30th reception with Commissioner Jim Davis.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Media Release - Environmental Health Award
The Macon County Public Health Center’s Wes Bintz was recently honored by the WNC Public Health Association as “Outstanding Rookie Environmental Health Specialist of the Year”. Bintz was singled out from nominees from 29 WNC counties. Bintz was recognized for his development of a GIS digital mapping system for all new septic systems and wells in Macon County. The system provides more accurate maps for environmental health specialists, septic system installers, realtors, well drillers, and the public. It is anticipated that these maps will be available on the county’s website in the near future. The WNCPHA began making this award only eight years ago and Bintz is the second Environmental Health Specialist to receive the award from Macon County.
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