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Grant County health board plans local HIV/STI screening, introduces infectious-disease nurse
Summary
Board members heard plans to begin local HIV screening and STI testing and treatment after state training, introduced new communicable-disease nurse Sarah Cox, and discussed funding and coordination with neighboring counties and state partners.
At a meeting of the Grant County Health Board, members heard a plan to start local HIV screening and to offer STI testing and treatment locally after training with state partners, and they introduced the department’s new communicable-disease nurse, Sarah Cox.
The new nurse, Sarah Cox, who said she held the position about 10 years ago and has 15–16 years of nursing experience, told the board she is "super excited about doing the STI testing if we can get that onboard." The health department staff reported they will begin training with the state and bring screening and treatment services in-house.
Why it matters: Until now, most testing has been processed elsewhere and counts have been attributed to where testing occurs, meaning Grant County’s local case counts did not reflect community need. Board members said local access matters for residents who lack transportation to Madison County and other providers.
Health department staff said testing has not been performed locally in recent years and that the state laboratory processed specimens. "We are gonna start providing the screenings," a health department staff member said, adding the department will also provide STI treatment and will run training for current nursing staff. Staff described an operational model that includes a $20 fee for STI screening with a waiver available for those who cannot afford it and said supplies and medications would come through state procurement processes.
Dr. Woods, who presented the department’s partnership outcomes and performance indicators, said the department is coordinating with Madison County and Howard County to avoid "reinventing the wheel" on clinical procedures and referral pathways. She noted that some prior partnerships ended when resources were lost after a Senate bill passed; the board discussed finding lower-cost collaborations going forward.
The board also heard that the county will pursue training and sign-off procedures with state disease specialists so nurses in the office can perform and document the required competencies. A health department staff member said the department will try to ensure patients have follow-up care and connections to primary care or infectious-disease specialists when needed.
The department reported recent vaccination activity and other outreach work as part of broader public-health efforts; Dr. Woods said a full annual report will be published in March.
Next steps: staff said trainings will begin, the department will coordinate procedures with neighboring counties and the state, and the board will track implementation as staffing and resources allow.
