PARSONS – The Tucker County Health Department is settling into their new home – the former VA Clinic in Parsons. Tucker County Health Department Sanitarian and Administrator James Snyder said their new location, 206 Senior Lane, off of Spruce Street, gives them double the space of their last home.
“It is almost twice the square footage of what we had,” Snyder said. “It gives us room to grow and to be more effective and efficient in our work. Our offices are more visible in this new location.”
Snyder said the new location has two exam rooms – with WIC using one room on Tuesdays. “They also have their own office space in the department.”
The goal of the Tucker County Health Department is to protect the public health of the community. Services offered through the Tucker County Health Department include disease prevention, promotion of healthier lifestyles, children’s vaccinations, adult vaccinations, flu shot programs, shingles vaccines, food services and regulations, food handler’s training, public and individual water supplies, septic systems, child care, day care, lodging, swimming pools, camping, cancer prevention programs, family planning programs, Right From the Start and many other programs.
“This process to find a new location began about two years ago,” Snyder said. “We were looking at possibly building on to what we had, but that did not work. We looked at other locations in the county and nothing seemed to meet the needs for us and the public. It’s the public we were worried about.”
Snyder said the Health Department’s new home is a great location.
“With the Senior Center and VA Clinic nearby, it gives you the idea of a medical complex,” Snyder said. “Folks can go over and have lunch at the Senior Center and come here to get their flu shot.”
“We are so grateful to all of the folks who made this move possible,” Snyder said. “The Board of Health, the Tucker County Commission, including former Commissioner Mike Rosenau, and the Building Commission were so helpful in making this happen. We are thankful to everyone, including the county maintenance staff. I cannot say how fortunate we are to have everyone working together to make this a possibility.”
Snyder said the new location will help Tucker County Health Department staff be better prepared to meet the needs of the community. “I get teary eyed when I think about it,” Snyder said.
The Tucker County Health Department will host an open house celebration in the near future. “We are hoping for a celebration in the spring,” Snyder said.
Additional information about the Tucker County Health Department is available online at www.tuckerhealthwv.com. Information and appointments are available by calling 304-478-3572. The Tucker County Health Department hours are Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
