Health Dept. gets new home
By FRANK BRADLEY Sentinel writer

Union County Health Department Office Manager Glenda Brown in the new building.

Avis Shaw and Francis Frizzel must be tickled pink hearing about the new county health building. They are retired county nurses who have given so much of themselves in providing good health care for Union County residents.

On Tuesday when I visited the new building, you could feel the excitement in the air as health department employees scurried around getting everything ready for opening day at the new location on Monday.

Office manager Glenda Brown gave me a quick tour throughout the building as desks, records, equipment and other items were being put into place.

The 7,000square foot building will give the clinical portion of the health Department about 50 percent more space in which to operate. That means more exam and medical rooms, more offices, a bigger conference room, and a larger reception area for the public as well as a separate one for small children, complete with a TV and little chairs.

Glenda, who has been office manager for the past 13 years, said the new building will provide greater privacy for clients.

The new Health Department's building provides easier and safer access and plenty of parking.

the new building will also have two dental chairs, up from just one in the old building. The additional chair will allow the visiting dentist, who comes to Blairsville two days a week, the capability of seeing more patients. The dentist sees both medicaid and Peachcare kids.

Julie Green, who has been county Immunization Coordinator for the past eight or nine years, was putting the finishing touches on the shot room.

She said the county has

already given 2,100 doses of Flu shots and has 300 left to give.Last year, there was a shortage of flu vaccine, but that doesn't seem to be a problem this year. In fact, the Health Department has conducted an outreach program taking vaccinations to businesses, banks, restaurants, churches and to the senior center.

Julie said thus far there have not been reported cases of Flu in Union County, or as far as she knows, in Georgia. She cautions folks to take precautions to prevent catching the Flu. In addition to being immunized, hands need to be frequently washed, avoid large crowds and avoid a lot of contact with people who are sick with Flu symptoms.

Above: Julie Green, Immunization Coordinator. Below: James York, from District 2 in Gainesville, and Jennifer Duckworth, Health Dept. Clerk, setup the computer system.

Julie says she is excited about moving to the new building.

"It will allow us to provide better care for our patients. To give them more quality care," she said.

The new health building is located at 175 Chase Drive, behind the drivers license office, off Glen Gooch By-Pass.