Should the County Health Commissioner be a Doctor?
Mar 24, 2024 08:11:17 #
Ulster County, NY would like to remove the medical requirement for the county Health Commissioner to be a doctor. I'm not sure what the commissioner does, but since he/she makes decisions about health, it seems that being a doctor would give that person the knowledge required to make health decisions. NYS does not require commissioners to be doctors, and the County is thinking about blending in with that. Of course, there is always the "Magic Eight Ball." 
Kinda funny - If the County does make that change, it would have to hire a doctor to oversee decisions. 🤣
Kinda funny - If the County does make that change, it would have to hire a doctor to oversee decisions. 🤣
Mar 24, 2024 08:12:44 #
Mar 24, 2024 08:22:11 #
Just following the rest of the political decisions in this country - all made by folks with no medical background at all - just their own prejudices and agendas. They are trying that with our local health department and we’re fighting it - as we tell the county commissioners, we elected you and we can remove you - you’re job is to accomplish what the people want - not what “you” want.
Mar 24, 2024 08:22:55 #
Mar 24, 2024 08:24:01 #
DIRTY HARRY wrote:
Kind of like taking medical advice from a politician?
Mar 24, 2024 08:26:47 #
Shellback wrote:
Just following the rest of the political decisions in this country - all made by folks with no medical background at all - just their own prejudices and agendas. They are trying that with our local health department and we’re fighting it - as we tell the county commissioners, we elected you and we can remove you - you’re job is to accomplish what the people want - not what “you” want.
Some people are amazingly stupid...
I hope you win the fight!
Mar 24, 2024 08:31:02 #
Longshadow wrote:
Some people are amazingly stupid...
I hope you win the fight!
Some people are amazingly stupid...
I hope you win the fight!
Thank you.
Mar 24, 2024 15:58:36 #
Several top schools offer doctorates in medical administration... in other words, education in how to run health departments, hospitals, etc. without an "MD" after your name. It is a DHA, "doctor of health administration".
Mar 24, 2024 16:17:15 #
goofybruce wrote:
Several top schools offer doctorates in medical administration... in other words, education in how to run health departments, hospitals, etc. without an "MD" after your name. It is a DHA, "doctor of health administration".
That's a bit different, more restricted/specialized to the function.
ie, not someone with a liberal arts degree.
Mar 24, 2024 16:50:58 #
Longshadow wrote:
That's a bit different, more restricted/specialized to the function.
ie, not someone with a liberal arts degree.
ie, not someone with a liberal arts degree.
...and knows someone. I am friends with a person who was a county health director but doesn't have an MD after his name. He does have a masters degree in health administration and after retiring from the health department, ran for, and was elected, a county commissioner. Yup, politics, et al. But he did do a good job as director and as commissioner, well, it was a one-party board so not that much work....
Mar 24, 2024 18:57:05 #
In many places even the coroner is not a physician, much less a pathologist
Mar 24, 2024 19:33:46 #
doxphoto wrote:
In many places even the coroner is not a physician, much less a pathologist
I knew that about the coroner, but he deals with the dead. If he confirms that the person is dead, his job is done, sort of.
Mar 24, 2024 20:11:09 #
jerryc41 wrote:
I knew that about the coroner, but he deals with the dead. If he confirms that the person is dead, his job is done, sort of.
I hope the guy who does the "why" is an MD....
Mar 24, 2024 20:57:35 #
Mar 25, 2024 06:18:51 #
sueyeisert
Loc: New Jersey
You also have to be careful about the doctor you hire. Look at surgeon general of Florida.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.