Who We Are

George Roberts, CEO

It is my pleasure to add a personal welcome to the Northeast Texas Public Health District World Wide Web Site. Our health department is well-known for its compassionate delivery of services and its numerous public/private partnerships. We would like you to know more about our many and varied services.

The Northeast Texas Public Health District serves a vital function for the citizens of Smith County and Northeast Texas. The organization serves to prevent illness, promote health, and protect the community. We accomplish this function in several ways:

Laboratory

- Performs milk and water testing for our region

- Conducts testing for potable water for more than 300 public water systems

- Tests approximately 17,000 STD specimens (syphilis serology, gonorrhea and Chlamydia) each year

Public Health Emergency Preparedness & Disease Surveillance

- Plan for and respond to public health emergencies and disasters, including sheltering of citizens with medical special needs

- Provides health support to general population shelters in times of emergency

- Conducts surveillance, investigation, prevention, and education activities to prevent outbreaks and the spread of communicable diseases

- Provides organization, leadership, and support for a 600 member Medical Reserve Corps comprised of local citizen volunteers

Immunizations & Tuberculosis Elimination

- Immunization Department gives an average of 14,000 vaccines annually.

- On average, the Tuberculosis Elimination Program has 2,000 patient visits each year

- Tuberculosis is located in an area with a negative pressure room and alarm system

Community Outreach

- Provides screening services for breast, cervical and colon cancer

- Provides technical assistance with tobacco prevention strategies

- Implements the Texas Healthy Communities Program in Smith and Wood counties

- Hosts chronic disease self management sessions at our Center for Healthy Living

Vital Statistics

- Provides Texas birth and death records electronically

- Five Star Award for Excellence in Vital Statistics

WIC (Women, Infants & Children)

- Provides Nutrition Education in 20 counties in Northeast Texas, to over 20,000 families each month

- Coordinates Breastfeeding Education, Peer Counseling & Peer Dad education programs

Environmental Health Services

- Retail Food Inspections

- Public Health & Safety Investigations

- Child Care & Foster Home Inspections

- Public Pool & Spa Inspection

- Plan Review for new construction of Pools & Food Establishments

- Educational Training For Food Service Workers & Pool Operators