Special Feature – Atco and Beacon Nurses

Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities is fortunate to have two registered nurses on staff during program hours. Joanne Heinzman RN, nursing supervisor at Atco, and Lori Johansen RN at Beacon School.

Joanne and Lori work with local agencies to utilize other resources available in the community. Some of these agencies include Athens County Health Department, Athens Red Cross, and Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. The nursing department works closely with the County Board physical therapist in assisting individuals obtain wheelchairs and other adaptive devices.

The County Board serves as a clinical and community experience site for physicians in training. Medical students learn valuable information on caring for individuals with disabilities. The individuals served by the County Board have the opportunity to educate the medical students from Ohio University on their special needs.

Joanne and Lori offer a wide variety of nursing services to insure high quality service of care for the individuals we serve.

Our daily routine encompasses a wide variety of services from assisting individuals with personal care, medication administration, nursing assessments, emergency nursing care, routine nursing care and care plans. Health and safety and the individual’s dignity are very important to us.

Over the past year, Joanne and Lori have certified 60 county board employees in First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Automated External Defibrillator and Epipen use the for Anaphylaxis. We have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) located in our facilities.

The County Board has employees that have state regulated training and are delegated to pass or assist with medications and perform health related task under the direction of the registered nurse.

Our participation in the Health and Safety Committee offers a professional dimension in providing quality care to the individuals we serve.