Department Of Health

One of the main purposes of the Wayne Health Department is to prevent the premature onset of disease and disability, and to help all residents achieve healthier, more productive lives. The health department is committed to maintaining, protecting, and promoting the health of its residents through organized health promotion and disease prevention efforts. These efforts are based on statewide standards set forth by New Jersey's Department of Health and Senior Services.

Several codes and statutes make up the "state-wide standards" established by the State to monitor health departments. One of the most important is known as "Recognized Public Health Activities and Minimum Standards of Performance for Local Boards of Health in New Jersey". Mandates established within "Minimum Standards" include the following core requirements:

1) To develop, implement, and evaluate health promotion activities in the seven required areas (i.e., Accident Prevention, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Control, HIV/AIDS Prevention, Nutrition, Smoking Cessation, Physical Fitness and Exercise). To help meet this requirement, the Wayne Health Department has contracted the services of a health educator from Chilton Memorial Hospital's Community Health Department. By partnering with Chilton Memorial, Wayne has been able to provide excellent services to its residents at a fraction of the cost.

2) To perform environmental health and safety inspections of: all establishments that serve or sell food; bathing places; campgrounds; youth camps; public health nuisances; etc..

3) To develop and implement programs that focus on preventing the spread of communicable diseases (i.e. investigation of reportable diseases; provision of immunization programs, control of rabies and zoonosis outbreaks; as well as programs to control the spread of tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases.

4) To provide affordable and accessible Maternal and Child Health services. These programs are developed specifically to address the needs of infants and preschool children (i.e. well baby clinics; childhood lead poisoning screenings, and programs that improve pregnancy outcomes). Space within the health department is made available on a regular basis to St. Joseph's Wayne Hospital for a low cost Obstetrical Clinic and St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center for the provision of a WIC (Women, Infant and Children) Clinic.

5) The provision of Adult Health Services is another core requirement. To address this issue, the Wayne Health Department provides a variety of low cost cancer screenings for men and women as well as programs to help identify individuals with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and various other health concerns of older adults.

In addition to these core requirements, mandated by the state, the Wayne Health Department offers other screenings based on the assessed needs of the residents of its community. Listed below are the services available through the health department to residents of Wayne Township: Women's Awareness (Pap Clinic) - a female cancer screening clinic for the prevention and early detection of cervical, uterine, breast and colorectal cancers. Screenings include: blood pressure evaluation, urinalysis, hemmocult test, breast examination, and pap smear (performed by a certified nurse midwife under the medical supervision of a physician under contract). Health education information and counseling is also available. Clinics are held on a regular basis throughout the year for a nominal fee of $35. Appointments are necessary.

For Men Only - A male cancer screening program for the prevention and early detection of prostate, testicular, bladder and colorectal cancers. This screening is a cooperative effort between the Wayne Health Department and a urologist affiliated with Chilton Memorial Hospital. Services provided during the clinic include: blood pressure evaluation, urinalysis, hemmocult screening, physical examination performed by the urologist, and a PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test provided by a phlebotomist from Chilton Memorial Hospital. Health education information and counseling is also available. The fee for this program is $25 plus an additional $20 for the PSA. Pre- registration is required.

Blood Pressure Screening - Wayne's Public Health Nurses hold blood pressure screenings on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. at the Wayne Health Department. The fee for this service is $1.

Dental Health Clinic: The Dental Health Clinic is provided free of charge to children of Wayne Township, 3 through 19 years of age, who cannot afford the services of a private dentist as determined by a financial screening of family income. Children are referred through schools, by school nurses, dentists and by parental request. Clinics are held three times per month throughout the year excluding the summer months. The services of an experienced child friendly dentist are contracted for this program.

Child Health Conference (Well Baby Immunization Clinic) - is a free program offered to Wayne Township infants and pre-school children who qualify financially (as determined by a financial screening of the family). Services included in the Well Baby Clinic are: a full examination of the child and age appropriate immunizations performed by pediatrician, Dr. E. Eisenstein, from Chilton Memorial Hospital. Periodic hemoglobin, urinalysis, lead screening, vision, hearing and TB tests are also conducted. At each clinic session parents are counseled regarding growth, development, nutrition, and safety. Twenty Child Health Conference Clinics are offered throughout the year. Lead Poisoning Prevention is provided.

Screenings - Lead Screenings are offered periodically to all children of Wayne Township. The venous blood screenings is performed by phlebotomists from Chilton Memorial Hospital and is offered free of charge. Elevated results are sent for further testing. If the levels remain elevated, a sanitarian from the Health Department, trained in lead abatement, will visit the home of the affected child in an effort to pinpoint the source of lead. Lead education information is available to all who attend this screening.

W.I.C. - Women, Infants, and Children Program - The W.I.C. program serves residents on the third Tuesday of every month and is facilitated by St. Joseph's Hospital. Participants receive free supplementary food, nutrition, education and health care. The families who participate in this program must meet specific financial criteria (i.e. an income of 180% of the poverty level).

Free Immunization Program - The Free Immunization Program, held in March and September, provides free vaccines to Wayne's school-aged children in need of immunizations. School nurses and various other agencies refer the children. Immunizations are administered by a physician who lives or works in Wayne Township. Nursing Services for the Chronically III - Direct nursing services to chronically ill, homebound, residents of Wayne are provided free of charge (or for a nominal fee of up to $15 depending upon the residents ability to pay) by the public health nurses for individuals who have no third party insurance.

Flu Clinics - Flu Clinics are offered during the fall "flu season". An area physician supervises immunizations. A minimal fee is charged for this service. Free with Medicare Part B.

Diabetes Screenings - Screenings to help detect undiagnosed diabetics are included in all health department clinics via the use of a diabetic risk assessment form, administered by the public health nurse(s), and/or a urinalysis to detect elevated glucose levels.

SMAC -23, CBC Blood Screening - The SMAC-23 Blood Screening is offered in April and in October or during the Health Department's annual health fair. This screening provides a complete cardiac risk profile while measuring the levels of 23 different elements found within the blood including: white and red blood cells, glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol (LDL and HDL ratios), iron, etc.. This screening is instrumental in detecting various diseases in their early stages. The SMAC is a venous blood screening performed by Medical Laboratory Diagnostics for a fee of $20.Additional testing is available only to those who are having the SMAC Blood Testing. PSA-$17, Lyme Disease-$19, Blood Type-$11, TSH-$15, Hepatitis B-$19, Hepatitis C-$19, Homocysteine & High Sensitive Cardiac CRP - $25.

Wayne Township's Annual Health Fair -The Wayne Health Department sponsors an annual health fair in the fall with co-sponsors, St. Joseph’s HealthCare System, Chilton Memorial Hospital, and St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center. The Fair provides an excellent opportunity for area residents to learn more about the variety of health professionals and services available to them. Each year, more than 100 different health care professionals attend the Wayne Health Fair, offering a multitude of free screenings including: blood pressure, cholesterol, hearing, vision, diabetes, skin cancer, breast cancer, podiatry, dental, HIV/AIDS resources, spinal, and more. In addition to the screenings a variety of free and interesting health education booths and exhibits are also available (i.e. medication analysis, nutritional counseling, appearance of a fire truck,  etc… Admittance to the Fair, held in the gymnasium of Wayne Valley High School, is free.

Health Education Programs - Throughout the year, the Wayne Health Department hosts a variety of health education programs for the residents of our community. Past programs include: "Estrogen Replacement Therapy: What You Need To Know"; "Diabetes Education", "Medication Management for Older Adults"; "Endometriosis: The Facts", "For Men Only: Prostate Information for Men", "The Latest Regarding Carpal Tunnel Syndrome", "Radon: Is It In Your Home?” Fit For a Kid, Child Passenger Safety Clinic, Herbal Remedies, etc... These programs are coordinated by the Health Department and presented by area physicians and/or other health professionals who are experts in their field. The presenting health professional offers them free of charge and is provided as a community service. Program topics are determined by the assessed needs of the community.

The Welfare Division of the Wayne Health Department administers the Work First New Jersey Program.  Assistance is provided to eligible single adults, or married couples without dependent children, with cash benefits.   These benefits are limited to a lifetime of 60 cumulative months.

NJ/SHARES –  (New Jersey’s Statewide Energy Assistance Fund) offers temporary assistance to individuals, who are not eligible for other programs, with their gas and electric bills. 

S.H.I.P. – (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) – provides free assistance with health insurance to people ages 65 plus or disabled on Medicare. SHIP addresses questions about Medicare benefits and claims, supplemental medical policies, and long term care insurance. 

For further information or assistance in any one of these programs, email or call the Welfare office at (973) 694-1800 Ext. 3281.

It is important to recognize that in order to attain the goals and objectives set forth by the health department collaboration and "partnering" with many agencies, organizations and groups outside the health department is necessary. The health department believes that by collaborating with other agencies they will be better able to provide cost effective, timely and knowledgeable health services.

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Pandemic Prepardness

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