Tomorrow — Friday, July 1 — marks one year of operation for the Trumbull Health Department.
“Our first year was quite an exciting challenge” said Rhonda Capuano, director of health. “We had to hire all new staff, develop procedures and protocols, establish provider agreements with insurance companies, order vaccines and get the department up and running. We saw folks from day one.”
In August 2015, the department moved to its permanent location.
The new Trumbull Health Department is located at 335 White Plains Road.
Throughout this year the Trumbull Health Department has grown tremendously. Our Community Health division is staffed by part-time public health nurses. We are now able to offer many vaccines and services to the community. Available vaccines include DTap and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis formulation is age specific), Influenza, Hepatitis B, MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), Prevnar 13 & PPSV23 (Pneumonia), Polio, Zostavax (Shingles) and Varicella (chickenpox). Services offered include blood cholesterol screening, blood pressure screenings, tuberculin testing. To schedule an appointment call 203-452-1030. Our public health nurses are also responsible for monitoring and following up on childhood lead poisoning cases and communicable disease infections in town residents.
The Environmental Health division have completed all mandated food establishment inspections for the year. Our sanitarians have also conducted inspections of septic systems, pools, salons, housing and any other related complaints. The Environmental division is responsible for keeping our community safe and healthy. All fairs that serve food and farmers markets are monitored for food safety. The inspectors work closely with other town departments, contractors and installers.
The Trumbull Health Department accepts ticks that have been removed from residents. The ticks are sent to the state laboratory to be tested for the presence of the bacterium that causes Lyme Disease.
Larvicide dunks are available to town residents who have standing water on their property.
Our Health Education section, working in conjunction with the public health nurses, have coordinated the many blood pressure screenings around the community and facilitated a six-week High Blood Pressure Self-Care and Prevention workshop. Workshop participants learned skills they can use to control their blood pressure and were given blood pressure machines to monitor their blood pressure at home. The Health Education section also provided the Trumbull community with many other events and resources including: a “Tick Talk” presentation, National Walking Day event, National Radon Awareness month, Lead Poisoning Awareness week, lead prevention education,” Flu and You” handwashing presentation, Zika and mosquito-borne disease information, Sun Safety and co-sponsored a movie and discussion on Alzheimer’s disease.
Establishing the correct cost for services was determined by completing a cost analysis. Some fees have been adjusted so we can continue to provide at an accurate cost. The updated fees, effective July 1, 2016, can be viewed on our website www.trumbull-ct.gov/THD or by calling 203-452-1030.
With the first year coming to close we look back with pride at our accomplishments and the services we are now able to provide to Trumbull residents and look forward to serving the community for years to come.