by Alli Howe | Oct 16, 2023 | News
The Board of Public Health announced Xavier Crockett and Todd Hollenbeck as finalists in the search for a new Executive Director.
Xavier Crockett is currently the State Health Protection Director at the Georgia Department of Public Health following a decade of healthcare experience. Crockett is completing his Doctor of Public Health degree through Walden University with an expected completion of November 2023. He received a Master of Science in Disaster Medicine and Emergency Management from Philadelphia University.
Todd Hollenbeck has been the interim Executive Director since June 5, 2023. He has over twenty years of experience at Mesa County, including the role of Deputy County Administrator since April 2021. Hollenbeck received his Master of Business Administration in Project Management through Jones International University. He is also a Colorado Certified Public Manager through the University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs.
“Our most important task as a Board right now is selecting the next leader of Mesa County Public Health. Whomever is selected will lead a group of nearly 100 staff and manage an $11 million dollar annual budget.” said Stephen Daniels, Board of Public Health chair. “We anticipate making the final announcement before the end of the year.”
Background
Mesa County Public Health was formed in 1948. The local public health agency works collaboratively to anticipate and respond to conditions that impact the health of residents and visitors.
The interim director, Todd Hollenbeck, was approved unanimously for this position by the Board of Public Health. The former director resigned during the summer.
by Sean Edens | Oct 10, 2023 | COVID19, News
The updated COVID-19 vaccine for this season is now available in limited quantities at the Mesa County Public Health Clinic. This vaccine is the latest tool to protect against the current variants of the COVID-19 virus.
To ensure a smooth vaccination process for community members, appointments are required. No walk-ins will be accepted at this time. We ask all eligible individuals to call 970-248-6900 to schedule an appointment. Our dedicated staff will assist you in finding a convenient time slot for your vaccination.
Recommendations
- Everyone aged 5 years and older: Need one dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine.
- Children aged 6 months to 4 years: Need multiple doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to be up to date, including at least 1 dose of updated COVID-19 vaccine.
Read about current vaccine recommendations by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. You can also speak with your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
For more information, please visit our website health.mesacounty.us or call 970-248-6900.
by Sean Edens | Oct 6, 2023 | News
The Mesa County Community Services campus is updating their hours of operation effective November 6th, 2023. The new hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Fridays from 7:30 a.m. – noon.
This change impacts the Workforce Center (512 29 1/2 Road) and Health and Human Services Building (510 29 ½ Road).
“The aligned hours across all buildings on campus will mean less guesswork for the community,” said Jill Calvert, Human Services Executive Director. “This will make it easier to schedule appointments and access services.”
The new hours give community members earlier access to the most popular services, such as the Public Health Clinic and Economic Assistance. The public is encouraged to ask questions about hours for any services that are by-appointment only.
“This is one campus with one purpose: to empower the lives of Mesa County residents,” said Todd Hollenbeck, Interim Executive Director of Mesa County Public Health. “This gives us an opportunity to remind the community about the resources and programs that exist to build stronger families and professionals.”
Over 80,000 households are served by programs at the Community Services Campus. Staff who serve at the Community Services Campus are excited to continue empowering lives with updated, aligned hours of operation.
Partial List of Programs and Services
Human Services
Public Health
Workforce Center Programs & Services
- Business services including the business center, candidate screening, recruiting assistance and on-the-job training.
- Job seeker services including the Career Development Program, workshops and the resource room.
by Sean Edens | Oct 5, 2023 | flu, flu vaccine, News
Flu season is gearing up in Mesa County. The flu vaccine is now available at Mesa County Public Health for anyone ages six months old and older. Every year the flu changes, so you need an updated version of the vaccine to ensure your body develops immunity to the most recent strain of the virus
The best way to protect yourself from the flu is to get vaccinated. It’s a safe and effective way to protect yourself and those around you, especially those at higher risk like older adults, infants, and pregnant people.
DRIVE-THROUGH CLINICS:
Mesa County Public Health is hosting two drive-through flu clinics in October. All residents are welcome and no appointments are required.
WHEN:
- Saturday, October 7th from 9 AM – 1 PM
- Saturday, October 21st from 9 AM – 1 PM
WHERE:
Mesa County Public Health parking lot
510 29 ½ Road
BRING:
- ID
- Insurance Card
- If you do not have insurance, the flu vaccine is free during our Drive-Through events. Low-cost options will also be available throughout the flu season.
CAN’T MAKE IT TO THE DRIVE-THROUGH FLU CLINIC?
The Public Health Clinic at Mesa County Public Health also offers flu vaccination during regular business hours:
- Monday through Thursday from 8 AM to 5:30 PM
- Friday from 8 AM to noon.
Call 970-248-6900 to schedule an appointment.
Bring an ID and your Insurance Card. Flu vaccination is typically covered by insurance, however, don’t let cost be a barrier. If you do not have insurance, there are options available.
LOCAL BACKGROUND ON FLU
We typically see a higher rate of respiratory illnesses, including flu and RSV, from October through May, with cases typically peaking in December. Last year, Mesa County hospitalizations due to flu were higher than the previous five years.
Stay up to date with COVID-19, flu, and RSV data on the What’s Going Around webpage.
by Alli Howe | Oct 3, 2023 | COVID19, flu, News
Residents can view local illness data on the What’s Going Around webpage. This webpage provides relevant disease trends and prevention tips.
Summary of 2023 trends for West Nile virus
Active surveillance is winding down for West Nile virus due to colder temperatures.
“We provided updates for West Nile virus over the summer and early this fall. We traditionally see a peak of cases in September. This year was no different,” stated Mesa County Public Health epidemiologist, Kathleen Satterfield. “We had 16 reported cases this year, the highest recorded count of West Nile cases in over a decade. This includes 12 hospitalizations.” Mesa County had the highest number of West Nile virus cases among counties in the region.
You can view the summary of this year’s West Nile data on the What’s Going Around webpage.
Viral respiratory disease data begins
COVID-19, flu, and RSV are respiratory illnesses that cause hospitalizations in Mesa County every year. We typically see the most activity from October through March. Your local epidemiologists will update Mesa County hospitalization numbers for these three viruses. Look for updates every week on Tuesdays until the end of March 2024.
You can also view flu trends from past years on the What’s Going Around webpage.
Continue to encourage prevention
“COVID-19 taught us the importance of protecting our coworkers, grandparents, and anyone with compromised immune systems. Let’s use the lessons we learned to help us through the upcoming respiratory illness season,” encouraged Satterfield.
Prevention actions protect you and those around you from the worst outcomes of these viral respiratory diseases.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Disinfect surfaces you frequently touch at home and work – like door knobs and light switches.
- Stay up to date on vaccines.
If you have questions about vaccine availability and scheduling contact Mesa County Public Health Info Line, 970-248-6900.
by Sean Edens | Sep 29, 2023 | News
*Update: No Burn Advisory extended through Sunday, October 1.
Due to fire safety concerns, Mesa County Public Health has issued a No Burn Advisory for Friday and Saturday. Burning of any kind, including agricultural burning, is not allowed during this advisory period.
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Friday and Saturday due to potential fire danger. Winds are expected to reach up to 45 mph both days. The combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior, like easy ignition and rapid fire spread.
Instead of burning, consider these alternatives:
- Compost leaves and grass clippings yourself. This can improve water retention in your yard or garden.
- Rent or borrow a wood chipper for your tree and shrub trimmings. Chipped branches can also be good mulch.
- Use the services at Mesa County Organic Materials Facility. Head to their website for hours and accepted materials.
For information on current air quality conditions and to learn if it’s okay to burn, visit the Air Quality page.
