Located in the Community Services Building in Hinesville on the corner of Highway 84 and Patriot Trail (1113 East Oglethorpe Highway), the LIBERTY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT provides a wide variety of public health programs that cover over a hundred different services from infant healthcare to environmental inspections.

Liberty is one of eight counties in the Coastal Health District under the direction of District Health Director, Douglas Skelton, MD. Deidre Michelson (BSN, RN, C) is Administrator over Liberty County programs provided by the Health Department and Environmental Health Department. Annie Washington, RN, is the Nurse Manager and Pam Laynor, the Clerical Manager. They and other staff at the main health department clinic may be contacted by phone at (912)876-2173.

Linus Woodard, Environmental Health Specialist in charge of the Environmental Health Department, has offices at 101 North Commerce Street in Hinesville and may be reached by phone at (912)368-5520. Other clinics include the Fort Stewart WIC clinic at 1183 Bultman Avenue on Fort Stewart managed by Mary Montoya ((912)877-3330) and a WIC and a limited health services clinic at the Head Start Center on Highway 119 in Riceboro; services at the latter are available only on certain days of the month.

Payment for services at the health department is based on a sliding fee scale. Proof of income is required for residents using the sliding fee scale or applying for WIC services. Environmental health services are based on fees established by the Board of Health and are available 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. While some services at the main health department require appointments, others may be accessed on a walk-in basis. Hours are as follows:

Health Department Services

Programs for Infants and Children

• Child Health Services – comprehensive physical and developmental testing for infants and children up to age 21
• Children’s Medical Services – provides cardiac, orthopedic and neurological follow-ups for children with special needsEarly and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) - health screenings for Medicaid-eligible children
• Early Intervention – evaluates children up to age 3 with developmental delays, trains and counsels parents, and arranges for special services needed for the child and their family
• Immunizations - childhood vaccinations
• Infant Safety Education Programs – includes loan-able infant safety seats for eligible clients
• Intestinal Parasites, Scabies and Lice Treatment Program – education, examination, treatment and control methods
• Newborn Care – home visits for high-risk infants
• Perinatal Case Management – screening and resource information for eligible mothers and their infants
• Pregnancy Related Services – home visitation services for new mothers and infants meeting eligibility criteria
• Scoliosis Screenings and Referrals – scheduled in local schools and available in the health clinic
• Well Baby/Children’s Clinic – health examinations and referrals

Food Vouchers and Nutritional Services

WIC Clinic - offers nutritional counseling, supplemental foods and health assessment services for women, infants and children.

Programs for Adolescents and Teens

Funded under the Georgia Division of Public Health, the Adolescent Health and Youth Development Program in Liberty County offers activities that encourage physical fitness and healthy lifestyles; counseling pertinent to teen issues such as responsible decision making; leadership training and development of life skills and information; and education and information on physical health. These and other collaborative community teen programs may be found at the High Rise Teen Center in Parkway Plaza. A Parent Advisory Council (PAC) oversees programming and sponsors parenting education. Call Annie West at 876-2422 for additional information.

Programs for Adults

• BreasTEST & MORE – provides breast exams, mammograms, pap smears & pelvic exams for income eligible women
• Cancer Screening
• Chronic Disease Assessment – treatment, counseling and monitoring is provided along with prescriptive drugs at low costs
• Family Planning – offers examinations, counseling & contraceptive options
• Genetic Screening and Counseling
• HIV/AIDS Clinic – provides treatment, counseling, networking and supportive assistance
• Infectious Disease Control and Treatment – tests and treats contacts while tracking the disease and providing community alerts.
• Health assessments, hearing, vision and laboratory work. - includes diagnostic blood work, blood pressure checks, testing and monitoring for diseases
• Wellness/Prevention Programs - includes Diabetic and childbirth education classes, screening and healthy lifestyle educational opportunities, and health counseling services
• Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic
• Work physicals and industrial health appraisals geared to individual companies and their employees
• Primary Medical Care - nurse practitioners provide physical examinations, order diagnostic tests, treat medical diseases and disorders as well as providing counseling and preventive health education.
• Immunizations – provides seasonal vaccines for flu and pneumonia as well as those needed for travel and occupational safety

Free Walk-In Clinic

The Coastal Medical Assistance Clinic (CMAC) provides free primary medical care through a Tuesday evening free walk-in clinic staffed by volunteers. Limited daytime appointments are available with a Nurse Practitioner. The clinic has offices and holds its evening clinic in the Liberty County Health Department on Oglethorpe Highway and Patriot Trail. Eligibility criteria includes:

• Income under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level
• Must be a U.S. citizen Medically uninsured
• Not currently on Medicare & Medicaid – residents who are eligible for these programs will be treated and then plugged into the system by outreach social workers.
• May not be in the military or be a military dependent

Residents wishing to access services at the Tuesday evening clinic should sign in at the Liberty County Health Department lobby between the hours of 3:00 – 5:00 PM. Clinic hours begin at 5:00 PM when the health department closes and CMAC takes over the use of their facilities. For additional information, contact Jeannie Stevens (876-2173 extension 237) or Linda Ratcliffe (876-2173 extension 236).

Services at the Environmental Health Department

Animal and rabies control Child safety programs Environmental education and training Epidemiology investigation Hazardous waste programs Individual and community well review Safety audits Taxonomy Bioterrorism monitoring and response

Emergency disaster control Environmental sampling and analysis General public health nuisance Indoor air quality Inspections and new establishment reviews to include septic systems, food service and swimming pools Occupational injury control and prevention Subdivision review Vector control – West Nile program

For information about these or other services at the health department, call contact numbers listed above or look for the Liberty County Health Department on the Coastal Health District website (http://www.gachd.org/).