1 minute read
Personnel restructuring at health department
BY REBECCA BRATTEN-WEISS Harrison News-Herald Staff Writer
CADIZ—The Harrison County Health Department is in the process of some restructuring following the departure of Health Administrator Garen Rhome, who was the department’s public information officer throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Rhome worked in tandem with Dr. Scott Pendleton, DVM, the county’s part-time health commissioner. Rather than hiring a new administrator, however, the health department is seeking a full-time health commissioner and has already been interviewing potential candidates.
Advertisement
To be qualified to serve as a health commissioner in Ohio, an individual needs either to be a licensed physician, dentist, veterinarian, chiropractor, podiatrist, or to have a master’s degree in public health or an equivalent discipline. This role is distinct from that of the health administrator, who answers to the commissioner, and whose job is to interface with the public as well as to oversee day-to-day administrative obligations.
The department’s director of nursing, Teresa Koniski, told the News-Herald that they are confident that the position of health commissioner will be filled relatively soon.
County residents who are concerned about viral infections and invested in keeping safe and healthy during the winter months should be aware that the bivalent COVID booster is still recommended if you have gone more than two months since your last dose. The flu shot is also highly recommended, especially for anyone with asthma or other breathing issues.
“The flu came early this year,” said Koniski. “It looks like it’s coming down regionally, but it’s still very prevalent right now. We encourage anyone who hasn’t had a flu shot to get one.”
There have been a few flu hospitalizations during the 2022-23 flu season, but no deaths directly attributed to the disease. However, the health department only monitors hospitalized cases of flu. That data also goes to the CDC, so they can get ahead on working on a flu vaccine for the following season. Cases of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), which surged in the fall of 2022, are not reported to the local health department either.
