Header:
WISCONSIN ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES
CHAPTER DHS 140. REQUIRED SERVICES OF LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS
Date:
08/31/2009
Document:
DHS 140.04 Level I local health department.
(1) REQUIRED SERVICES. A level I local health department shall assume leadership responsibility for developing and maintaining the public health system for the area of jurisdiction of the local health department and shall provide or arrange for provision of at least the following services:
(a) Public health nursing services. Nursing services through a general public health nursing program. Public health nurses who conduct the program may be directed by the appropriate local authority to do any of the following:
1. Participate in community health assessments; collect, review and analyze data on community health; and undertake case-finding to identify population groups, families and individuals at high risk of illness, injury, disability or premature death.
2. Participate and provide collaborative public health nursing expertise in the development of community plans that include identification of community health priorities, goals and objectives to address current and emerging threats to the health of individuals, families, vulnerable population groups and the community as a whole, and contribute to planning efforts that support community strengths and assets.
3. Participate in the development of programs and services for vulnerable population groups that are based on evaluation of surveillance data and other factors that increase actual or potential risk of illness, disability, injury or premature death.
4. Provide or arrange for the availability of services and actions to promote, maintain or restore health and prevent disease and injury that are directed at current and emerging needs of the community, vulnerable population groups and families and individuals referred by physicians and other health care providers, health maintenance organizations and other sources for health education or follow-up care.
5. Document and evaluate the responses of the community or vulnerable population groups to public health nursing services and actions directed at the community or those groups.
6. Provide or arrange for continuity of health care for individuals and families requesting or referred for nursing services and provide them with or otherwise arrange for the availability of timely, cost-effective and quality nursing and clinical preventive services through all of the following:
a. Assessment of their current and emerging health care needs.
b. Development of effective, efficient and equitable nursing plans of care for families and individuals who will be receiving services for a period of time.
c. Implementation of nursing plans of care and collaboration with other agencies and organizations, as necessary, to achieve goals included in the plans of care.
d. Documentation and evaluation of the responses of families and individuals to public health nursing services and actions, in order to provide evidence of professional nursing services provided, determine progress toward goal achievement for a particular family or individual and provide a basis for updating that family's or individual's nursing plan of care.
Note: The Department recommends that local boards of health and other local governing authorities employ the public health nurse responsibilities set out in par. (a) as the basic framework for carrying out the statutorily mandated generalized public health nursing program.
(b) Services to prevent and control communicable disease. 1. Activities required of local health departments under ch. DHS 144, relating to immunization of students.
2. Activities required of local health officers under ch. DHS 145, relating to control of communicable diseases, including the conduct of epidemiological investigations as directed by the department and measures taken to prevent, exercise surveillance over and control diseases transmitted by animals and insects.
Note: Section 254.51, Stats., directs the Department to promulgate rules that establish measures for prevention, surveillance and control of human disease resulting from animal-borne and vector-borne transmission, and directs local health departments to enforce those rules. The particular diseases are included in the list of reportable communicable diseases in Appendix A to ch. DHS 145, and therefore local health officers are responsible under ch. DHS 145 for investigating those diseases and employing appropriate methods of control of them as they are for other communicable diseases covered by that chapter.
3. Maintenance of a surveillance system for communicable diseases reportable under ch. DHS 145.
(c) Services to prevent other diseases. Development and delivery of services to reduce the incidence or prevalence of the chronic diseases or injuries that are the leading causes of disability and premature death in the jurisdiction of the local health department, the chronic diseases or injuries for which resources are available to the local health department from the department or the chronic diseases or injuries identified through a community needs assessment under s. 251.04 (6) (a), Stats., as priority public health problems, or by the regular and systematic collection of information on the health of the community as required under s. 251.05 (3) (a), Stats. These services shall include all of the following:
1. Informing local elected officials, educators and the general public about the incidence and prevalence of these diseases and injuries in the community.
2. Disseminating department-endorsed prevention guidance related to these diseases and injuries, including information about behaviors known to reduce the risk of contracting them, and training interested members of the public in department-endorsed prevention techniques.
3. Arranging screening, referral and follow-up for population groups for which these activities are recognized by the department as effective in preventing chronic diseases and injuries.
4. Implementing measures or programs designed to promote behavior that is known to prevent or delay the onset of chronic disease or prevent or ameliorate injuries.
(d) Services to promote health. Disseminate information to the community or ensure that information is disseminated to the community about the causes, nature and prevention of diseases and health conditions prevalent in the community or for which the incidence could become significant in the community, and about how to maintain and improve health.
(e) Abatement or removal of human health hazards. 1. Pursuant to s. 251.06 (3) (f). Stats., investigate and supervise the sanitary conditions of all premises within the local health department's jurisdictional area.
2. Pursuant to s. 254.59, Stats., order the abatement or removal of human health hazards found on private premises and, if an owner or occupant fails to comply, enter the premises and abate or remove or contract for the abating or removal of the human health hazard. As permitted under s. 254.593, Stats., the local health department may declare that specified housing that is dilapidated, unsafe or unsanitary is a human health hazard and proceed in accordance with s. 254.59, Stats., to have the human health hazard abated or removed.
(f) Services to prevent the future incidence of occupational disease, environmental disease and human health hazard exposure. Reporting and investigation of occurrences of occupational disease, environmental disease or exposure to a human health hazard, as required by any rules the department may promulgate under ss. 250.04 (7) and 254.02 (5), Stats.
(2) OPTIONAL SERVICES. A level I local health department may provide any services, in addition to the services required under sub. (1), that a level II local health department is required to provide under s. DHS 140.05 or a level III local health department is required to provide under s. DHS 140.06.
(3) ANNUAL REPORTS. Within 120 days after the close of the calendar year, a level I local health department shall submit the following reports to the department:
(a) A copy of the local health department's annual report for the preceding calendar year, if required by the local governing body.
(b) Annual survey of local health departments for the Wisconsin public health data system in a format prescribed by the department.
(c) A report, in a format prescribed by the department, on the activities of the local health department for the preceding calendar year, including a narrative which describes the progress and performance toward achieving the objectives that the local health department has identified as part of its community health assessment process.
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