Public Health Week: Learn about Union County Public Health

We are excited to celebrate Public Health by learning a little bit about Union County Public Health from our Public Health Nurse, Karla Hynes. This celebration not only highlights the essential services provided by our public health system but also emphasizes the critical role that public health professionals play in safeguarding our community's well-being.

Karla Hynes on Public Health:

Karla Hynes, RN

We evaluate the county's health status through community needs assessments, create interventions to address identified gaps and needs, implement these interventions, and assess the outcomes. We then re-evaluate and adjust our actions as necessary. The best analogy for a nurse's role in public health is comparing it to the weather—unpredictable, ever-changing, exciting, mysterious, hot, cold, and so on. Essentially, it's similar to other nursing fields, except our patient is the public.

Public Health plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of residents within Union County. This dedicated department is involved in a wide array of activities aimed at promoting health, preventing disease, and protecting the community from various health threats.

What attracted me to public health is the focus on prevention. I have the opportunity to help prevent tetanus through the immunization program, assist people in avoiding falls by teaching fall prevention classes, support individuals in monitoring their health through screenings and empowering classes, and encourage the adoption of healthy behaviors to enhance quality of life. Additionally, I teach techniques that can save lives. I also have the pleasure of interacting with many wonderful people throughout Union County.

The collaboration between public health and various organizations within the community is fundamental to enhancing health outcomes.

In public health, we have the opportunity to partner with every organization and individual in the county. I have collaborated with law enforcement, daycare providers, immigrants, schools, factories, senior centers, our hospital, disease investigators, city and county employees, food pantries, event planners, boards, alliances, civic organizations, students, parents, emergency personnel and planners, and more. I also work with grant funders, state regulatory groups, and colleagues in similar positions. If someone is part of the public, I have either worked with them or represented them.

Hannah Jackson, CMA

The Union County Public Health team is dedicated to building a healthier community through collaboration, education, and advocacy.

The Public Health Staff includes Hannah Jackson, the administrative assistant, and myself, the public health coordinator. Hannah and I have developed a strong partnership—she is wonderful at phone communication and event planning. She enjoys conducting disease investigations and is very organized. I, on the other hand, enjoy meeting people and offering education. I'm more of an ideas person, while Hannah is great at executing them.

Greater Regional Health is proud to partner with Union County Public Health to enhance the health of our community. Thank you Karla and Hannah for all you do for the residents of Union County!