Renovations to the building housing the Jones County Health Department are complete with the new facility focused on improved patient care, patient privacy and safety for both the public and employees.
The move back into the renovated facility, located at 114 Forest Street, took place Nov. 7, and Nursing Director Sherry Bryant said they are still working to get organized. The renovations took 12 months, during which the staff worked out of four rooms in the former Gray Elementary complex.
Morris Hutcheson, who is the Director of Special Projects for the North Central Health District, oversaw the entire process, beginning with the application for the grant that made the renovations possible.
The $1 million Community Block Development Grant from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs was part of COVID-19 federal relief funds dedicated to the improvement of public health departments and food banks.
Hutcheson said the total of the renovations was $1,575,000 with reserves from the Jones County Board of Health and fund balance making up the difference. He said the project had been discussed for about three years, and the grant provided the opportunity to make it happen.
He said the improvements to the facility included a 2,000-square-foot addition to the building that brought the total square footage to 8,000. He said the renovated building has a training room complete with training tables that would also serve as the new board room, a wellness room and an infectious disease room equipped with outside access.
Bryant said the covered drive-through at the front of the building that can be heated or cooled if needed was her favorite addition. She said giving COVID-19 vaccines under a makeshift tent during inclement weather was not ideal.
The nursing director also pointed out the private areas for intake of clients had been needed to comply with HIPAA regulations.
Hutcheson said environmental health was moved to the rear, right corner and includes a space for a future clerk. WIC was be moved to the right side with a reformatted intake area and exam room.
He said the three exam rooms were reconfigured to the center of the building and two more added. The lab was moved to front of the building with a dry medicine room that has its own air control.
“Our goal was to reformat the facility to create a modern medical environment to improve client flow,” he said.
Bryant the increased space adds the ability of keeping sick and well clients separated. She pointed out that the security of the building had been greatly improved with electronic access.
“I feel safer; it’s a big deal to me,” she added.
Bryant said, while moving everything out of the building, she uncovered a lot of history of the health department. She said it started on the property now known as Carol’s Park, and then it was moved beside the police department.
She added the first chairman of the Board of Health was W.E. Knox, who was appointed in 1937.
The building was constructed at its current location in 1991.
Bryant said she plans to have a memorabilia area in the lobby to show the evolution of the department.
The nursing director said the plan is to have an open house at the beginning of the year.
