Health Department

Rhea County Health Department Services
The Rhea County Health Department provides various services aiming to prevent disease, control its spread, and promote public health awareness. These services are available to individuals of all ages who meet eligibility requirements.

Services are provided to those who are insured, uninsured, and underinsured. Most services are offered on a sliding fee scale based on family size and income.

Communicable Disease Services

Communicable disease services include education, investigation, testing, diagnosis, treatment, and referrals to prevent the spread of diseases such as Hepatitis, STIs, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, foodborne illnesses, and other reputable diseases.

Family Planning

Family Planning services include counseling, pelvic and breast exams, pregnancy testing, contraceptive supplies, and sexually transmitted infection counseling, testing, and treatment.

Health Education

Health educators are available to provide services and programs to patients, schools, and community groups. This program promotes partnerships with local agencies to encourage healthy lifestyles and prevent diseases.

Immunizations

Vaccinations are an effective way of protecting people against harmful diseases. The immunization program ensures that access to appropriate child and adult vaccines are available.

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

WIC is a nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children. Eligible participants include pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, as well as infants and children up to five years old who meet guidelines. Individuals receiving food stamps, AFDC, or TennCare are automatically income-eligible for WIC.

Birth and Death Certificates

Certified Copies of birth certificates for individuals born in Tennessee, as well as death certificates, can be purchased. Paternity acknowledgements for birth certificates are also provided.

Prenatal Services

Prenatal services include pregnancy testing, assistance with applying for temporary TennCare coverage, counseling, and referral to a physician for prenatal care.

Breast and Cervical Cancer Screenings

Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Services are available to women aged 18 and older who are uninsured or underinsured and meet the program’s income and screening guidelines. These services include clinical breast exams, pap smears, and mammography for those at risk of breast and/or cervical cancer.

Nutrition Services

A registered dietician is available to provide medical nutrition therapy for those with special needs such as diabetes, hypertension, or weight management.

Tobacco Cessation

Tobacco Cessation services utilize CDC evidence-based strategies to reduce tobacco use and tobacco-related disease. This supports our mission of promoting and protecting the health and quality of life for Tennesseans.

Pregnancy Tobacco Cessation

Tennessee’s Pregnancy Tobacco Cessation Program is a program created to improve the health and wellness of women and families across Tennessee by providing them with resources to quit smoking. This program combines evidence-based practices with support and offers hope for parents and babies in Tennessee that want to be tobacco-free.

Community Health Access and Navigation in Tennessee (CHANT)

CHANT is an integrated model of care coordination. The program provides enhanced patient-centered engagement, assistance with navigating complex systems, and care coordination of medical and social service needs. Families and individuals are connected to available resources which may include reimbursement for medical services and assistance with copays, deductibles, and co-insurance for children and youth with physical disabilities.

Care Coordination

Care coordination provides patient-centered engagement and referral coordination of medical and social service needs for patients.

Overdose Risk Reduction

Naloxone is used as a reversal in an opioid overdose. Limited supplies of naloxone are available free of charge.

Telehealth Services

Telehealth appointments are available to patients to improve access and quality healthcare for patients.

General Environmental Health

The Environmental Health Program is responsible for protecting public health in businesses that serve the public by permitting and enforcing laws affecting food service establishments, public swimming pools, hotels, campgrounds, and tattoo studios. The program also investigates animal exposures for rabies control and issues rabies tags for veterinarians.