Public Health Nurses are registered nurses
which are specially trained to work toward preventing illnesses, disease,
disability, or premature death and protecting the health
of the community at large. They provide services to individuals
and families through public health clinics, schools, homes,    
or anywhere the community’s health is at risk.

NURSING SERVICES

Communicable Disease Control

Communicable Disease continues to be an important cause of
illness and death. Nurses conduct programs of prevention and surveillance,
which includes home visits and office clinics. 

Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps

BCMH is a program designed to help pay for medical care expenses
for handicapped children who meet eligibility requirements.
The programs available are The Diagnostic and The Treatment program. The Diagnostic Program helps pay for an evaluation to rule out a handicapping condition. To be eligible, the child must be an Ohio resident, be under 21, be seen by a BCMH physician and have a possible medical handicap. There are no financial qualifications. The Treatment Program helps pay for ongoing treatment. The eligibility is the same as forthe Diagnostic Program, plus the family must be
financially eligible. A Public Health Nurse or a BCMH approved doctor
can enroll a child into the BCMH program.

Public Health School Nursing Program  

In order to provide efficient quality service to school-aged children
of the City and County of Ashland, the Board of Health provides staff nurses who supervise and conduct screening programs that schools are mandated to complete. For specified grades the nurses screen students for vision, hearing and scoliosis problems. Those students with abnormal findings are referred, by the nurses, to private physicians or a clinic for further treatment. Adolescent developmental education programs are provided for all fifth grade students throughout the county by health department professionals.

County - City School Nurse Program  

The school public health nurse coordinates and assists in establishing
and maintaining an organized program of health and safety services
over and above those presently provided to the city and county schools by the Health Department. It is designed to identify student health problems and to coordinate school and community health resources for students. Some programs provided: Pre-school screenings, Sports physical co-ordination, Classroom education, CPR classes and the Fluoride program. The school publichealth program is a cooperative venture between the Ashland County Health Department  
and the City and County of Ashland.

Nursing Division

Director:  Shirley Bixby, R.N.,                                        419-282-4232
Email: sbixby@ashlandhealth.com


Division Secretary: Linda Plice                                       419-282-4357
Email:  lplice@ashlandhealth.com             

Division e-mail:  nursing@ashlandhealth.com

Nursing Division Fax:                                                    419-282-4271


DIVISION NURSES

Susan Boliantz, R.N., B.S.N.                                         419-282-4336

Michelle Walker, R.N., B.S.N.                                        419-282-4247

Laurie McFarlin R.N                                                       419-282-4241
Email:  lmcfarlin@ashlandhealth.com

Linda McCarty, R.N.                                                      419-282-4356
Email:  lmccarty@ashlandhealth.com

Myra Rafeld, R.N.,                                                         419-282-4335
Email:  mrafeld@ashlandhealth.com                    

Sunny Riffle, R.N.,                                                         419-282-4294
Email: sriffle@ashlandhealth.com