More things continue to open from their temporary closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that will soon include a function of the Dallas County Health Department.

Health Navigator Ann Cochran says starting in July, her office will once again allow in person patient meetings. “Our Health Navigation program – which is a program that helps any resident of Dallas County with connecting to things having to do with their health and wellness – we are gradually returning to face-to-face visits with our clients, which we haven’t done since the end of March. Reasons that we would do a face-to-face visit beginning in July would probably be along the lines of the person needed to sign a document, or if phone calls are particularly difficult for that client, maybe due to a hearing impairment.”

Cochran notes that the first choice for health navigation will continue to be over the phone or through email. Meeting in person at their office north of Adel is the second option, and the last resort would be a meeting in the patient’s home. Anyone interested in learning more about Dallas County Health Navigation can call the health department at 515-993-3750. To hear more from Cochran on this and other public health topics, listen to today’s Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program on air and at RaccoonValleyRadio.com.