Transcript 2.05 county treasurer - Texas A&M University

The office of
County Health
Authority
Phase II: 2.010
Objectives
•
•
•
•
Legal authority
Requirements for appointment
Primary functions
Scope of public health
Public Health: A Definition
An approach to health care concerned with
the health of the community as a whole.
Medical Care
 focuses on
individual patients
 vital to all of us
some of the time
 saves lives one at a
time
 disease treatment
Public Health
 focus on entire
populations
 vital to all of us all
of the time
 saves lives
thousands at a time
 prevention,
protection and
promotion
Increased Life Expectancy Driven
by Public Health Improvements
80
Increased years due to
public health measures:
25
60
40
20
0
77 years
Increased years due to
medical care advances:
5
47 years
1900
2000
Source: Ten Great Public Health Achievements -- United States, 1900-1999 MMWR, April 02, 1999 /
48(12);241-243 http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00056796.htm
Health Authority
• A health authority is a physician appointed
under the provisions of Local Public Health
Reorganization Act, Health and Safety
Code, Chapter 121 to administer state and
local laws relating to public health within
the appointing body's jurisdiction.
• A “physician” means a person licensed to
practice medicine by the Texas Medical
Board.
Health Authority
• Appointed by county judge, city council, county
commissioner’s court, or health
department/district director for 2 year term.
• Mandatory only in jurisdictions that receive
funding from DSHS for essential public health
services.
• Duties include aiding the state with quarantine,
sanitation enforcement, public health law
enforcement, reportable diseases, vital statistics
collection.
Texas Public Health Map
Requirements for a Health
Authority
• Be a competent physician with a reputable
professional standing who is legally qualified
to practice medicine in Texas
• Be a resident of Texas
• Take and subscribe to the official oath of
office required by the Texas Constitution,
Article 16, §1
• File a copy of the oath and statement of
appointed officer with the appropriate DSHS
Regional Office within ten working days of
the date of taking the oath
Required Health Authority
Forms
• Statement of Appointed Officer
(To be completed and signed by newly appointed HA and
submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office before the Oath of
Office and Certificate of Appointment forms can be completed.)
• Certificate of Appointment
(To be completed by elected official within the jurisdiction and
mailed to DSHS Regional Office with HA Oath of Office form.
• HA Oath of Office
(To be completed by HA and seal of the person administering the
oath should be visible. Form should be mailed to DSHS Regional
Office with Certificate of Appointment.)
Clinical Prevention Skills helpful
for HAs
• Rabies Risk Assessment, treatment and
prophylaxis of bites/exposures.
• Diagnosis of childhood
exanthems/rashes and infestations.
• Vaccine Preventable diseases.
• Contact prophylaxis for specific
diseases: TB, Meningococcal
Meningitis, Hepatitis A…
• Evaluation and Management of blood
borne pathogen exposures.
Benefits of Health Authority
• Gives counties local control over Public
Health issues and emergencies.
• Provides a rapid response to locally
occurring conditions, crisis situations and
disease outbreaks.
• Higher degree of legal protection for
commissioners court members in areas
relating to public health responsibilities.
• Could provide an advantage to a local
jurisdiction competing for state and federal
funding for health initiatives.
Texas Counties without Local
Health Departments
• A county without a local health department is not
obligated to have a local health authority.
• A DSHS Regional Medical Director (RMD) shall
perform the duties of a health authority in a
county/jurisdiction where there is no local health
authority.
• No monetary contribution is required by a county to
sustain a local health authority.
Rural Counties- HA Functions
Work with appropriate DSHS Regional
Office by:
• Supporting efforts to establish, maintain, and
enforce control measures regarding
communicable or infectious diseases.
• Reporting the presence of contagious,
infectious, and dangerous epidemic
diseases.
• Assisting in enforcement of state & local
public health laws, rules, and ordinances
regarding food safety, sanitation and
nuisance control measures.
Rural Counties- HA Functions
• Ensure local adherence to state law
regarding reportable diseases and vital
statistics collection.
• Arrange for and/or carry out local court
ordered testing for blood-borne and/or
sexually transmitted infections in cases
of persons accused of offenses that
pose a potential risk of disease
transmission.
• Act as liaison between DSHS, local
officials, and local medical community
during outbreaks and natural disasters.
Rural Counties- Additional HA
Functions
• Inform/educate the community about the
importance of reporting contagious and
infectious communicable diseases.
• Engage in health planning and disaster
planning for the community.
• Prepare/disseminate public health
information to the community regarding
outbreaks and public health threats.
• Respond to questions or concerns about
public health threats from local elected
officials, community leaders or community
groups.
Duties Typical of HA Affiliated with a
Local Health Department:
• Set priorities, review long and short range
plans, and assess progress.
• Regularly evaluate Staff performance.
• Sign standing orders for Health Department
Staff and assure compliance with state and
federal laws.
• Review and submit reports, etc. relating to
funding source requirements.
Funding
• Health Authorities
• Remuneration is allowed by law,
but not required
• Local Health Departments or
Districts
Suggestions
• Rotate the HA appointment among
different physicians.
• Encourage close working relationships.
• Keep HA’s duties in line with legal
requirements.
Review
• Definition of a health authority
• Requirements for appointment to office
• Basic responsibilities
Resources
DSHS Regional and Local Health Services
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/rls
DSHS Regional and Local Health Services –
LHA webpage
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/rls/lha/default.shtm
DSHS Communicable Disease Control
Measures Manual
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/rls/lha/communicabledisease.
shtm
Texas Legislature Online
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/statutes.html