Public Health Nursing supports DHEC's mission to promote and protect the health of the public and the environment. Public health nurses develop policies; assess the health status of individuals, families and communities; plan, provide and evaluate direct care; provide education and counseling on health issues; coordinate services; and are consultants in specialized programs.
Public Health Nurses play a major role in all aspects of public health. These include:
- preventing illness and injuries
- stopping epidemics and spread of disease
- protecting the public from environmental hazards
- promoting and supporting healthy behaviors
- responding to disasters and assisting communities to recover
- assuring the quality and accessibility of health services
- informing the public of available services advocating for the individual,
family, and community
Public Health Nurses:
- teach healthy behaviors to individuals and groups
- conduct health assessments
- set goals and measure outcomes of care for individuals, families, and
communities - provide high-tech and personalized care in homes
- are members of a multidisciplinary team
- participate in epidemiological investigations
- develop partnerships with public and private groups
- work in the communities to develop health initiatives and other collaborative projects
State Office of Public Health Nursing
- Director - Ann W. Lee, RN, MN
- Associate Director - Angie Olawsky, RN, MPH, CPM
- Administrative Coordinator - Erma L. Ford
Central Office Nurse Consultants
- Acute Disease Epidemiology
Roscia H. Hardee, RN, MPH
Michelle Myer, RN, MSN, CPNP - Employee Health Services
Nancy Allen, RN, MPH, COHN-S, CCM - Home Health Services
Gwen a. Davis, RN, MN, CDE
Don Guffey, RN, MN
P. LaRee McKee, RN, MHSA
Ann Rexrode, RN, MSN, CS - Immunization
Helen Huber, APRN, MSN, CPNP, IBCLC
Rebecca Morrison, APRN, MSN, CFNP
Susan Smith, RN, MN - STD/HIV
Constance Perkins, RN, MA, MPH
Elona Rhame, RN, MSN, MPH - TB Control
Tammy McKenna, RN, MSN - Women & Children's Services
Sarah Fellows, APRN, MN, CS, CP/FNP
Susan Watts, RN, MSN, CS
Cathy Young-Jones, RN, MSN