To: Board of Health
Through: Jennifer Ludwig, Director, Public Health
Prepared By:
prepared
Sara Miller, Otowi Group
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presenter
Presenter: Sara Miller, Otowi Group, and Dr. Chris Urbina
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Subject:
title
d. *Roles & Responsibilities of Contracted Medical Officer
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The purpose of this presentation is to provide the Board of Health additional information regarding the roles and responsibilities of contracted medical officials within local public health departments.
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Background and Discussion: Since the mid-1900s, Arapahoe, Douglas, and Adams counties have partnered with the Tri-County Health Department (TCHD) for public health services. In 2021, Douglas County, followed by Adams County, announced their intention to leave the TCHD partnership. With those departures, it became necessary for Arapahoe County to examine how best to serve the public health needs of residents and businesses.
Over the past six months, Arapahoe County has implemented a methodical and educated process to create a strong and stable local public health department and has worked to ensure that the newly created Arapahoe County Public Health Department (ACPHD) can effectively deliver services starting January 1, 2023 when Tri-County Health ceases to exist. In evaluating governance and organizational structures, the County considered how to establish department leadership, based on statutory requirement as well as regional and national best practices. Consistent with state statute, the public health director serves as the administrative and executive head of the county public health agency. The director must meet the minimum qualifications established by the state board of health and may be a physician, physician assistant, public health nurse or other qualified health professional. If the public health director is not a physician, the county or district board shall employ or contract with at least one medical officer to ...
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