Public health open house Friday

Jefferson County Public Health will host an open house from 10 a.m. to noon Friday at its office on 200 W. Briggs Ave. in Fairfield to recognize the contributions and importance of public health.

Public health administrator Chris Estle said the open house is also an opportunity to educate the public on the services her department provides.

?Public health is the health of the public. It?s all encompassing,? she said. ?It includes disease prevention, disease follow-up, environmental health and home care.?

Estle has been with the department 10 years, and in that time she has seen a lot of changes in health care delivery.

?We?ve seen individuals need more care in their homes,? she said.

Public health is involved in many behind-the-scenes tasks such as audits of health care businesses.

Estle said she views public health as providing a ?silent infrastructure? to health care delivery.

Several public health employees will be on hand at Friday?s open house to talk about the department?s services.

Skilled nurses are available to manage medications, provide wound care, IV therapy and other treatments prescribed by a physician.

Home health aids provide personal care services such as bathing, dressing, hair care, oral hygiene and shaving. The department offers homemaker services,