Health Department breaks record for extended-hour visits
Press release from Alachua County on behalf of the Florida Department of Health in Alachua County
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Alachua County (DOH-Alachua) has broken its record for the most clients seen during extended hours.
During August, DOH-Alachua saw an influx of 335 clients during weekend hours or after 5 p.m. on weekdays, topping the previous record of 319 in August 2022. Since staying open later and on weekends, the department has seen nearly 8,000 residents walk through its doors seeking assistance.
DOH-Alachua extended hours came toward the end of the coronavirus pandemic in November 2021 when people needed access to much-needed healthcare services, particularly those in east Gainesville.
The Alachua County Commission made a $500,000 annual commitment to fund the extended-hour operations. Extended hours are from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.
“This record-breaking August is a direct result of the investment from the Alachua County Commission,” said Paul Myers, administrator of DOH-Alachua. “While we are a state agency, we are tied at the hip with the County Commission when it comes to serving our residents.”
Residents visit the health department for a variety of needs, including primary care needs and communicable diseases, infections, and STDs. DOH-Alachua is one of the few throughout the state of Florida that still offers primary care for residents.
Myers said August typically sees more clients than other months throughout the year, as parents bring their children in for vaccinations or to be seen for respiratory issues they contracted at the beginning of the school year.
With the extended hours, DOH-Alachua also offers clients the opportunity to stop by its Women, Infants and Children (WIC) clinic on Wednesday evenings. People can apply for WIC in person or online to receive food benefits such as milk, fruit, vegetable juices, cereals, and baby formula.
Nearly 40% of those who visit the local WIC clinic say they wouldn’t have participated in the program if not for the longer hours, Myers said.
It is not Alachua county commission money, it is TAX PAYER MONEY.
Duh. The government runs on taxpayer dollars. Thanks for that breaking news.
Is this all free to the people who are receiving services? Their should be some nominal fees to help pay for things…a user fee.
I used the HD many years ago, and there was a sliding scale, based on your income. For a while, I got birth control visits & shots for free. After I got a job, I had to pay about 15 bucks or so.
Mainly showing up with funny noses,etc
Better than clogging up the ERs, I suppose
“Myers said August typically sees more clients than other months throughout the year, as parents bring their children in for vaccinations or to be seen for respiratory issues they contracted at the beginning of the school year.”
It’s not rocket science. The August (over) vaccinating knocks out people’s immune systems which leads to an increase in respiratory illnesses. Live attenuated vaccines also cause viral shedding which can negatively impact others who are in close proximity to the recently vaccinated.
This is just silly. Vaccines have saved countless lives.
When you call the Health Dept at opening they automatically schedule you for 5pm or later. So this is a rigged system. Alachua County is probably trying to scam money here in some way.
Ridiculous. The Health Dept. is a State-run agency. The County funding allows them to have extended hours. Take off your tin-foil hat.
When you call the health dept at opening they automatically schedule you for after 5pm. So is this some kind of scam to gouge tax payers by convincing them there is more appointments after 5 than usual?
You don’t need a doctor every time you have a sniffle.
And stop with the vaccines it’s causing the problem
This is just silly. Vaccines have saved countless lives.