LEVY COUNTY

Levy County is located in North Central Florida. The largest cities are Williston and Chiefland. Levy County is believed to hold Florida's second largest live oak tree. The population is 32,416. According to the Office of the Governor, the 1997 median household income was $21,957. A majority of the employment is in government and retail trade fields. A few of the major employers are the County School Board, Wal-Mart, and the State of Florida.

The Levy County Health Department (LCHD) has one main clinic in Bronson and four satellite offices. The Chiefland and Williston clinics are staffed once a week for nursing and once a month for pediatrics, the Inglis/Yankeetown clinic is staffed once a month for nursing, and the Cedar Key office is staffed half a day once a month for nursing. The main office in Bronson offers primary care to all citizens of Levy County. They operate on a sliding fee scale for those who are above 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The LCHD also accepts patients on Medicaid, Medicare, and a limited number who have private insurance. The Levy County Health Department has a school health program, with a nurse's aide full-time in each of the twelve schools, and six nurses that share their time between them. The LCHD provides the following services:

• Adult primary care

• School health

• Pediatrics

• Well Baby

• Prenatal care

• Obstetrics

• Family planning

• Women's health

• Immunizations

• STDs

• Tuberculosis

• In addition, the LCHD provides anonymous or confidential Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) testing and counseling.

The Alachua County Medical Society Inc.’s We Care Physician Referral Network accepts specialty referrals from Levy County on a case-by-case basis. A participating physician can only generate referrals. Eligible patients are able to receive free specialty medical care and any necessary hospitalization services.

The American Cancer Society, in partnership with Volunteer Services Program serves Levy County with the "Early Diagnostic Initiative". This initiative provides free mammograms and/or sonograms, as well as follow-up medical treatment to indigent, uninsured women identifying a breast abnormality.

The Levy County Health Department is interested in professional volunteers. Please contact Sarnt Sarntinoranont, M.D. at PO Box 32621-0040, 66 West Main Street, Bronson, FL 32621-6400. He can also be reached by telephone at (352) 486-5305 or by SunCom at (352) 645-5305.