The Portsmouth City Health Department nursing and environmental staff, continuously monitor health threats in the community. The Health Department is the first agency to be contacted when circumstances point to communicable diseases. The role of the PHN is to educate, investigate, refer, and follow-up on these disease reports. Over 50 diseases and conditions including STDs must be reported to local public health departments by any practicing, licensed or permitted health provider or laboratory. The nurse works closely with area health departments, doctor’s offices, and hospitals.