Warren County Health Services strives to provide various programs available to all residents of Warren County. We offer classes and host events throughout the year to promote healthy living. Some of our programs include:
- Annual Health and Safety Fair – usually held in June
- Health care teaching programs for individuals and groups
- Immunizations clinics
- Community Assessment – performing ongoing assessment of our counties health needs
Immunizations
Warren County Health Services is a Vaccines for Children Provider (VFC). The VFC program was created to meet vaccination needs of children from birth through 18 years of age. VFC vaccines are provided at no cost to eligible children.
A child is eligible to receive VFC vaccine if she/he:
- Is enrolled in Medicaid
- Does not have health insurance
- Is American Indian or Alaskan native
- Is underinsured (has insurance that DOES NOT cover vaccines)
Warren County Health Services offers immunization clinics.
WHEN: The 2nd Tuesday and the last Wednesday of every month | HOURS: 2:00pm-6:00pm
To schedule an appointment at the Warren County Health Services’ immunization clinic, call 515-961-1074. Immunizations can be scheduled outside of immunization clinic hours when necessary. Please contact your primary health provider for more information about what immunizations are right for you. (We stock a limited number of adult vaccines, please call for availability.)
For more information regarding immunization, please click on the links below:
Immunization Schedule for Infants and Children
Immunization Schedule for Preteens and Teens
Additional Immunization-Related Resources for Parents
Additional Immunization-Related Resources for Adults
Child & Adolescent Immunization Schedule
Adult Immunization Schedule
Notice of Privacy Practices
Better Choices Better Health
Put Life Back Into Your Life
Consider a Better Choices, Better Health Workshop.
Are you an adult age 55 or older with an ongoing health condition?
You’ll get the support you need, find practical ways to deal with pain and fatigue, discover better nutrition and exercise choices, understand new treatment choices, and learn better ways to talk with your doctor and family about your health.
If you have conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic pain, or anxiety, the Better Choices, Better Health Workshops can help you take charge of your life. It is your link to better health!
- Join a 2 ½ hour Better Choices, Better Health Workshop, held each week for six weeks in your community.
- Learn from trained mostly volunteer Leaders with health conditions themselves.
- Set your own goals and make a step-by-step plan to improve your health—and your life!
Please call Warren County Health Services at 515-961-1074 if you are interested in attending a training.
Matter of Balance
Do you have concerns about falling?
A Matter of Balance can help reduce the fear of falling and increase the activity levels of older adults who have concerns about falling.
Classes Help Participants Learn To:
- view falls and fear of falling as controllable
- set realistic goals for increasing activity
- change their environment to reduce fall risk factors
- promote exercise to increase strength and balance
Designed to Benefit Community-Dwelling Older Adults who:
- are concerned about falls
- have sustained a fall in the past
- restrict activities because of concerns about falling
- are interested in improving flexibility, balance and strength
- are age 60 or older, ambulatory and able to problem-solve
Here’s what participants say about A Matter of Balance:
“I am already noticing a difference in my physical being. I plan to continue these exercises. Hopefully I’ll be jumping over the moon soon.”
“I seem to be more aware of every situation for my safety. I now ‘stop, look and listen’ to my surroundings.”
A Matter of Balance Outcomes at 6 Months Participant Satisfaction:
97% are more comfortable talking about fear of falling
97% feel comfortable increasing activity
99% plan to continue exercising
98% would recommend A Matter of Balance
A Matter of Balance – Volunteer Lay Leader Model
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.
For more information about A Matter of Balance, please call Warren County Health Services at (515) 961-1074
Foot Clinic
Our purpose is to provide accessible, affordable foot health care to all residents of Warren County. Our goal is to make proper foot care available to elderly, disabled, or other persons who have difficulty with their own foot care.
Foot clinic is held the first three Thursdays of the month. Appointment hours: 8:30am – 11:35am.
Please call 515-690-9190 to schedule your appointment.
Clinic Location:
Warren County Health Services
Warren County Administration Building
301 N. Buxton, Suite 203, Indianola, Iowa 50125
Equipment Loan Closet
Various organizations and individuals – including the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children and Adults, and private donations, have provided the loan equipment/item(s) for this program. Equipment/item(s) available thru this loan program includes but not limited to the following items:
- Bathtub seats, tub handrails
- Canes & Crutches
- Commodes
- Grabbers
- Toilet seat extensions, toilet handrails
- Walkers
- Wheelchairs
- Miscellaneous items
If you do not see an item you need on our list, please call us as this is not a complete list of items we have. You can reach us at 515-961-1074.
Equipment is to be loaned for short-term use only! If the equipment is needed for more than a 30-day period, please contact the public health nurse and she may assist you in obtaining the equipment from another supplier.
Communicable Disease Surveillance & Follow-up
Warren County Health Services provides follow-up or investigative service for all reportable communicable disease referrals as adopted by the Iowa State Board of Health. Warren County Health Services maintains the ability to receive urgent disease reports and/or notification of other public health emergencies requiring agency response on 24 hours per day 7 days per week basis. We also provide special immunization and/or screening programs, as necessary, as recommended by the Iowa Department of Public Health and in conjunction with the local physicians of Warren County.
A current list of reportable communicable diseases for the state of Iowa is located in The Epidemiologic Follow-Up of Communicable Diseases in Iowa (“The EPI Manual”), which is provided to this agency on line at the IDPH website. Please click on the link below to view the manual.
If you believe you have a reportable communicable disease condition please notify us at 515-961-1074
Public Health Emergency Response
Warren County Health Services is trained to respond to a health related epidemic within Warren County. We work with the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure appropriate training, protocols, and response to health related epidemics.
Health Services Medical Volunteers
Warren County Public Health is recruiting for our Medical Volunteer Pool. We are looking for nurses willing to volunteer their nursing skills in the event of a local crisis or disaster.
The disaster could be a food born outbreak, pandemic flu or the intentional release of a biological weapon. In each of these scenarios, the response would be the same; isolation, quarantine and the implementation of mass prophylaxis clinics.
Each of these scenarios could require a public health response that would far exceed our current capacity. This is why… WE NEED YOU!!
Could you see yourself assisting in a public health role such as phone contacts and surveillance, assessments, triage, dispensing medications or immunizations at a mass clinic, interviewing or helping educate individuals or businesses?
If you volunteer, your name and contact information will be maintained in a volunteer nurse database. You will be contacted every month to update your information and to confirm that you still desire to be on this list. You may terminate your participation at any time.
Orientation and training will be offered two times per year. We will also add you to the CDC disaster update list serve if you would so desire. If the disaster calls for mass distribution of medication or vaccine, you would be among the first treated.
If you are interested in volunteering please fill out an application.
Health Services Medical Volunteer Application
FAQs
If I am not available now or for the next 60 days, should I apply?
Yes. Every 30 days you will be asked (via email) to update your availability status. If you are not currently available but believe you might be available in the future please sign up now.
How many medical volunteers will be needed?
It is difficult to estimate the exact number of medical volunteers we would need, but it would be a lot. In the case of a smallpox outbreak our goal would be to vaccinate all Warren County residents (approximately 44,000) in 4 days. To respond to an anthrax outbreak we would distribute oral medication to our community in two days. Warren County Public Health employs 8 nurses at the current time.
What does “available” mean?
It means you would be included on our active call list. In case of an outbreak we would call those who were available and ask them to help. Being available does not commit you to working. You can make that decision when we specifically ask you to respond to a specific event.
What is the expected response time?
24 hours.
What would make me unavailable?
Any circumstances that would prohibit you from being able to respond (e.g., being out of town).
Who would I report to?
You would receive a call from the Warren County Public Health preparedness staff. She would identify the role you would play, where to report and who you should report to.
Where would I report?
You would receive a call from the Warren County Public Health preparedness staff. She would identify the role you would play, where to report and who you should report to.
How will I know if I should respond?
At the time of an outbreak or other public health disaster we will identify the resources we need to respond. We will review our data base to see who is available and can help us meet our needs. We will contact these people.
What if I become unavailable during my 60- day commitment?
Every 30 days you will be asked (via email) to update your availability status. In addition, you will have access to the secure web site. Through this web site you will be able to make any changes in your availability status.
Would my family get immunized along with me?
If you are mobilized and called to action, you and your immediate family would be eligible to be immunized.
Would my liability be covered by the Good Samaritan law?
As a volunteer for Warren County Public Health you would be covered by Warren County.
What would constitute being called upon for a “public health emergency”?
You may be called upon to respond to a large community outbreak of any “normal” communicable disease such as seasonal influenza, hepatitis, pertussis, etc. You may also be called upon for pandemics such as SARS or influenza. You may be called upon in a terrorist event such as smallpox, anthrax, etc. You may be called upon during a natural disaster such as the 1993 floods or receiving the Katrina evacuees.
Is there any special training that I will receive?
Warren County Public Health staff will provide training based on volunteer roles and incident command systems. There will be an initial training and opportunities for additional training as well as exercise opportunities. You may also be offered training opportunities provided through the State or web-based along with our regular staff.
Would nurse practitioners and physician assistants be expected to write prescriptions?
The only time you would be involved in writing a prescription would be if it was for off label use. All other treatments are covered by standing orders. An example would be in the case of anthrax. There are two antibiotics approved for use with anthrax exposure. If a client cannot take either of these medications, they would need a written prescription for a compatible antibiotic.
Home Care and Home Maker Services
Warren County health Services provides Home Care to residents in Warren County. Here is what we have to offer:
- Intermittent in-home care to assist you to maintain your independence in your home
- Competent caring friendly registered nurses providing treatments such as wound care, diabetic teaching, medication set up assistance, and many other skilled nursing services
- Home care aides to assist with personal cares and housekeeping
- Homemakers assist clients with housekeeping that may not need assistance with personal cares
Please call us for more information at 515-961-1074.