Community Health & Education

Animal Bite Reporting

Health care providers and law enforcement are responsible for animal bite reporting within Muscatine County. Animal bites should be reported as soon as possible to the appropriate entity listed below. Trinity Muscatine Public Health works with these entities on follow-up needed.

Rabies information for the public.

City of Muscatine

Animal Control Officer/Muscatine
312 East Fifth St., Muscatine IA 52761
563-263-9922

City of West Liberty

West Liberty Police Dept.
409 North Calhoun Street, West Liberty IA 52776
319-627-2223

City of Wilton

Wilton Police Dept.
P.O. Box 27, Wilton IA 52778
563-732-2311

Remaining Muscatine County

Muscatine County Sheriff's Dept.
400 Walnut Street, Muscatine IA 52761
563-264-0188

Child Care Nurse Consultant

Advocates for quality child care in Cedar, Louisa and Muscatine counties
Educates child care providers and parents on health and safety issues
Assists child care providers and center directors in developing health and safety policies
Assists child care providers to achieve and maintain a safe and healthy child care environment for all children, including those with special needs, through site visits, health and safety assessments, resource materials and consultations
Provides educational programs to children in child care on health and safety topics
Collaborates with other local and regional service providers to enhance total services available for child care providers, children 0-5 years that attend child care sites and their parents

The following website provides additional information: Iowa Department of Public Health Healthy Child Care Iowa

Communicable Disease

We're working hard to detect, control, and prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We monitor communicable disease reports, investigate illnesses, and utilize consistent reporting from local partners to monitor the health of our community.

Infectious or communicable diseases are a continuing threat to all people. They cause illness, suffering and even death, and a large cost to society.

Our Communicable Disease Program provides:

Investigation of the source of communicable diseases
Surveillance of communicable diseases
Notification to the public of their risk for communicable diseases
Control measures to prevent the spread of the diseases
Education on the importance of prevention and impact of infectious diseases

Common reportable communicable disease fact sheets from the Iowa Department of Public Health EPI Manual may be found at:

Community Health Planning

Community Health Assessment is required by the Iowa Department of Public Health every five years. To qualify for tax-exempt status hospitals must also conduct a community health assessment every three years. A joint process was initiated in early 2015 and a Community Health Improvement Plan was approved by the Muscatine County Board of Health and UnityPoint Trinity Muscatine Board of Directors in November, 2015. The three priority areas identified are:

Increased supply of primary care physicians for existing and new patients of all socio-economic groups in our service area.
Increased capacity and access to mental health services for children and adults of all socio-economic groups.
Improve healthy behaviors including all socio-economics groups.

Download the entire Muscatine County Community Health Improvement Plan.

Emergency Preparedness

Trinity Muscatine Public Health (TMPH) has been strengthening its readiness to respond to public health emergencies. These types of emergencies could result from naturally occurring events, such as floods, tornadoes or infectious diseases, or they could result from man-made disasters, such as the intentional release of biological agents.

We are involved in the following activities throughout the year to assist in making you and your family members' lives healthier:

Investigating cases of infectious disease
Preventing and controlling infectious diseases

We work to help protect the community against threats such as pandemic influenza, biological or chemical agents, and natural disasters.

Download FEMA's Emergency Preparedness pamphlet "Are You Ready?"

Flu Clinics

The best protection against the flu is to get vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone over the age of 6 months should get vaccinated against the flu.

Influenza is a serious respiratory disease caused by a virus. It is not the same as the common cold or an intestinal illness. Influenza may be contagious for 24 hours before any symptoms develop. Through everyday preventative measures (e.g.,) can help prevent transmission of many types of germs, the best way to avoid influenza infection is to get vaccinated.

Seasonal flu vaccine is produced every year through a scientific process that indicates the influenza viruses that will be most common during the upcoming flu season.

It is important to get vaccinated against the flu each year to prevent illness from the viruses that will be common during the upcoming season as viruses change every year. Individuals who were vaccinated in the previous season (2010-11) still need to ve vaccinated with the 2011-12 vaccine even though the vaccine viruses did not change. The primary reason is that a person's immune protection from vaccination declines over time, so protection for the subsequent season will be reduced.

Flu Clinics at Trinity Muscatine Public Health

Wednesdays and Fridays 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Flu Related Information Links:

Adult Vaccine Information

We never outgrow the need for vaccinations. Annual flu shots are recommended for everyone and we all need tetanus boosters every 10 years. Adult vaccines are paid for at the time of vaccination. Prices vary by type of vaccine. Please call us at 563-263-0122 to schedule an appointment or for current pricing.

Adult immunization services available include:

Td/Tdap boosters
Hepatitis A and B vaccine series
Annual influenza vaccinations

Health Promotion and Monitoring

Health Education is important to the overall health and well being of our community. The more we know about our own health status, the easier it is to make informed decisions about our health lifestyle. Individuals who choose to create a healthier lifestyle for themselves and their families ultimately create a healthier community. We support speakers on a variety of health promotion topics.

Senior Health

Blood pressure checks and health education programs are offered by Trinity Muscatine Public Health. Blood pressure checks are offered free of charge during open Hours of Operation. No appointment is needed.

Lead Inspections & Follow-up

Lead is part of our world today. It is found in the air, soil, dust and the paint of some homes or buildings built before 1978. Being exposed to too much lead can cause serious health problems. Lead is never a normal part of your body. The good news is that lead poisoning can be prevented.

Our Lead Program offers:

A self inspection guide to determine if you have lead based paint
How to "Eliminate Lead Paint Hazards" brochure
Lead Screening with results of your child's blood test for lead
Informative speakers on lead poisoning and prevention
Medical and environmental case management for children ages six and under who have been identified with lead poisoning
Follow-up inspections of affected children's homes

Lead enters your body each time you inhale leaded dust or fumes, or swallow something that contains lead.

Exposure to lead may occur in several ways:

Eating foods or drinking water that contain lead
Spending time in areas with deteriorating lead-based paint
Working in jobs where lead is used
Using traditional medicines that contain lead
Participating in hobbies that may use lead, like making stained glass or fishing with lead sinkers

The greatest environmental hazard to children is lead poisoning. Lead poisoning is caused by deteriorated lead based paint in the form of chips or dust. Household "dust" in older homes often contains lead from paint. Young children get this "dust" on their hands then put their fingers into their mouth or the "dust" gets on their finger foods or toys. Young children can also become lead poisoned by chewing on a surface that is painted with lead paint (window sills). Due to the sweetness of the paint they continue to chew on the surface.

Children are more vulnerable to lead poisoning than adults because their nervous systems are still developing. Children's bodies absorb more of the lead they take in than adult bodies. Babies and small children can swallow or breathe in lead from contaminated dirt, dust, or sand while they play on the ground or floor. These activities make it easier for children to be exposed because the dirt or dust on their hands, toys, or other items may contain lead. Children are also more sensitive to the effects of lead than adults. Even at low levels of exposure, lead can affect a life long learning, behavior and growth.

Lead paint is in homes that were built before 1978. In Iowa, 51% of our homes were built before 1960. Paint sold now does not have lead in it. Home inspections provided under this program are done only on homes where a lead poisoned child lives. A Certified Elevated Blood Lead Risk Assessor/Inspector will complete the inspection.

Lead poisoning is often present without symptoms. It can only be determined with a blood test. All children should be tested at one year of age. This can be done at the doctor's office or the Trinity Muscatine Public Health. Children who are lead poisoned often have learning disabilities resulting in difficulties in school.

Lifeline Home Response

Lifeline is an easy-to-use medical alert service designed to reduce the risk of living alone.

In the event of a fall or emergency, you get help at the push of a button.
Philips Lifeline can reduce the worry of living alone, and replace anxiety with peace of mind.
The risk of falls or medical issues can get in the way of independent living. That's where Philips Lifeline can help.
Put a plan in place that you can count on to help you live independently at home.

For more information visit Philips Lifeline - Medical Alert Service

Maternal Services

Maternal Health Services can help pregnant women in Cedar, Louisa and Muscatine counties. We seek to encourage healthy behavior for mothers in order to deliver healthy babies. Our registered nurse follows the mother's health care throughout her pregnancy. She also can visit after the baby is delivered.

The social worker or nurse can also provide:

Help with finding a doctor or dentist for medical/dental care
Help in obtaining health coverage
Referral to community resources and services
Health education and support on a variety of topics
Prenatal education and support
Nutrition education and support
Home visits by a registered nurse and/or social worker
Oral health screenings, fluoride varnish applications, referral to treatment
Assistance in arranging transportation and translation services

Breast Feeding Classes

Breast Feeding Classes are offered free of charge by our Certified Breast Feeding Educator. Classes are free and open to the public.

For more information, please call 563-263-0122.

Nurturing Parenting Services

The Nurturing Program is a FREE home visiting program for parents of children aged 0-5 within Muscatine County.

The program offers parents:

Research-based information on how children grow and develop
Methods of positive discipline
Techniques for problem solving
Realistic expectations of child behavior
Attitudes that will raise children's self esteem
Resource information to parents
Referrals to facilitate connections to needed services and supports
Home visitation and group sessions

Goals of the program are to:

Increase positive relationships between children and parents
Increase the opportunity for parents to learn about child development and parenting
Provide the resources for families to have the supports to ensure their children have nurturing and stable relationships with caring adults.

The Nurturing Program is funded by Shared Visions and Muscatine Regional Empowerment. The Early Childhood Iowa website has more information on Empowerment.

TB Screening and Follow-up

Tuberculosis (TB) Screenings and follow-up are provided at a low cost to all Muscatine County residents. We provide TB testing to the general public at our office by appointment. A copy of the testing and results will be provided as necessary.

Our nurses provide one-on-one contact with clients with latent tuberculosis infection or tuberculosis disease. Clients meet with a nurse on a routine basis during the treatment period to assess the patient's physical response to the medication and to make sure the medication is taken properly. The treatment period may vary depending upon the client's individual needs and response to treatment. Clients with a primary healthcare provider or specialist may have their care coordinated through us and their personal physician.

We also provide contact investigation and follow up to individuals who may have been exposed to someone with tuberculosis, in order to prevent spread of the disease.

You are eligible for assistance, at no cost, if you:

are exposed to a known case of tuberculosis
show symptoms of tuberculosis disease
have tuberculosis disease or latent tuberculosis infection