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From staff reports

The burden of infrastructure changes with the rising pension costs on the Jessamine County Health Department’s budget has forced the Health Department to reassess the way it delivers core public health services or assures these services are being delivered in the community.
This reassessment also comes in light of a new public health transformation framework designed by the Kentucky Department for Public Health in partnership with the Kentucky Health Department Association to simplify, focus and prioritize local core public health services.
Officials say the Health Department works every day to promote, protect and improve the health and wellness of our community. One of their major responsibilities is to ensure everyone in the community has access to affordable health care services.
After an examination of available local health care resources, opportunities were found for women’s health services, including family planning, cancer screenings and prenatal screenings, among others. In order to eliminate duplication of these services, the health department stopped providing women’s health services as of June 1.
A letter detailing this transition was sent to health department patients in May and included information regarding a recent linkage agreement with UK Midwife Clinic, which will allow this provider to provide pregnancy support, including prenatal and postnatal services and other specialized care, at least one day a week out of the health department’s facility starting on Aug. 5.
Additionally, the letter linked patients to contact information for Healthpoint Family Care, a federally qualified health center located in Nicholasville, which provides quality primary and preventive medical care to adults and children, including family planning services. Both of these providers ensure that health care is accessible and affordable for all by offering sliding fee scale discounts to low-income, uninsured patients.
Officials say the health department’s transition will help maximize available community resources and will also ensure that everyone in the community continues to have equal opportunity to health services.
Former patients may contact the health department at 859-885-4149 for referrals, to help schedule an appointment or to request copies of medical records.
More information call Jonathan Vorbeck at 859-885-4149 ext. 1025 or email jonathand.vorbeck@ky.gov