Alexander County Public Health

We are an accredited local health agency offering a wide range of services to the citizens of Alexander County.

338 1st Ave. S.W Taylorsville, NC 28681
828-632-9704 | Fax: 828-632-9008

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Alexander County Health Department Awarded Reaccreditation Designation with Honors

On November 18, 2022, Alexander County Health Department, along with ten other North Carolina health departments, was awarded reaccreditation with honors status by the North Carolina Local Health Department Accreditation (NCLHDA) Board. The six-year reaccreditation process and on-site survey came after a two-year delay as the result of the Covid-19 pandemic. During the six-year period covered by the survey Alexander County Health Department, along with many public health agencies across the state, worked diligently to care for the public during the coronavirus health crisis, continue the provision of essential health services to the community, and mitigate the challenges of staff turnover associated with the pandemic. “All of the agencies recently achieving reaccreditation have much to be proud of. They have not only demonstrated their ability to meet a set of important performance standards, but excelled in many areas. Through reaccreditation, these agencies demonstrate a strong commitment to continuously work to improve the quality of services provided to their respective communities,” comments Amy Belflower Thomas, NC Local Health Department Accreditation Administrator. Reaccreditation with Honors designation was awarded to Alexander County Health Department and ten other agencies. This honorary designation was implemented for the first time in fall of 2017 to recognize agencies that especially excelled in their accreditation assessment by missing one or less activities within each of standards set by the NCLHDA program. The program is especially pleased to see that this special recognition was achieved by such a diverse group of local health departments. Alexander County Health Department earned the designation by missing no activities in any of the standards for reaccreditation. “The team at Alexander County Health Department is pleased to have earned the designation of reaccreditation with honors,” said Billie Walker, health director for Alexander County. “The past few years have been extremely challenging for everyone, and especially for those working in public health. To earn the with honors designation in any year is quite an accomplishment; however, to earn it following the unprecedented health crisis of Covid demonstrates the unwavering commitment to the health of Alexander County that our team lives by each and every day.” North Carolina is the first state in the country to mandate accreditation for its local health departments. The purpose of the accreditation program is to assure a basic level of capacity and services in each of the local health departments across the state. The process of accreditation includes three major components – a self-assessment completed by the agency, a site visit by a multidisciplinary team of peers to review performance standards, and determination of accreditation status by an independent Accreditation Board comprised of state and local public health officials, Board of Health members, County Commissioners, and public members. The NC Local Health Department Accreditation program is a collaboration of the North Carolina Institute for Public Health (part of the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) and the North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors.

On November 18, 2022, Alexander County Health Department, along with ten other North Carolina health departments, was awarded reaccreditation with honors status by the North Carolina Local Health Department Accreditation (NCLHDA) Board.

The six-year reaccreditation process and on-site survey came after a two-year delay as the result of the Covid-19 pandemic.  During the six-year period covered by the survey Alexander County Health Department, along with many public health agencies across the state, worked diligently to care for the public during the coronavirus health crisis, continue the provision of essential health services to the community, and mitigate the challenges of staff turnover associated with the pandemic.

“All of the agencies recently achieving reaccreditation have much to be proud of.  They have not only demonstrated their ability to meet a set of important performance standards, but excelled in many areas.  Through reaccreditation, these agencies demonstrate a strong commitment to continuously work to improve the quality of services provided to their respective communities,” comments Amy Belflower Thomas, NC Local Health Department Accreditation Administrator.

Reaccreditation with Honors designation was awarded to Alexander County Health Department and ten other agencies. This honorary designation was implemented for the first time in fall of 2017 to recognize agencies that especially excelled in their accreditation assessment by missing one or less activities within each of standards set by the NCLHDA program.  The program is especially pleased to see that this special recognition was achieved by such a diverse group of local health departments.  Alexander County Health Department earned the designation by missing no activities in any of the standards for reaccreditation.

“The team at Alexander County Health Department is pleased to have earned the designation of reaccreditation with honors,” said Billie Walker, health director for Alexander County.  “The past few years have been extremely challenging for everyone, and especially for those working in public health.  To earn the with honors designation in any year is quite an accomplishment; however, to earn it following the unprecedented health crisis of Covid demonstrates the unwavering commitment to the health of Alexander County that our team lives by each and every day.”

North Carolina is the first state in the country to mandate accreditation for its local health departments. The purpose of the accreditation program is to assure a basic level of capacity and services in each of the local health departments across the state.

The process of accreditation includes three major components – a self-assessment completed by the agency, a site visit by a multidisciplinary team of peers to review performance standards, and determination of accreditation status by an independent Accreditation Board comprised of state and local public health officials, Board of Health members, County Commissioners, and public members.

The NC Local Health Department Accreditation program is a collaboration of the North Carolina Institute for Public Health (part of the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) and the North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors.

Health Department Encourages Flu Vaccine as Respiratory Illnesses Spread

Health Department Encourages Flu Vaccine as Respiratory Illnesses Spread ALEXANDER COUNTY (November 16, 2022) -- Health officials with North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) have reported seeing a decrease in flu vaccinations as flu cases circulate heavily among other respiratory illnesses including RSV and Covid-19. NCDHHS also reported the first flu-related adult death of the season in “an adult in the western part of the state who died due to complications of influenza during the third week of October” and the first flu-related pediatric death since February 2020 “in a child in the eastern part of the state”, according to the agency’s recent press releases. For privacy reasons, additional details about the two deaths were not released. "This is a sad reminder that flu can be a serious illness and can lead to complications and even death in some cases," said State Epidemiologist Zack Moore, M.D., MPH. "With flu cases increasing and COVID-19 still with us, it is tremendously important for people to get a flu vaccine this year." Along with NCDHHS, the Alexander County Health Department urges all members of our community ages 6 months and older who have not yet received the vaccine to get their flu shot now. Those at highest risk for the flu include older adults, young children, those with certain health conditions including asthma, diabetes, heart disease and pregnancy, and persons who are immunocompromised. “The flu virus is very contagious, and can cause serious illness, especially (for) those at high risk of complications,” said Dr. Elizabeth Tilson, NCDHHS State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer. “It is important to get an annual flu vaccine to protect you and your loved ones.” Seasonal flu vaccines are safe and effective. During the 2019-2020 flu season, flu vaccines prevented an estimated 7.5 million flu illnesses, 3.69 million medical visits, 105,000 hospitalizations and 63,000 flu deaths across the United States according to NCDHHS. Flu season typically reaches its peak in winter in North Carolina. “If you have symptoms of the flu, contact your healthcare provider or the Health Department as soon as possible,” said Billie Walker, Health Director for Alexander County. “Treatments for the flu, including antivirals such as Tamiflu, can be very effective, especially when started within the first few days of symptoms.” Symptoms of the flu include feeling feverish/having chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue/tiredness, and possibly vomiting and/or diarrhea. Some, though not all patients, have a fever with the flu. To learn more about the flu and/or to see if you are at a higher risk, please visit https://flu.ncdhhs.gov/ or https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/symptoms.htm. Flu vaccines are available at the Alexander County Health Department as well as local physicians’ offices and pharmacies. Contact the Health Department at 828-632-9704, your healthcare provider, or visit vaccinefinder.org to find a flu vaccine provider near you. ALEXANDER COUNTY (November 16, 2022) — Health officials with North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) have reported seeing a decrease in flu vaccinations as flu cases circulate heavily among other respiratory illnesses including RSV and Covid-19. NCDHHS also reported the first flu-related adult death of the season in “an adult in the western part of the state who died due to complications of influenza during the third week of October” and the first flu-related pediatric death since February 2020 “in a child in the eastern part of the  state”, according to the agency’s recent press releases. For privacy reasons, additional details about the two deaths were not released.

“This is a sad reminder that flu can be a serious illness and can lead to complications and even death in some cases,” said State Epidemiologist Zack Moore, M.D., MPH. “With flu cases increasing and COVID-19 still with us, it is tremendously important for people to get a flu vaccine this year.”

Along with NCDHHS, the Alexander County Health Department urges all members of our community ages 6 months and older who have not yet received the vaccine to get their flu shot now. Those at highest risk for the flu include older adults, young children, those with certain health conditions including asthma, diabetes, heart disease and pregnancy, and persons who are immunocompromised.

“The flu virus is very contagious, and can cause serious illness, especially (for) those at high risk of complications,” said Dr. Elizabeth Tilson, NCDHHS State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer. “It is important to get an annual flu vaccine to protect you and your loved ones.”

Seasonal flu vaccines are safe and effective. During the 2019-2020 flu season, flu vaccines prevented an estimated 7.5 million flu illnesses, 3.69 million medical visits, 105,000 hospitalizations and 63,000 flu deaths across the United States according to NCDHHS.  Flu season typically reaches its peak in winter in North Carolina.

“If you have symptoms of the flu, contact your healthcare provider or the Health Department as soon as possible,” said Billie Walker, Health Director for Alexander County. “Treatments for the flu, including antivirals such as Tamiflu, can be very effective, especially when started within the first few days of symptoms.” Symptoms of the flu include feeling feverish/having chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue/tiredness, and possibly vomiting and/or diarrhea.  Some, though not all patients, have a fever with the flu. To learn more about the flu and/or to see if you are at a higher risk, please visit https://flu.ncdhhs.gov/ or https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/symptoms.htm.

Flu vaccines are available at the Alexander County Health Department as well as local physicians’ offices and pharmacies. Contact the Health Department at 828-632-9704, your healthcare provider, or visit vaccinefinder.org to find a flu vaccine provider near you.

Notice Regarding Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Blue Medicare Advantage and Vaccinations

Effective immediately and due to circumstances beyond our control, Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Blue Medicare Advantage can no longer be accepted for vaccines at Alexander County Health Department.  Those with Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Blue Medicare Advantage can still be seen at Alexander County Health Department for other services; however, they will need to go to a pharmacy for their vaccinations.  We are sorry for any inconvenience and we hope that, by sharing this information, those who have this coverage are able to begin receiving their vaccinations at a pharmacy of their choice without delay.

Effective immediately and due to circumstances beyond our control, Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Blue Medicare Advantage can no longer be accepted for vaccines at Alexander County Health Department.  Those with Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Blue Medicare Advantage can still be seen at Alexander County Health Department for other services; however, they will need to go to a pharmacy for their vaccinations.  We are sorry for any inconvenience and we hope that, by sharing this information, those who have this coverage are able to begin receiving their vaccinations at a pharmacy of their choice without delay.