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Union County Public Health
Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. This work is achieved by promoting healthy lifestyles, researching disease and injury prevention, and detecting, preventing and responding to infectious diseases.
Covid-19 & Flu Information
Union County Public health will transition away from following up with individual cases testing positive for Covid-19 effective 2/7/22. Contact tracing and more recently case investigation was a necessary tool for interrupting ongoing transmission of Covid-19 and preventing disease in vulnerable populations. This also served as a way to help individuals and families as questions and get guidance to help through the Covid-19 disease process.
A number of factors have lead to the decision of ceasing universal case investigation, including:
1. The number of asymptomatic and less severe cases. This is due to changes in the virus and vaccination status.
2. The increasing use of “over the counter” at-home tests, which are generally not reported to public health agencies.
3. The shorter incubation period of the Omicron variant.
Guidance for Isolation Guidance for the General public:
Union County Public Health will still help individual cases needing guidance via phone Monday through Friday from 8-4:30pm
Outreach & Classes
Stop the Bleed: The American College of Surgeons STOP THE BLEED® program has prepared over 2.6 million people worldwide on how to stop bleeding in a severely injured person. Click here to visit the website.
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Matter of Balance:
This award winning* program is designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase the activity levels of older adults who have concerns about falls. This program utilizes volunteer coaches to teach the eight two-hour sessions. To register, contact Union County Public Health at 641-782-3545.
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Better Choices, Better Health: helps adults of all ages and caregivers manage the symptoms of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, depression, asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and any other physical and mental health conditions. The workshop provides an environment of mutual support, which builds participants’ confidence in their ability to manage their health and lead active lives. To register, contact Union County Public Health at 641-782-3545.
Contact Us
Union County Public Health
Highway Medical
803 Wyoming Ave
Creston, IA 50801
Hours
Monday-Friday
8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Union County Public Health
Karla Hynes, RN
Public Health Coordinator
Resources
Union County Community Health Assessment & Health Improvement Plan: Download pdf here.
Pediatric Covid Testing Guidance: Download pdf here.
Viral Self Care Instructions: Download pdf here.
Recommended Immunizations for Children Birth-6 Years Old: Download pdf here.
Recommended Immunizations for Children 7-18 Years Old: Download pdf here.
Infant Formula Resources: Download pdf here.
Infant Formula Resources (Spanish): Download pdf here.
Union County Food Coalition: Download pdf here.
Take home testing kits for COVID-19 are available at the Union County Public Health office.
To ensure test kit availability, please call the Union County Public Health office at (641) 782-3545 to arrange a pickup time for the kit. The kits are free to all and come with detailed instruction, as well as a pre-paid label to the State Hygienic Lab. Once the test is mailed, results should be available within 3-4 days (the results will be given directly to the patient through Test Iowa).
Union County Public Health is here to assist with any questions regarding the take home kits. The process is:
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The patient picks up a test kit from Union County Public Health.
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The patient will complete the online survey at testiowa.com and will instruct the patient to activate the test kit by entering the test kit barcode ID.
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The patient completes the test by following instructions for collecting a sample and packaging the sample.
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The patient sends the test sample back to the State Hygienic Lab as soon as possible using a prepaid label included with the test kit.
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The State Hygienic Lab receives the test sample within 72 hours and processes the sample.
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The State Hygienic Lab provides the test results within 24 hours of receiving the sample. Results are provided via email to the patient.
If you are a patient of Greater Regional Primary Clinic and are not showing signs or symptoms of COVID-19, patients will be able to schedule a test by a nurse visit. Call the Primary Care Clinic at (641) 782-2131.
If you are experiencing signs and symptoms of COVID-19, please seek medical attention.
Remember to plan ahead for any COVID-19 testing that may need to be done prior to traveling. Visit www.cdc.gov for details about travel and return to work guidelines with testing.
Board of Health
Board of Health member information can be found here: Union County Public Health Department.