SANDHILLS DISTRICT HEALTH DEPARTMENT

by Lucy Isom

Entry T69 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

In the early 80's a multi-county health
department was formed. This department
consisted of 5 counties, Hooker, Grant,
Thomas, Keith, and Arthur with members
from each county being on the board.

The first name of this organization was
`Sandhills Visiting Nurses Association'. The
object of this group was to visit the elderly,
disabled, ill, and ailing in their homes and
save the expense of hospital visits. Activities
performed by SVNA were Home Health,
Community Health, and Health Education,
which consisted of check medications, diets,
b/p, diabetic needs, dressing changes, blood
tests, and any other health needs. Once a
month a public b/p screening was done in
various towns. These duties were all done by
R.N.s only.

The general headquarters were in Ogallala,
with most meetings held in Hyannis as it was
more centrally located. Once a month a staff
meeting was held in Ogallala with all medical
personnel to report on patients and activities.

Recently the name was changed to San-
dhills District Health Department, the home
visits were dropped with only the b/p screen
and immunization continuing as before and
adding the Cholesterol test which tells the
amount of fat and oils that are deposited in
the blood and may be a factor in the causation
of hardening of the arteries.