S.C. Department of Public Health

For this week's #FeatureFriday we're shining a light on DPH's Bureau of Communicable Disease Prevention and Control, and a recent recognition one of their staff members received from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for preventing foodborne illness.   In April, the CDC published an article highlighting the stellar work of Midlands DHEC FoodCORE (Foodborne Diseases Centers for Outbreak Response Enhancement) staff member Madison Dinkins Butler for stopping an Escherichia coli (STEC) outbreak.    “In this outbreak [which took place in April 2022], I interviewed two cases of STEC as I normally would on a daily basis,” Madison explained. “I quickly noted after interviewing the second case that they were both students at the same school, who had just been on a class trip to Costa Rica.”    “[She] swiftly took action to stop the outbreak and protect others from getting sick,” the CDC wrote.    “I reached out to DADE and notified them of this finding. I then reached out to the school nurse to get more information on the trip and to make sure there were no other illnesses at the school,” Madison said. “We followed this outbreak for 20 days, consistently checking in with the school nurse and providing guidance to the school on what to do if any other cases were to arise!”    Madison’s work stopped the outbreak in its tracks, preventing further spread and ensuring that South Carolinians stayed safe.    Read the CDC’s full write-up here: https://lnkd.in/dVDKGRiF. Well done, Madison! #publichealth #employeerecognition

The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) is hiring an Active Communities Coordinator in Richland County. This position serves as the liaison to internal and external partners for the purpose of promoting active community environments, including parks/recreation, community planning, and active transportation statewide initiatives. To apply, please visit https://lnkd.in/eAkTP2hx. Find more jobs on our new careers page, dph.sc.gov/careers. 

Today, Department of Public Health employees celebrated Day One of the new agency with DPH t-shirts, welcome signs, food trucks, friendship bracelets and more! We are excited to build on DHEC's rich legacy and people-oriented culture at the Department of Public Health. Note: DPH staff is working with LinkedIn to change the name of this page to South Carolina Department of Public Health. Please be patient as we work through this transition.

As of July 1, 2024, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has been split into two new agencies. This is the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH), the former health component of DHEC. Our name may change, but our commitment to protecting, promoting and improving the health and well-being of everyone in South Carolina is stronger than ever. DPH will build on DHEC’s legacy, continuously innovating to achieve best practices that help improve our state’s overall health with the goal of becoming the healthiest state in our nation. Our goal for this new agency is to instill a people-first approach to all that we do. This includes working with our partners, communities, and others to help every South Carolinian have the access, resources, and information they need to make decisions that enhance their health and have access to the highest quality, safe health care. We are here for you. Website: dph.sc.gov | Phone: (803) 898-3300

For more than 50 years, DHEC has provided health and environmental services to the people of South Carolina. Beginning tomorrow, July 1, we will become two separate agencies – The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) and South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH). DHEC Food Safety is also moving to the South Carolina Department of Agriculture . Thank you for allowing us to serve you for all these years, and we look forward to continuing to provide South Carolinians with the services they need as we transition to our two new agencies. To learn where agency services are transitioning to, please visit https://lnkd.in/gmbx8zEA.

🚀 GET READY! The 9th Annual Population Health Summit kicks off with an impactful plenary session featuring: Brannon Traxler, MD, MPH of S.C. Department of Health & Environmental Control Thornton Kirby, President and CEO of South Carolina Hospital Association Darlene Lynch of South Carolina Office of Rural Health Gain insights into state health policies, programs, and ways to get involved. This session will address critical health disparities and promote health equity initiatives across our state. Join us and be part of the change! Register today by visiting our website! Link in the comments ⬇️ #PopulationHealthSummit #SCPHS2024 #populationhealth #healthequity #SChealth #publichealth #healthcareleadership #ruralhealth #healthierSC #healthdisparities #healthpolicy

Today is National HIV Testing Day. Most DHEC health departments will provide free HIV and STD testing TODAY. DHEC also offers testing to anyone in South Carolina most weekdays year-round. Learn more at scdhec.gov/hiv. Appointments are preferred. 

DHEC is #hiring nutritionists in the Lowcountry and Midlands for the WIC program. To find open positions and apply visit https://lnkd.in/eGMUEtVD. Effective July 1, 2024, these positions will transfer to the South Carolina Department of Public Health. #SCCareers #nutritionist #jobs

CDC recently recognized DHEC's South Carolina Central Cancer Registry (SCCCR) as a “Registry of Distinction” for having high-quality data available for cancer prevention and control activities at the local, regional and national levels. As part of the CDC National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR), the SCCCR collects, processes, analyzes and publishes cancer incidence (newly diagnosed cases) for South Carolina. The SCCCR also publishes information on cancer mortality (deaths), which is provided by DHEC’s Bureau of Vital Statistics. The SCCCR was one of 43 cancer registries nationwide to earn the honor as a CDC NPCR Registry of Distinction. This achievement indicates that South Carolina’s cancer registry met the CDC NPCR National Data Completeness and Quality Standard for its most recent data submission. “The South Carolina Cancer Registry plays a critical role in determining the frequency and rate of cancer occurrence in our state and in comparing cancer trends in South Carolina to national patterns,” said Dr. Edward Simmer, DHEC director. “Information from the registry can then be used to inform efforts to combat cancer in our state. This recognition confirms that DHEC is providing accurate, high-quality data that has value to our local and national partners.” Data is submitted annually to the CDC and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) and undergoes stringent examination to test for completeness, timeliness, and quality. Meeting CDC NPCR standards also allows the SCCCR’s data to be included in this year’s U. S. Cancer Statistics (USCS) data products, including the USCS Data Visualizations tool and researcher public use databases. The SCCCR is the point of contact within DHEC to assess community cancer concerns through data analysis. CDC guidelines are followed to determine any cancer excess in the community. A Community Cancer Assessment (CCA) report is provided with results of the assessment for all requests. For cancer registry data related to cancer incidence and mortality, visit the South Carolina Community Assessment Network (SCAN). To learn more about the SCCCR, visit scdhec.gov/CancerRegistry.