Mobile mammogram clinic to visit county health department on Dec. 12

Diagnostic Imaging Centers' mobile 3-D Mammography Coach will be at the Linn County Health Department in Pleasanton on Dec. 12, according to Director Amanda Snyder. Twenty-eight appointments are available during the seven hours it will be at the department. (Diagnostic Imaging Centers website)

By Charlene Sims, info@linncountyjournal.com

MOUND CITY – On Monday, Nov. 13, Linn County Health Department Director Amanda Snyder updated the commissioners on activities at the department, including the date that the mobile Mammogram Coach will be in the county.

Snyder said that while the department had been on a waiting list for quite a while the Mammogram Coach, which will be at the health department at 11240 Tucker Road in Pleasanton on Dec. 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. She said that there were 28 appointments available and to schedule an appointment, people should call 913-352-6640.

Snyder told the commissioners that the Mammogram Coach was hosted by Diagnostic Imaging, and the company accepts insurance or self-pay.

Snyder reported that the health department served 425 people in October, conducted 13 remote flu clinics, had a coloring contest in the newspaper, hosted a breastfeeding booth at the arts and crafts fair, and hosted the trunk-or-treat at Pleasanton with more than 200 people attending.

She said that the department’s dietitian went to an annual conference, and that she and another staff member went to the Kansas breastfeeding conference a couple of weeks ago.

Snyder said upcoming classes at the health department will be “Becoming a Mom” classes in January. They will be six weeks long and cover pre-natal care. The class is also for fathers.

In April, there will be a “Diabetes Prevention” class taught by head nurse Danielle Casey, who is a certified diabetic lifestyle coach. Snyder said this was a great class for anybody who is pre-diabetic or needing to make some lifestyle changes.

Snyder reported that the health department’s Women, Infant and Children (WIC) program numbers were up. She said that in October, the program increased from 160 to 171 participants, and already at mid-November they are up another five participants. Snyder attributes this to the state of the economy and how expensive things have gotten.

Snyder then opened the only sealed bid that they received for building a classroom in the back of the health department. The bid was from Brandon Johnson Construction, Pleasanton, for $74,800.

Snyder said this was more than what she had budgeted for and she would like to look it over and see if it could be modified.

Commissioner Jim Johnson suggested she contact Randy Page, the county’s construction manager, to look at the project and the bid.