Index to HCA Frequently Asked Questions

• Adult Residential Care and Housing Office
• Animal Care Services (now with new agency)
• Birth and Death Registration
• Cancer Detection Partnership
• California Children's Services (CCS)
• Dental Heath Services
• Environmental Health
• Emergency Medical Services
• Epidemiology
• Food Safety
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
• HIV Planning and Coordination
• Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health
• Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program
• Medical Services Initiative - Patient
• Medical Services Initiative - Provider
• Ocean Water Quality
• Orange County Immunization Coalition
• Pulmonary Disease Services (TB)
• Residential Care and Housing Office (Adults)
• Tobacco Use Prevention Program (TUPP)
• Water Quality Laboratory
• Women, Infants & Children (WIC)

Example FAQ

Food Nutrition

1. I ate at a restaurant near my home and became sick later that evening. How do I report this to the health department?

2. How do I report a food facility for health code violations?

Immunization

3. We are traveling abroad in a few weeks. Do we need to get any vaccines?

    

Birth & Death Registrations

4. How can birth certificates be obtained?

5. How can death certificates be obtained?

Animals: see new site

Public Health and Medical Care

6. Does my child have head lice? How can it be treated?

7. Where can I get a TB skin test?

8. Who oversees poor rental conditions such as: cockroaches and rats?

9. Who can be called about mold in a rental home or apartment?

10. Where can free or low cost medical care be obtained?

11. Where can services be obtained for alcohol and drug abuse?

12. Where can services be obtained for mental health services?

Hazardous Waste/Medical Infectious Waste

13. What is the proper procedure for disposal of sharps?

14. Where can I dispose of my household chemicals like motor oil, car batteries, leftover paint or unused pesticides?

Beaches/Water Quality

15. Are there any beaches closed to swimming?

Answers

1. How do I report this to the health department?
   All reports of possible foodborne illness reported to this Division are investigated. If you believe that you became ill due to a food product purchased in Orange County, you may call (714) 433-6000 to report the incident. Be prepared to answer questions about the onset time, duration, and types of symptoms. Try to compile a list of all foods, and drinks consumed for the two days prior to the first signs of illness, as this information is critical for the investigation.

   Some commercially distributed prepackaged foods are regulated by other State or Federal agencies. The Environmental Health Division can assist in making referrals to the correct agency.

2. How do I report a food facility for health code violations?
   The Environmental Health Division investigates consumer complaints regarding food, safety and sanitation at all retail food facilities in Orange County. If you have a consumer complaint regarding an Orange County food facility, please call (714) 433-6000 to report the complaint. Please provide the name and address of the facility you want investigated and explain the conditions you are reporting.

3. We are traveling abroad in a few weeks. Do we need to get any vaccines?
   It depends on where you will be going. You can get general information and make appointments for travel vaccinations by calling the HCA Health Referral Line at (800) 564-8448. Information on the vaccination requirements for foreign travel is available by calling the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travelers Hotline at (800) 232-4636. You can also get travel vaccine and travel health information at the CDC's website, www.cdc.gov/travel. Travel vaccinations are also offered by many private physicians in Orange County.

4. How can birth certificates be obtained?
   Birth certificates can be purchased in person or by mail. We are located at 1200 N. Main Street, Ste. 100-A, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 234, Santa Ana, CA 92702-0234.

5. How can death certificates be obtained?
   Death certificates can be purchased in person or by mail. We are located at 1200 N. Main Street, Ste. 100-A, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 234, Santa Ana, CA 92702-0234.

6. Does my child have head lice? How can it be treated?
   Head lice do not jump or fly. They do not carry disease. The treatment of choice for head lice is permethrin (one of the brand names is NIX). Pyrethins (one of the brand names is RID) can also be used. Both of these products can be obtained over the counter at a drug or grocery store. Head lice treatments are available without a prescription. Follow the directions on the product for proper application. It is very important that all the eggs, called nits, be removed from the hair after treatment. The most common cause of re-infestation is not removing all the nits from the hair. If treatment failures occur with correct use of these products, your physician may want to try a product used in the treatment of scabies or a pill. There are no clinics available at Public Health to provide free treatment for head lice.
   
   All articles which have come into contact with the hair such as combs, brushes and similar items should be disinfected by machine washing and drying using the hot cycle. Carpeting and upholstered furniture should be vacuumed thoroughly. Any items which cannot be washed or vacuumed can be placed in a plastic bag for 2 weeks.
   
   If you have concerns about head lice in a school or pre-school, we refer you to the school nurse, principal or administrator of the school. If you have already contacted the school and have further concerns, you may call the Orange County Department of Education and speak to the Coordinator of Health and Wellness, Pamela Kahn, at 714-327-1057 or pkahn@ocde.us. If you have concerns about a licensed pre-school, you may call Community Care Licensing at the Department of Social Services at (714) 558-4563. As head lice do not carry disease, Public Health does not generally become involved with cases of head lice.

7. Where can I get a TB skin test?
   Public Health provides tuberculosis (TB) skin testing at four sites. Private physicians and clinics also provide TB testing. Two visits are required for a skin test. Skin tests are placed on one day and read two or three days later.
   Click here for clinic locations and hours of operation.

8. Who oversees poor rental conditions such as: cockroaches and rats?
   The Environmental Health Division of the Health Care Agency responds to complaints of a health-related nature, such as infestations of cockroaches or rats, lack of hot water, lack of heat and plumbing problems. Renters who have been unable to get the property management to correct a health-related problem can call the Environmental Health Division at (714) 433-6000. The complaint must have the name and address of the property manager or owner in order to file the complaint.

9. Who can be called about mold in a rental home or apartment?
   The Environmental Health Division of the Health Care Agency has collected advisory literature from a number of agencies regarding mold and mildew. The public may request that literature be mailed to them or may get advice over the telephone. In addition, renters who have been unable to get landlords to correct maintenance problems, which may lead to interior mold growth, can file a complaint with Environmental Health. Examples of these maintenance problems include roof leaks, breaks in plumbing lines, faulty door seals or window seals and slab leaks. Repair of these maintenance problems eliminates the source of the moisture, which is vital for the growth of mold. Environmental Health can be reached by calling (714) 433-6000. The complaint must have the name and address of the property manager or owner in order to file the complaint.

10. Where can free or low cost medical care be obtained?
    The County of Orange Health Care Agency has several clinics serving residents by providing birth control/family planning, pregnancy testing, immunization, and well and sick child care. More information can be obtained by calling the Health Referral line at 1-800-564-8448. In addition, community clinics  throughout Orange County provide low cost medical care, and two clinics provide free medical care.
    
    Legal residents of Orange County who are 21 through 64 years of age, have a current medical need, cannot pay for the medical care they need, and complete a Medical Services for Initiative (MSI) application may be eligible for MSI benefits.

11. Where can services be obtained for alcohol and drug abuse?
    The best way to obtain information on where to receive services related to alcohol or drug abuse is to phone the clinic in your area. Clinic numbers and locations can be found at Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services.

12. Where can services be obtained for mental health services?

• Adult Mental Health Services Outpatient Clinics
• Children and Youth Mental Health Services

The best way to obtain information or where to receive services related to mental health is to phone the clinic in your area. Clinic numbers and locations can be found at Adult Mental Health Services page.

13. What is the proper procedure for disposal of sharps?
    Once the needles are packaged in a rigid puncture- and leak-resistant container, you may bring them to an approved home-generated sharps consolidation point. Call the Environmental Health Division at (714) 433-6000 and ask to speak to the medical waste inspector in your city.

14. Where can I dispose of my household chemicals like motor oil, car batteries, leftover paint or unused pesticides?
    You can dispose of these types of household wastes at a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center. There are four in Orange County that operate Tuesday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with the exception of certain holidays. For locations and other information, please call (714) 834-6752.

15. Are there any beaches closed to swimming?
    For the latest status on ocean and bay closures or postings in Orange County, call the Ocean & Bay Closure and Posting Hotline at (714) 433-6400. The message also gives additional phone numbers to be called to report sewage and waste spills, or report bather illnesses allegedly caused by the use of recreational water areas. Click here for the Online version of the Ocean & Bay Closures, Posting and Advisory Status.