Public Health
Mission
The Clear Creek County Public Health Department promotes, protects, and improves the lifelong health of individuals and communities in Clear Creek County. Below are some of the services provided, many free or at low-cost.
Clear Creek County Public Health is now accepting health insurance for services. Public Health currently accepts Medicaid, Medicare Part B, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and United Healthcare. Services are provided on a sliding fee scale for patients who are uninsured, underinsured or prefer to self-pay. Some services are available at no cost for patients who are uninsured or underinsured. No one is ever denied services due to inability to pay.
Public Health Nursing
- Wellness Clinics
- Sexual Health/Family Planning
- Sports Physicals
- Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program
- Immunizations
- Public Health Emergency Preparedness
- Community Health
- Food bank
- Substance abuse/crisis services
- Communicable Disease Investigation
- Maternal Child Health (MCH)
Wellness Clinics
Appointments available Monday-Friday
- Oxygen level, temperature, blood pressure, cholesterol, A1C checks, and more
- No fasting required
- Walk-ins welcome
To schedule an appointment, call 303-670-7528
Sexual Health/Family Planning
Clear Creek County Public Health is now offering Sexual Health and Planning Services at the Health and Wellness Center in Idaho Springs.
As the only place in the County that offers these types of services, this is a huge development for the people of Clear Creek County. According to the Center for Disease Control, sexual health is an intrinsic element of human health and is based on a positive, equitable, and respectful approach to sexuality, relationships, and reproduction, that is free of coercion, fear, discrimination, stigma, shame, and violence.
Public Health is offering the following services:
- Counseling
- Emergency contraception
- Pregnancy testing
- STI and HIV screenings
- Basic infertility services
- Birth control options and referrals
These services are confidential. Public Health can also now bill Medicaid and most private insurances. However, if you do not have insurance, fees are based on a sliding scale--and no one will be turned away if they are unable to pay.
Click here to make an appointment.
Sports Physicals
- A sports physical can help find out about and deal with health problems that might interfere with a child's sports performance or increase their chance of getting hurt
- For elementary, middle, and high school students
- Most schools require a physical before a student is able to participate in sports or other activities
- Click here to fill out the form.
To schedule an appointment, call 303-670-7528
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Services
Tuesdays and Thursdays
- For mothers and infants
- Contact WIC Coordinator Donna Prentner, RD, RN at 970-409-6907 or
dprentner@clearcreekcounty.us
Immunizations
- Flu, TDAP, HEP A, and more
- COVID vaccines and boosters
- All childhood immunizations
- Clear Creek County Health and Wellness Center - 2nd Floor, 1969 Miner Street, Idaho Springs, CO 80452
- Click here to make an appointment.
Public Health Emergency Preparedness
- City Readiness Initiative
- Health Care Coalition
- Health Emergency Disaster Planning and Response
- Disaster Response Volunteer Coordination
- CodeRED emergency notifications and HyperReach notifications
Community Health
Communities That Care
- Colorado Health Assessment and Planning System (CHAPS)
Substance Abuse/Crisis Services
There are ways to get help if you or a loved one is in need. Click here for more information on how you can get help here in Clear Creek County.
Food Banks
There are multiple places in Clear Creek County where people can get free food if needed.
Clear Creek County Health and Wellness Center: located at 1969 Miner Street in Idaho Springs (2nd Floor) there are shelves stocked full of food for those in need. People can come in anytime Monday through Friday from 8:30-4:30 and take what they need.
- Loaves & Fishes: located at 545 Hwy 103, Loaves & Fishes is a faith-based, non-denominational ministry supported by the churches of Clear Creek County, individual donations of food and funds, and grant funding. Their hours are Wednesdays (donations only) from 11:00-4:00 Thursdays from 11:00-4:00 and Fridays from 11:00-4:00.
Mpox Information
Mpox is a virus in the orthopox family of viruses. Mpox is rare, but it can be serious for people who get it. Mpox can spread from person to person when someone who has Mpox has close contact with someone else. Close contact can mean physical contact with the sores, bumps, or lesions of someone who has monkeypox. Close contact includes sex. Monkeypox can also spread through touching the bed linens or clothing of someone who has monkeypox. Monkeypox can also live on other surfaces for some time.
Recent cases in the United States have been infected through person-to-person contact. Brief interactions without physical contact are unlikely to result in getting the virus.
Mpox has recently been spreading in parts of the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. It is endemic in central and west Africa. Recent data suggest people who have recently traveled to a country where Mpox has been reported or men who have sex with other men are at heightened risk.
The type of Mpox spreading in the United States is rarely deadly and has a fatality rate of less than 1%. In fact, in most cases, monkeypox will resolve on its own. Symptoms of monkeypox may begin with flu-like symptoms that can include fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and exhaustion. Typically, a rash or skin bumps develop within one to three days after the onset of fever, often beginning on the face then spreading to other parts of the body.
Mpox can look like syphilis, herpes, blisters, or even acne, so be sure to get checked out if you develop a new rash or bumps. In recent cases, additional symptoms have not always occurred before the rash or bumps if they have occurred at all. The incubation period for monkeypox is usually seven to 14 days but can range from less than five to 21 days. Most people recover within two-to-four weeks.
Where do I get tested for Mpox?
People who are experiencing symptoms of Mpox or think they have been exposed to Mpox should contact a health care provider to discuss testing. Many providers can now submit specimens through commercial laboratory networks such as Aegis Science, Labcorp, Mayo Clinic Laboratories, Quest Diagnostics, and Sonic Healthcare. If you do not have a health care provider, or do not have insurance, the following locations have monkeypox testing available for people who have a rash they suspect may be monkeypox. Appointments are limited — call the phone number listed to ask about available appointments. If you have a rash or sores, cover them with long sleeves, pants, or a bandage. Wear a well-fitting mask over your nose and mouth during your appointment. Patients can take this document with them to their medical visit.
Denver Sexual Health Clinic
Phone: (303) 602-3540
Address: 660 N. Bannock St., Pavilion L, 2nd Floor, Denver, CO 80204
(Denver Sexual Health Clinic is currently only evaluating patients who have been sexually active or directly exposed to Mpox within the last month and have a rash.)
Gunnison County Public Health
Phone: (970) 641-3244
Address: 220 N. Spruce St., Gunnison, CO 81230
(Gunnison County Public Health is only evaluating patients who are high risk and have a rash.)
Jefferson County Public Health Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinic
Phone: (303) 239-7040
Address: 645 Parfet St., Lakewood, CO 80215
(JCPH Sexual & Reproductive Health Clinic is only evaluating people who are sexually active and have a rash. Evaluation and testing by appointment only.)
Mesa County Public Health
Phone: (970) 248-6900
Address: 510 29 1/2 Road, Grand Junction, CO 81504
(Mesa County Public Health is currently only evaluating patients who have a rash.)
UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital
Phone: (720) 848-0000 Address: 12605 E 16th Ave, Aurora, CO 80045
(University of Colorado Hospital is currently only evaluating patients who have a rash.)
Weld County Public Health
Phone: (970) 304-6420
Address: 1555 N. 17th Ave., Greeley, CO 80631
(Weld County Public Health is currently evaluating patients who have a rash.)
Vaccine Information
Some people who have been recently exposed to Mpox should get a vaccine called Jynneos. The FDA has fully approved this vaccine. Colorado currently has an extremely limited supply of the vaccine from the federal government. Getting vaccinated lowers your chance of getting Mpox if you may have been exposed. The sooner an exposed person gets the vaccine, the better. The vaccine can also reduce the severity of your symptoms if you do get sick later on. People who already have symptoms of monkeypox (fever, rash, etc.) should not get vaccinated.
CDPHE vaccine clinics CDPHE is hosting a limited number of free vaccine clinics for eligible Coloradans who meet the criteria below. Request a vaccine appointment using this form. Appointment requests will be made available based on our extremely limited vaccine allotment from the federal government.
Those who currently qualify for expanded post-exposure vaccination are:
- Anyone aged 18 years and older who has had close physical contact with someone who has Mpox in the last 14 days.
- Gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men, or transgender, non-binary, or gender-diverse people aged 18 years and older who
-Have had multiple sexual partners in the last 14 days, or
-Have had sexual partners they did not previously know in the last 14 days, or
-Have had close physical contact with other people in a venue where anonymous or group sex may occur. - Anyone identified by public health as a known high-risk contact of someone who has Mpox.
Vaccine supply is currently extremely limited. Completing the interest form does not guarantee an appointment.
Mpox Vaccine Providers
Jefferson County Public Health
Phone: (303) 239-7078
Address: 645 Parfet St., Lakewood, CO 80215
(Jefferson County Public Health is currently offering post-exposure and expanded post-exposure vaccinations by appointment only for those who meet the criteria listed in the section above.)
Public Health Institute at Denver Health
Phone: (303) 602-3342
Address: 660 Bannock Street, 2nd floor, Denver, CO 80204
(Three clinics of the Public Health Institute at Denver Health are currently offering post-exposure and expanded post-exposure vaccinations by appointment only for those who meet the criteria listed in the section above.)
Tri-County Health Department
Address: multiple addresses — Aurora, Castle Rock, Westminster
(Tri-County Health Department is currently offering post-exposure and expanded post-exposure vaccinations for those who meet the criteria listed in the section above.)