Update on Health Department’s building progress

To the citizens of Dallas County,Dallas County Health Department has received bids for building a new health center. The new building would triple the amount of exam rooms, add three consultation rooms, give each staff member their own private office, include a bigger waiting area with public bathrooms, a separate vaccine room and laboratory. The initial plans called for a conference center with demonstration kitchen but building costs are so high that it was cut from plans.The new health department will be located at 901 W. Main just one block east of their current building.It will allow for more patients to be seen at one time. Currently only one family at a time can be served in the WIC office, but with the new facility three families can be served at a time. At this time, there is only room to do one person’s vaccination at a time, and with three exam rooms we can decrease time waiting. When we are having Women’s Health clinic, we cannot do any vaccinations because our vaccine is in our only exam room. With three exam rooms and having a separate room for vaccine, this problem will be resolved.We have several staff sharing offices at this time. Each staff member will have their own private office. Our Environmental Public Health Specialist, Shannon Jackson, will have a separate entrance for EPHS services such as septic permits and water testing.The new location will be more secure so unauthorized persons are not wandering in the hallways. Adding public restrooms to the much larger lobby waiting area is going to be one of the big changes the public will see first.There will be ample parking for clients with separate parking for employees.We are looking forward to being able to serve Dallas County and its residents more efficiently.