Anita Campbell
County Reporter
Benton County's Person of the Year for 2021 selected by the Benton County Enterprise staff is Linda Viebrock, administrator of the Benton County Health Department. Viebrock has been with the BCHD since its inception in 1975.
"We started out with three employees in a building on Main Street of Lincoln and now we have 56 employees in the former Golden Valley Clinic in Warsaw," said Viebrock. "We were in a small facility with no internet, no computers and just a rotary telephone. Things have improved a great deal since 1975."
Viebrock, who grew up in Cole Camp but moved to Warsaw 35 years ago, said that the BCHD started as a demonstration supported by the state with the purpose of keeping people healthy. Then in 1975, the taxpayers of Benton County voted to establish the BCHD.
"We appreciate the support we have received over the years from the taxpayers of Benton County," said Viebrock. "Benton County is the only county in Missouri with the maximum tax levy for the county health department."
At BCHD, the staff believes that health care is a basic human right. It must be available, coordinated, and provided in a comprehensive manner in conjunction with other human services, when services are provided to comply with acceptable professional standards and principles. Benton County Health Department is a tax-based health department, therefore residents of Benton County are encouraged to use the services offered by the Health Department. While the Health Department receives revenue from many different sources, individual donations are gladly accepted to help defray the costs of non-reimbursable services. Home care is part of the continuous health care system and will be provided in the most cost-effective way possible. Benton County Health Department and its staff shall operate and furnish services in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and disclose ownership information, to the best of its knowledge, based on its Quality Assurance Program and professional personnel practices.
Emergency preparedness and educator coordinator for BCHD Brooke Daleske, RN said, "Linda is the backbone of the health department. She is the biggest supporter and always has our back. She is a very determined person and BCHD is so lucky to have her."
Since March 2020, Viebrock and the staff at BCHD have been dealing with their first pandemic.
"It has been a difficult time for those in the medical field, however, we have done our best to deal with this epidemic. We are currently able to offer free COVID vaccinations to those five years old and older. Those wishing to be vaccinated are urged to call BCHD for an appointment," said Viebrock.
Viebrock said that the three county school districts had done an "awesome" job of dealing with the pandemic.
“Linda Viebrock is a true asset to Benton County. Her hard work and dedication to making our community a better place is a decades long endeavor. Given what we’ve all been through in the last two years with COVID-19, we’re truly fortunate to have Linda at the helm of the Health Department. I’m thrilled to have her be the Enterprise Person of Year for 2021,” said Enterprise Publisher James White.
BCHD offers Home Health care to county residents. Home Health care is a wide range of health care services that can be given in your home for an illness or injury. Home health care is usually less expensive, more convenient, and just as effective as care you get in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. Home health is intermittent, usually only lasting a couple of weeks to 60 days. Doctor’s orders are needed to start care. Once your doctor refers you for home health services, the home health agency will schedule an appointment and come to your home to talk to you about your needs and ask you some questions about your health. (Medicare requires the patient to be seen by the doctor at least 90 days before services begin for the illness or injury that the Home Health services are needed for).
"Linda treats all of us like family," said Barb Schroder, LPN Public Health Nurse. "She is very generous and kind and has dealt with all of the changes we had to go through very well. She is the heart of the Benton County Health Department."
These services provide assistance with activities of daily living and self-management tasks to persons who reside in their own homes. In-home services include personal care, shopping, housekeeping, meal preparation, and assistance with medication as an alternative to long-term care in a nursing facility. These services are usually paid for by the Veterans Association if the client qualifies and some long term care or nursing home policies will cover this service.
BCHD is also responsible for the Hospice program in the county. It is the mission of the Benton County Hospice to provide spiritual, emotional, and physical support to individuals with life-limiting illness by providing an added dimension to available health care in the community to those persons needing end of life care.
The Health Department provides private well water testing Monday – Thursday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at its office. Sterile bottles and sampling instructions are available during all working hours at the Health Department main office. The testing costs $20.00 per test and the water is analyzed for Total Coliforms, E-coli, and Nitrates.
The BCHD is also responsible for inspecting food establishments in Benton County on a rotating frequency based on priority ranking. Inspections are also made prior to the opening of an establishment and to follow up as necessary to check on corrective measures from routine inspections.
In 1991, the County Commission adopted the Benton County Wastewater Treatment Systems Ordinance. The Benton County Health Department is the contracting agency, which enforces the ordinance.
The BCHD also offers WIC (Women, Infants and Children) services as well as birth and death registrar, school health services, emergency planning, public health and public education.
Viebrock has witnessed many improvements in health over the past four decades.
"We have encouraged our patients to stop smoking and have also encouraged screenings to help detect problems in the early stages," said Viebrock. "Our major goal is prevention of diseases so we encourage people to be vaccinated."
The Health Department offers Communicable Disease services through a State Contract. Some services require that a special set of qualifications be met; those qualifications are set by the state and will be determined by the Public Health Nurse. Services are available by appointment; Monday – Friday 8:00-11:30 and 1:00-4:30, at the Warsaw office.
Viebrock shows no sign of slowing down as she loves her job.
"I love working with the people in this county and I love my staff who work so tirelessly to keep our county residents healthy," said Viebrock.
Viebrock's family includes her two nieces Emily and Stacey Viebrock whom she raised; however, the Benton County Health Department employees are part of her family too.
“Linda has really been put through the test in the last two years and we’re lucky to have her at the health department and part of our community,“ commented Adam Howe, Enterprise Editor-in Chief.
