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The Fairfax County Health Department has launched a new voluntary enrollment program, Safety Through Actively Managing Practices (STAMP), for food service operations that meet a set of standards developed by the department. STAMP requires that food service operations adopt a proactive approach to reduce foodborne illness risk factors through the use of Active Managerial Control (AMC). AMC includes having strong written policies, recurring employee trainings, and various monitoring activities such as the use of temperature logs. STAMP enrollees demonstrate AMC through a rigorous evaluation of their records and processes and by maintaining high performance on inspections. The Health Department modeled the standards for STAMP after best practices outlined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the FDA Food Code, the national model for food service sanitation standards. The FDA recognizes AMC practices as essential for controlling foodborne illness risk factors and encourages regulators to take an active role in assessing and facilitating the development of AMC in food service establishments. Through the STAMP Program, food establishments can partner with the Health Department to evaluate and strengthen their food safety management systems to make a positive impact on foodborne illness. Two food service operations, Chick Fil-A and Joe’s Crab Shack in Fair Lakes, and two school pyramids, Westfield and Falls Church, are the first enrollees in the program. STAMP participants receive a certificate of enrollment, a window decal, and recognition on the Health Department’s website and Food for Thought newsletter. “Dedication to AMC demonstrates that a food operator is meeting the standards of excellence in food safety,” says Environmental Health Director Pieter Sheehan. “We congratulate our newest participants and we hope more food operators will adopt AMC practices and enroll in STAMP.” Food service operators can apply to the STAMP program at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/food/awards-programs/stamp. Environmental health specialists from the Fairfax County Health Department review the application and supporting documents and make a site visit before deciding if the facility is accepted into the program. STAMP participants must also fulfill certain maintenance activities to remain enrolled in the program. The Health Department’s Environmental Health division conducts close to 8,500 site visits at more than 3,400 restaurant and food service establishments annually in Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church. The division also reviews food establishment plans; responds to citizen complaints and inquiries; investigates foodborne illness outbreaks to determine the source and to minimize the spread of disease; provides food safety information; and holds trainings and workshops to help food service establishments achieve excellence in food safety. For more information about the STAMP program or to learn more about food safety, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/food or call 703-246-2444, TTY 711.  

Fairfax County health officials are warning residents about the serious health risks, including injury and infection, associated with dental procedures performed by unlicensed providers. Recently the Health Department identified a person with a life-threatening blood-borne infection who received dental care by an unlicensed provider in the basement of a house in West Falls Church. Although the investigation is ongoing and it is not certain that the individual’s infection was the result of the unlicensed dental procedure, the Health Department would like to warn the public about the health risks associated with unlicensed dental procedures. “In an unsanitary basement with unsterile tools, even the best-trained dentist can cause more harm than good,” says Dr. Benjamin Schwartz, Director of Epidemiology and Population Health. “People who undergo these unlicensed procedures are risking their health and safety.” Out of an abundance of caution, the Health Department is recommending anyone who received dental care in this manner see a healthcare provider to be tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, which are all spread through blood exposure. “These are serious infections that may not have outwards symptoms for many years so even those who feel well now should be tested as a precaution,” Dr. Schwartz said. The Health Department is working with law enforcement to investigate and stop the unlicensed dentist from practicing. At the same time, the Department understands that many people do not have dental insurance and that affordable dental care is not readily available to everyone in the community. Therefore, some people may seek other avenues of care out of necessity. For all persons in Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, it is important to be aware of the risks associated with unlicensed dental practices and how to recognize unsafe practices. These signs include: If the dental provider operates out of their home instead of an office; If the dental provider does not wash his/her hands before putting on gloves and touching your mouth; If the dental provider uses a needle and syringe that was not taken from a new sealed, single use package; If the dental provider uses damaged, dirty, or rusting equipment during your dental procedure; and If the dental provider does not give you information on how to take care of your wound after the dental procedure, the signs and symptoms of an infection, and what to do if an infection occurs. By law, all dentists must be licensed to practice in the state of Virginia. You can look up your dentist to make sure he or she has a current Virginia dental license at the Department of Health Professions website. Fairfax County Health Department provides dental services to children whose families are income eligible and/or to whom treatment is not available in the private sector. A list of other clinics in northern Virginia that offer low-cost, preventative and emergency dental care can be found below. The Health Department also provides a list of confidential HIV testing locations on its website.   Contact Name John Silcox, Public Safety Information Officer Contact Information Fairfax County Health Department John.Silcox@fairfaxcounty.gov 703-246-8635, TTY 711 ### Dental Clinics   Name Phone Number Address Routine Care Emergency Care Cost / Eligibility Spanish Language HealthWorks 703-481-8160 1141 3rd floor, Elden St., Herndon, VA 20170 Yes No Sliding Scale fee-must enroll as a HealthWorks member YES Medstar Washington Hospital Center 202-877-6737 110 Irving Street NW Washington, D.C. NO. YES. No sliding scale. DC Medicaid accepted. $125 for consultation & $100-$125 for extraction YES Northern Virginia Community College 703-822-6655 6699 Springfield Dr., Springfield, VA 22150 YES. 7-10 day wait list. NO. Only pain management care. No insurance accepted. First visit $125. All cleanings after first visit $35. Sliding scale fee for all other procedures. YES Northern Virginia Dental Clinic 703-820-7170 8221 Willow Oak Corporate Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031 YES. NO. Referrals through social services. No cost. YES Neighborhood Health 703-535-5568 Four locations: *4480 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22302 *6677 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306 *7501 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003 *2120 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22204 YES. Wait list varies, but usually within 2 weeks NO. Provides referrals. Accepts Medicaid and other insurance. Patients meet with staff prior to visit to determine YES Smiles for Children 888-912-3456 Service will link you to care with a provider in your area. Service will link to care. Service will link to care. Medicaid for persons aged 20 years and younger or currently pregnant women with Medicaid. Some necessary oral surgeries for adults. YES Smiles Change Lives 888-900-3554 Service will link you to care with a provider in your area. Service will link to care. Service will link to care.   YES