For Release, Monday, July 10, 2006

Davis Unveils New Public Health Unit 

            Parish President Kevin Davis today announced the opening of the Slidell Public Health Unit with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the facility. 

            Located at 105 Medical Center Drive, Suite 101, on the campus of Northshore Regional Medical Center, the facility replaces the previous health unit which sustained severe flooding in Hurricane Katrina.  Since last Fall, Davis has been advocating for the rapid reopening of a public health facility to serve the greater Slidell area. 

            The new facility, which is slightly more than 7,000 square feet, currently offers immunizations from 8 to 11 a.m. and from 1 – 3:30 p.m.  No appointments are necessary for these services.  Once fully operational in a few weeks, the Health Unit will offer family planning, WIC programming, and STD testing, counseling and treatment.  Appointments for those services can be obtained by calling 646-6445.  Fees are on a sliding scale based on family income.

            Parish Government is paying rent on the facility under a three-year lease, and the state Office of Public Health is providing supplies and most of the staff.  The Unit is staffed by two RNs, one LPN, one social worker and, on select days, a nurse practitioner.   

            By the end of summer, the unit will also house an Environmental Health office, offering water testing and sewer licensing through the state.  Additional information about these services will be announced at a later date. 

            “Part of our duty as public servants is protecting the public health,” Davis said. “I’m pleased we’ve been able to expedite the reopening of the Health Unit through a partnership with the state, and I’m confident our citizens will benefit from the services offered here and by the excellent staff of medical and administrative professionals.”