MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Leaders from the Reno County Health Department say public health reaches far beyond vaccinations, touching nearly every aspect of daily life in the community.
During a recent interview Megan Gottschalk and Karen Hammersmith outlined the department’s wide-ranging services and ongoing concerns as part of Public Health Week.
Gottschalk emphasized that public health is rooted in creating conditions that allow residents to live healthier lives.
“Public health is here to support people and systems in our community,” Gottschalk said. “That includes everything from access to healthy food and clean water to smoke-free environments and safe places to walk.”
Hammersmith added that the department’s clinical services span all stages of life, from maternal care to services for older adults.
“We work closely with community partners like Hutchinson Clinic, PrairieStar Health Center, The Summit and Hutchinson Regional Medical Center to support healthy pregnancies and babies,” Hammersmith said. “We also provide immunizations, family planning and services that help older adults remain in their homes longer.”
Both officials noted that one of the biggest misconceptions about public health is that it is limited to vaccinations.
“Public health affects everybody every day,” Gottschalk said. “It’s the infrastructure, the environment and the systems that keep people healthy, often in ways they don’t even realize.”
The department conducts a community health needs assessment every three years, gathering input from residents to identify top concerns. Recent findings have highlighted mental health, substance misuse, walkability and access to healthy food as key issues.
On the clinical side, Hammersmith pointed to declining immunization rates as a growing concern, along with vaccine hesitancy fueled in part by misinformation.
“Vaccines are one of the most effective prevention tools we have,” she said. “But we’re seeing rates drop, and that opens the door for diseases like measles to return.”
Hammersmith also raised alarms about youth vaping, noting an increase in health complications tied to the practice.
“We’re seeing kids hospitalized from vaping,” she said. “There’s a misconception that it’s safer than smoking, but it introduces harmful chemicals into the lungs, and we don’t yet know the full long-term effects.”
The department also plays a critical role in disease investigation and prevention. Through epidemiology, staff track exposures and work to contain outbreaks by identifying close contacts and recommending isolation when necessary.
“A lot of what we do is prevention,” Hammersmith said. “If we can stop someone from getting sick in the first place, that’s the best outcome.”
Education is another major component of the department’s work. Officials say outreach efforts include school programs and community education on topics such as substance misuse, sexual health and chronic disease prevention.
“We’re not here to isolate people,” Gottschalk said. “We’re here to partner with the community and provide opportunities for healthier lives.”
Residents with questions or in need of services can contact the Reno County Health Department at 620-694-2900 or visit their office at 209 West Second Avenue.