The Audrain County Board of Health convened Wednesday for their monthly meeting.
First on the docket was addressing the strong financial position of the Audrain County Health Department (ACHD) …
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The Audrain County Board of Health convened Wednesday for their monthly meeting.
First on the docket was addressing the strong financial position of the Audrain County Health Department (ACHD) partly thanks to the new foot clinic. ACHD offers a toenail and foot care clinic every Monday as well as the second and fourth Thursday of every month.
Appointments for services cost $20 and the clinic sees about two to three new patients a month. The success of the clinic has put ACHD $3000 ahead of their budget.
There are some big changes coming to the scope of medical care here in Mexico, all of which were addressed at the meeting.
Previously the ACHD, in collaboration with the UM Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, has been providing breast cancer screenings to Audrain County Residents right here in town utilizing their mobile mammography van.
However, all screenings have been paused for the time being as the cancer center prepares to release their new mobile mammography trailer potentially this week.
“The challenge that they had with the RV style mobile unit was that every time they had mechanical issues with the RV, it caused them to have to cancel all of their mammograms,” says ACHD administrator and CEO Craig Brace.
As a result, the UM cancer center is transitioning to an independent trailer style unit that can be pulled by a truck. Brace anticipates that by November, the new mammography trailer will be able to return to Mexico for a couple days and knock out the back-log of approximately 50 residents currently waiting for their mammograms.
“We also offer a comprehensive cancer screening program, and that program will be launched in January in cooperation and partnership with Boone Heath,” says Brace.
These routine screenings are asymptomatic currently self referrals. Since partnering with the UM cancer center, the ACHD has screened hundreds of women, saving lives and filling the gap in health care created by the lack of a local hospital since the closure of Ziva.
“Even though there are challenges of accessing mammogram services, if you suspect something, don’t delay; just call the health department,” says Brace. “If you need our help with referrals or resources, we are happy to give individuals that information.”
The Audrain County Health Department is located at 1130 S. Elmwood Dr. Mexico, MO. 65265 To contact ACHD, call 573-581-1332 or email at info@myachd.org.
