SEKY May 2023 | Page 10

A closer look at the Lake Cumberland District Health Department LCDHD provides services , education and outreach to keep the community safe

By Carla Slavey
People might not realize everything their local health department does for them – until things start going wrong , that is .
“ A lot of the things that go on in public health are behind the scenes , and you don ’ t necessarily see them ,” said Amy Tomlinson , the Executive Director for the Lake Cumberland District Health Department ( LCDHD ).
“ You don ’ t see people go in to get their shots , but when people don ’ t get sick , that ’ s the benefit ,” she said .
That extends to environmental services , the branch of the health department that inspects restaurants and food prep businesses . “ Because there ’ s not an outbreak of something related to poor restaurant hygiene going on , [ and because ] we ’ ve done those inspections , that ’ s a success of public health . Sometime people think everything ’ s going smoothly , and say ‘ Why do we need the health department ? Why do we need to keep funding these programs when we ’ re not having these issues ?’ You ’ re not having the issues because we are doing our jobs .”
LCDHD covers 10 counties : Adair , Casey , Clinton , Cumberland , Green , McCreary , Pulaski , Russell , Taylor and Wayne .
It ’ s quite a feat to keep all of those
10 • SEKY - Life in Southeast Kentucky May 2023