Evan Vitale Consulting: Consulting firm hired to serve as health board commissioner

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Consulting firm hired to serve as health board commissioner – The Courier

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By DENISE GRANT
Staff Writer
The Hancock County Combined Board of Health has opted to delay its decision on hiring a full-time commissioner, deciding instead to contract for the services from its consulting firm.
Board President Barbara Pasztor said the board has contracted with Strategic Health Care, Columbus, to provide the service through the summer of 2016.
“Strategic Health Care, Inc., has been involved with the combined Hancock/Findlay public health initiative since 2014, first as part of the consulting team from Hospital Council of Northwest Ohio, and then as the consultants retained by the newly established combined board…,” Pasztor said.
The board is paying $4,000 per month for the health commissioner service, which began earlier this month.
In May, the county contracted with Strategic Health for consulting services. As part of that contract, the company already is being paid a monthly retainer of $6,000 to develop policies and procedures for the board. That fee will drop to $2,500 a month when the firm helps to implement the policies once the combined health department opens in January.
Pasztor said the heath commissioners’ duties were added as an extension of the consulting contract.
Will McHugh, of Dublin, an employee of Strategic Health Care, has been assigned the duties of health commissioner. He took over the role on Aug. 3.
McHugh is a former assistant director of the Ohio Department of Health, and Pasztor said he has been directly involved with the Hancock County Combined General Health Board since its formation.
The city of Findlay and the Hancock County District Advisory Council voted earlier this year to combine health departments. The single health agency will serve more than 75,000 people.
Each department has a part-time commissioner now.
All other employees of the two departments will become employees of the combined health district.
The departments are expected to be operating as a combined district by Jan. 1. A location for the combined department has not yet been selected.
Pasztor said the board believes the decision to contract with the company for a health commissioner will “insure timeliness, expertise, neutrality and the implementation of best practice.”
Grant: 419-427-8412
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