The Cocke County Health Department is one of the 89 rural health departments under the Tennessee Department of Health. The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is: “To protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee.”

The Cocke County Health Department offers a variety of services to carry out this mission both in community and clinic settings.

The Cocke County Health Department provides a variety of confidential clinical services to all residents regardless of age, sex, income, race, disability, or marital status. All Clinic services are available by appointment. Walk-ins are accepted as staffing allows. Most service fees are based on income and family size, but no one will be denied services because of inability to pay. All TennCare plans are accepted for most services, and payment plan schedules are available for women who are not TennCare eligible. A sliding fee schedule is available based on income for our services.

For more information about our services, click one of our links below:

Adult Health Services

Adult Immunizations

The Public Health Nurses in the Preventive Health Clinic provide immunizations for adults. Vaccinations such as flu, pneumonia, Hepatitis and B, tetanus-diphtheria, among others are recommended for adults. For more information, please contact us at 423-623-8733.

Communicable Disease Investigation

Public Health Representatives are assigned the responsibility of detecting, preventing, and controlling infectious and environmentally-related illnesses of public health significance. A unique attribute of infectious diseases is that they can often be prevented, and thus, efforts to that end result in lower expenditures for health care and less personal discomfort and pain.

Environmentally-related illnesses are often the result of the interaction of external physical and chemical factors with other variables, including lifestyle, nutrition, and genetics. Detecting, preventing, and controlling both infectious and environmental disease provides enormous financial and emotional benefits to the citizens of Cocke County. Surveillance is dependent on reporting and the assistance of personnel in our local health department, physicians, infection control practitioners, and laboratory staff. Many committed health care professionals throughout Tennessee contribute to the ongoing reporting of disease.

The Communicable Disease Program focuses on three areas: sexually transmitted disease services, tuberculosis (TB) services, and HIV/AIDS services. Tennessee public health laws give the Tennessee Department of Health responsibility for implementing regulations for the control of communicable disease in Tennessee. The Cocke County Health Department is responsible for carrying out these requirements in Cocke County.

Child Health Services

EPSDT Screenings

Child health physicals are provided for uninsured population on a sliding fee scale.
EPSDT physicals (well check-ups) are provided to TennCare recipients with proof of TennCare coverage. These physicals include a complete family & medical history; vision, hearing & developmental screenings, as well as screening for risk of tuberculosis, cholesterol & lead risk. A complete physical is performed by a nurse & any abnormal findings are referred to the client’s Primary Care Provider.

EPSDT physicals are by appointment & TennCare is billed.

Child Immunizations

Childhood immunizations are vital in protecting our children from many childhood diseases. Nationally, mandatory childhood immunizations programs have resulted in the elimination or reduction of many childhood diseases including measles, chickenpox, HIB meningitis, polio, etc. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that immunizations save the lives of over 3 million children per year.

Children’s Special Services

The Tennessee Children’s Special Services program strives to provide quality medical care coordination and support to children 0-21 years of age with special health care needs.  The program promotes the well-being of children in a manner that is family centered, culturally sensitive and community based.  It provides access to comprehensive medical care for children meeting the financial and diagnostic guidelines forming partnerships that are flexible and creative in meeting the unique needs of each child.

For more information, please contact us at 423-623-8733.

Care Coordination

CHANT – Community Health Access and Navigation in Tennessee

What is CHANT?
Navigating the complex system of health and social services can be challenging for
many individuals and families, and depending on individual needs and medical
diagnoses, care may involve several programs, providers, and personnel. To overcome
these challenges, the Tennessee Department of Health has combined three public
health programs, Help Us Grow Successfully (HUGS), Children’s Special Services
(CSS) and TennCare Kids Community Outreach into one integrated model of care
coordination, the Community Health Access and Navigation in Tennessee (CHANT).
CHANT teams provide enhanced patient-centered engagement, navigation of medical
and social services referrals, and impact pregnancy, child, and maternal health
outcomes. Individuals may also qualify for Children’s Special Services (CSS) which may
provide reimbursement for medical services and assistance with co-pays, deductibles,
and co-insurance for children with physical disabilities from birth to 21 years of age.

Who is eligible?
Individuals include:

 Pregnant and Postpartum adolescents and women
 All children < 5 years
 TennCare Kids eligible (Birth – 20 years)

 Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) (Birth – 21
years) – families whose income is less than 225% of the Federal Poverty Level
and diagnosed with an eligible chronic disability. Children Special Services can
provide Care Coordination and financial medical payment as a payer of last
resort.

Have a referral?
Referrals are accepted from all medical providers and social service agencies. Self-referrals to CHANT are also accepted. Referral forms, instructions and a listing of local CHANT teams are available by accessing the website at www.tn.gov/health/healthprogram-areas/fhw/early-childhood-program/chant.html or by contacting the Cocke County Health Department at 423-623-8733.

Comprehensive Screening and Assessment
Each member of the family unit is screened for the following:

 Social services need
 Mental /behavioral health risk  Child health and development milestones
 Special health care needs
 Medical risk
 Health insurance
 Medical and dental services

Pathways of Care
 Behavioral Health
 Child Health and Development Education
 Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN)  Dental Home/Referral  Developmental Screening/ Referral  Employment  Family Planning
 Health Insurance
 Housing
 Immunization Screening/ Referral  Maternal Loss
 Medical Home/Referral  Pregnancy/ Postpartum
 Perinatal Loss
 Smoking Cessation
 Social Service Referral

 Transition of CYSHCN 14+ yrs.

Care Coordination
 Link patients and families with resources to facilitate referrals and respond to
medical and social service needs
 Communicate Care plans and goals and proactively track patients as they go to
and from clinical care to communities

 Identify and refer eligible high-risk patients to available EBHV (Evidence Based
Home Visiting) Programs

TennCare Kids

TennCare Kids is a free program of checkups and health care services for children from birth to age 21 who are TennCare eligible. These services make sure babies, children, teens, and young adults receive the health care they need.
What does TennCare Kids provide?

  • Free medical and dental checkups

  • Free medical and dental services

  • Free behavioral health services

How do you schedule a TennCare Kids visit?

Call your doctor, TennCare health plan, or local health department to schedule an appointment.
Where do you go for more information on TennCare Kids?
The Community Outreach Worker at the Cocke County Health Department is happy to provide you information about TennCare Kids. For more information, call 423-623-8733.

Children’s Special Services

The Tennessee Children’s Special Services program assures appropriate, timely comprehensive, quality services to children 0 to 21 who have or are at-risk for special needs. The program promotes the well-being of children in a manner that is family centered, culturally sensitive and community based through services coordinators acting as liaisons for children, families and providers- facilitation, collaborating and forming partnerships that are flexible and creative in meeting the unique needs of each child. Contact us at 423-623-8733 for more information.

Family Planning Services

Family Planning services are available for males and females and include; reproductive health, contraception or “birth control”, basic infertility services, reproductive life planning, achieving pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections.

Our Health Department’s family planning program provides the following services:

  • IUC (Intrauterine Contraceptive)

  • Implants

  • Injectable: “The Shot”

  • Oral Contraceptive: “The Pill”

  • The Patch

  • Vaginal Ring

  • Barrier Methods: Diaphragm, cervical cap, sponge, female condom

  • Condom: Male & Female

  • Spermicide

  • Natural Family Planning: Cycle Beads

  • Emergency Contraception

  • Permanent Sterilization: No-Scalpel Vasectomy, Tubal Ligation

Also available: Physical exams, cervical cancer screening, breast/testicular cancer screening, sexually transmitted infection testing, STI treatment, high blood pressure screening, anemia screening, pregnancy testing and contraceptive methods. They also offer counseling and education regarding reproductive and other health related topics.

Women’s Health Services

Women’s Health Exams

Exams for women include: medical history, urine, and vaginal infection tests; weight and blood pressure check; pelvic and breast exam; and pap smear.

Breast and Cervical Cancer Screenings

This program’s goal is to reduce cancer death and illness rates by assuring that breast and cervical cancer screenings, diagnostic testing, and follow-up are accessible to Tennessee women. The program puts a special emphasis on outreach to Rural white, African, American and Hispanic women who are ages 50-64, have low incomes and are uninsured or underinsured.
The health department is considered to be a screening provider which provides clinical breast and pelvic examinations and Pap test for eligible women. If an abnormality is noted the provider refers the patient to a referral provider. Call 423-623-8733 for more information.

Breast and Cervical Screening (BCS) Program for Women

Provides free mammograms for eligible women.

Guidelines:

  • Patients must be age 35 or older

  • Uninsured

  • 250% below poverty guidelines

  • Provides mammograms only

  • If eligible the patient will be contacted and made an appointment at a participating facility.

  • Mammogram recommendations are for “baseline” and yearly screening mammogram to begin at age 40.

Women age 35 – 40 should have a screening mammogram when there is a history of personal history of breast cancer risk.

WIC Special Supplemental Nutrition Program

WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. This is a federally funded program that provides nutrition education, breastfeeding support and education, nutritious foods and health referrals. WIC services are provided without cost.

Who is Eligible for WIC Services?

  • Pregnant women

  • Postpartum and Breastfeeding Women

  • Infants and Children up to the 5th birthday

How Do I Qualify?
To receive WIC benefits you must meet the income guidelines and live in Tennessee. Families who already qualify for Medicaid, Food Stamps and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) are already income qualified for WIC. Others may qualify without receiving benefits. For example, a family of four whose weekly paycheck is $865 (before taxes) or less can qualify for WIC.

Benefits: 

Once qualified for the WIC program, persons receive vouchers to spend at the grocery store for nutritious foods. Some of the foods you will receive are milk, cheese, eggs, cereal, juice, whole grain products, beans, peanut butter, fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, infant formula, cereal, and certain baby foods are also provided. There is also an enhanced food package for breastfeeding women that includes extra milk, dried beans or peanut butter, tuna. Foods bought with WIC vouchers are meant to supplement your food purchases to provide balanced meals for those who receive WIC.

Environmental Health

Swimming Pool Inspections

Phone: 423-623-8733, Extension 118

Food and General

The Cocke County Environmental Specialist inspects every establishment where food and beverages are prepared and served. Each establishment is inspected once or twice a year depending on the types of foods served, or more often as deemed necessary to ensure compliance with the Hotel, Food Service Establishment, and Public Swimming Pool Act of 1985. Current food permits and the most recent inspection report must be displayed in a prominent location for the public to view. Environmental Health conducts inspections of child care facilities, as well as their food service operations. Environmental Health licenses and inspects body piercing establishments at least once per year.

Consumer complaints and reports of suspected food borne disease outbreaks are promptly and thoroughly investigated in cooperation with county nurses, doctors and epidemiological workers.

Employee level training is available free of charge in our county health department every month. Contact us for a schedule of training classes at 423-623-8733.

Emergency Preparedness

The Cocke County Health Department works with the East TN Regional Office Emergency Preparedness Department to ensure Public Health Preparedness and establish the capability to respond effectively to bioterrorism, other outbreaks of infectious disease, public health threats, and emergencies.

The function of the East TN Regional Office Emergency Preparedness Department is to prepare Cocke County Health Department for an intentional or unintentional event that would require setting up Mass Clinics. Persons from LEPC; law enforcement; fire departments; local governments; EMA; TEMA; EMS; also provide valuable insight for the ongoing planning process.

Cocke County Health Department is required to open a Mass Clinic if the governor of Tennessee determines there is a need. The Mass Clinic may be expected to provide vaccines, immune globulin or medications for as many as 5,000 persons per day for ten days. The clinics require many volunteers (300/clinic) to operate smoothly.

Dental Clinic

The Cocke County Dental Clinic provides dental services for children up to the age of 19 years and is staffed with a dentist and dental assistant. Patients are seen by appointments and pay according to sliding fee scale. TennCare is accepted. Call for an appointment 423-623-8733.

Our dental clinic hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 PM on Mondays and Thursdays.

Vital Records

Birth records are available for persons born in the State of Tennessee (long Forms only). The current fee is $15.00 and another $15.00 for each additional copy purchased at the same time.

Death records are available deaths that occurred in Cocke County over the last 100 years. The fee is 15.00 per certificate.

To purchase a death certificate, you must be an immediate family member, funeral home, or legal representative. Additionally, you will need a copy of your driver’s license if cause of death is required. If you are not a family member, you will also need documentation of your need for the certificate.
Call 423-623-8733 for additional information.

Health Education

The Health Promotion and Wellness section provides health education and intervention programs to assist individuals in modifying their lifestyles to reduce risk of developing diseases and to improve their health status. Programs, services and educational materials are available to educators (preschool – college), community leaders and to the general public as requested along with dissemination of information through the media.

This multi-program area develops and implements activities and services by emphasizing the importance of cardiovascular disease prevention, hypertension control and diabetes, cancer awareness, tobacco use prevention, injury prevention, highway safety, rape and violence prevention, Arthritis, childhood lead poisoning prevention and general wellness.