Healthy People. Healthy Choices. Healthy Lake County.
Receiving Local Recognition for Increased Vaccination Rates
The Immunizations Program Coordinator received the Immunizations Advocate Award from the Chicago Area
Immunization Campaign, a coalition of more than 100 Chicago area public and private sector organizations.
Nominated by her peers, she was selected based on her commitment to increasing vaccination rates in Lake
County and the Chicago area. The Immunizations Program provides routine and seasonal immunizations to
adults and children. In 2013 the program administered more than 25,000 vaccinations of which 24,000 were
given to children 18 years of age or younger.
Improving Program Efficiency
Switching to Electronic Dental Records
The Dental Program made the switch to electronic dental records during three phases in 2013. Electronic
dental records help improve care, quality and patient safety by enhancing both the quantity and quality of
information available to providers for decision making. During patient visits, providers have access to patient
prescription histories linked with their medication management and their digital X-rays. The Dental Program’s
switch to electronic records follows Primary Care’s switch, which took place in 2012. Electronic health records
are expected to be fully implemented throughout the Health Department in 2014.
Becoming a Patient-Centered Medical Home
The Midlakes Health Center in Round Lake Beach became
certified as a Patient-Centered Medical Home by the Joint
Commission. Patient-centered medical homes improve
health outcomes, contain costs and improve patient
experiences in several ways. They provide team-based care
to meet patient needs and engage patients and families in
a collaborative process designed to manage medical, social
and mental health conditions more effectively. The Health
Department is now working toward transforming all of its
health centers into patient centered medical homes.
Addressing Animal Cruelty and Neglect
For the first time, Animal Care and Control staff provided training for police officers to help them identify
signs of animal cruelty and neglect. This training also helped them recognize links between animal and
human abuse. Round Lake Beach and Vernon Hills police departments sent a total of 49 officers to attend
these workshops, which also provided information about local and state laws specific to the humane care and
treatment of animals.
Controlling Compost and Landfill Odors
The combined efforts of Park City and Waukegan, and the enforcement actions of the Solid Waste program
temporarily eliminated significant odors from a compost facility in Waukegan near Park City’s border. The
group is now developing a long-term solution to the problem. The Solid Waste program regulates 10 compost
facilities along with two active landfills, 10 landscape waste transfer stations and 22 closed landfills. The
program has been working with managers of active landfills to prevent odors as well as to address odor
problems as soon as they are reported.
Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center 2013 Annual Report
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