Health department speaks on new service hours; why the change happened

By Leah Rainwater

It’s been about a week since the St. Joseph Health Department announced their new hours of business.

“Primarily the reason for the change, is just the traffic flow,” said Stephanie Malita, a Health Educator at the health department. “We want to maintain good customer relations and we just have found that we’re not seeing as many of the pregnancy testing and case management or the STI’s as we had in the past.”

The new hours are in effect now and the health department says they are honoring any previously scheduled appointments.

Malita says until the department starts to see more patients in need of pregnancy testing or STI testing, the new hours will stay in effect.

Immunizations are available on a walk-in basis from 8 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Pregnancy testing is offered by appointment from 8 to 11 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and Friday.

Testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV can be done by appointment on Mondays and Thursdays and costs $10.

The Baby and Me Tobacco Free Program is available by appointment by calling 816-271-5328.