[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6610922,"mediaKeyId","2901078-a863f6f4fe452d2bf03d1bd602502976","parentId",2901078,"title","Montezuma County Board of Health appoints Jocelyn Hirschman as county medical officer","audioSeconds",66,"startMs",3046000,"endMs",3112000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2901078-a863f6f4fe452d2bf03d1bd602502976&start=3046&end=3112","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2901078-a863f6f4fe452d2bf03d1bd602502976/thumbnail_3046000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6610922/Montezuma-County/Colorado/Montezuma-County-Board-of-Health-appoints-Jocelyn-Hirschman-as-county-medical-officer","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610922-69221d6342ef288f5f2a812081d12e0d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169552&Signature=lOI~jRN8hcSsy4iGn9pPsNhQnO0zr8t1pf3~94dTv1XprMt4pDn5BppmUvsrqEn-OJj~BvYD1ETpbaH9hYAg76Cf-YBfAVqIppAFo1GuAb66BGrVUnBPg8P-oZPUYTiwm5~cyYdpxSew7CNBTJtRYrFZ8v1KxtiqD9TxmbiTaaMGaUpcuIkIIV~A8CxMTzIvJqLMhGw5J3vjTAvjd3UoLEC-mGfyy96LXiIYkdYj6oDajpdn2wNwOnWEzvPIzfQlpVnlKIA5BJSxZSFvDc5QCjv8lj7EqwbMMHLrWZacSHl7~iC5lkvOOQooIBefSGDPLHFuqaVl8pF4gNYTb5WBcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montezuma County","date","2025-04-08T21:06:35.76Z","article","The Montezuma County Board of Health moved to appoint Jocelyn Hirschman as the county medical officer and authorized signing an employment contract dated April 8 during the board meeting on April 8.

Health department director Bobby Locke introduced Hirschman as a local provider who has worked in the area and on the Hopi Reservation; Locke said Hirschman could not attend the meeting because of prior patient commitments but that staff had reviewed her resume. A commissioner moved to appoint Hirschman and sign the contract; another commissioner seconded the motion. The board approved the appointment and Locke said she would execute the contract and provide Hirschman with a copy.

Locke told the board Hirschman currently provides care through the local hospital and has lived in Montezuma County for several years. The health department plans to have Hirschman attend future board meetings on a scheduled basis once clinical commitments allow. The contract was documented at the meeting as dated April 8; county staff will follow up with the new medical officer to finalize onboarding.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Montezuma County Board of Health Meeting April 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Health voted to appoint Jocelyn Hirschman as the county medical officer and authorized signing of an employment contract dated April 8; Hirschman lives in the county and currently provides care through the local hospital.","taxTitle","Montezuma County, Colorado","taxId",27581,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6610926,"Montezuma County review finds mental health, substance use and alcohol‑related deaths among top concerns",244,1010000,1254000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2901078-a863f6f4fe452d2bf03d1bd602502976&start=1010&end=1254","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2901078-a863f6f4fe452d2bf03d1bd602502976/thumbnail_1010000.jpg","/articles/6610926/Montezuma-County/Colorado/Montezuma-County-review-finds-mental-health-substance-use-and-alcoholrelated-deaths-among-top-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610926-60f3da325fe342b3934e8da4b9aa5fb1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169552&Signature=XX02f8LMM16y3-CzAd8piBY8XkVhJi4eY7EKm03ENRC1EZH46aU5WJnqwdE5jG2C5OFrGAOHMuTKeOHgzhYL16SEqTO5sF7KwqidExhmRjEb60eD2XIi6oSQW1Ln~eRAyzv4UdrhVUD7vlUiu-GNu0TaSBrsKhNLHi475x6DQZRgHsLOjRkB-vYR92YqIH78GxULaSm0w5JTL0oMZ-puBYcaRW45Daw4NO3-oFTLnEHb6u8qVNxdwYZc2Dsgo~HnMC1mnTBHW7UnyiJz2qwhoulP5Ahm2~U7MY3A-0Wt4BCEEr-TP1NRQhXS~iisC3adCH3AbHNhUc0zAhix6m60mw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Montezuma County public health staff presented the county’s 2025 community health assessment (CHA) to the Board of Health on April 8, summarizing survey results and secondary data and outlining next steps to develop a public health improvement plan.

Katie Maxwell, public health planner, said mental health ranked first among 13 surveyed issues. Maxwell reported that “the suicide rate currently is 39 suicide deaths per every 100,000 people in Montezuma County,” nearly double the state rate she cited as 22 per 100,000. Maxwell said the county’s years‑of‑life‑lost analysis shows unintentional injuries, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, and suicide are the largest contributors to premature mortality.

The CHA also highlighted substance‑use concerns tied to alcohol. Maxwell said 30 percent of fatal crashes in the county involved drivers or motorcycle operators with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher, and that the county’s death rate from alcohol‑related liver disease from 2020–2023 was 3.6 times the state average (55 deaths in Montezuma County vs. 15 for the state during that period).

Survey results flagged housing and basic needs: Maxwell said 69 percent of respondents listed a lack of affordable, quality housing as a major concern, and 84 percent identified lowering food costs as a top community need. Healthcare access responses were mixed: Maxwell reported roughly 49 percent of respondents said they struggled to access care, while 42 percent said access was not difficult.

Board members and providers discussed drivers of the mental‑health and access issues. Amanda Mullen, the county medical officer, and others noted a national trend of physician turnover and increasing employment of clinicians by health systems rather than solo private practice, which affects rural recruitment and retention. Mullen and hospital representatives said the hospital has been actively recruiting physicians and expects improvements in primary care staffing later in the year; however, behavioral‑health provider capacity remains lower than primary care availability.

Maxwell explained next steps: an advisory committee will prioritize the top issues identified from the survey and secondary data, assess community and internal capacity, and produce a public health improvement plan that will serve as a five‑year strategic guide. The board voted to send the CHA to the state after a short period during which one commissioner requested time to review the data; county staff said two weeks would not change the underlying results and planned to finalize and transmit the report.

The CHA material and the public health improvement plan will be used to guide county efforts and partnerships with local agencies and hospitals on prioritized issues such as suicide prevention, substance use interventions, housing support and access to care.","The county’s 2025 community health assessment highlights mental health as the top community concern, a suicide rate of 39 per 100,000, elevated alcohol‑related liver disease deaths, and housing and food costs as major needs; the department will use the findings to develop a five‑year public health improvement plan.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6610931,"Montezuma County health officials relay measles exposure window tied to Denver Health visit",335,555000,890000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2901078-a863f6f4fe452d2bf03d1bd602502976&start=555&end=890","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2901078-a863f6f4fe452d2bf03d1bd602502976/thumbnail_555000.jpg","/articles/6610931/Montezuma-County/Colorado/Montezuma-County-health-officials-relay-measles-exposure-window-tied-to-Denver-Health-visit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6610931-ee6069c39accf54b9aeec9055a9607cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169552&Signature=F2kYlsPpiECrJ-N58uvr2lU-2ks21zvBy21SlbQUxLAqtMFIeNy4UyucAbWMLOZOnd~BYK3ckmKzYiQw8ncNG1kSw8w0KTm4LqP14U5dPmj12-LKGaJGTIt5SaeuGGzU56~~1Ii7QbTQfck5EPyWPgoznOE-9ClnZig5-w-NMVSeP9LyYRNNq0vRxaBmqoV7aJ17usLPX7Yqq4DHhGJid9b9dnwlBZNQtZlW0ZhJh27yx1xQtwTWfZPiL~bUpZVWUzSwFpZbi~5jMtlIm9LQSrKNiqm5lJ4KdXc96B8uSm8MpYzI9~bWV0CE4niHQBEejtPeMqAhFZnZ3JqVlCExRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Montezuma County public health officials on April 8 summarized a recent Colorado measles case and provided an exposure window tied to a Denver hospital visit.

Bobby Locke, Montezuma County health department director, said the state has recorded two measles cases so far in 2025, including “an unvaccinated infant too young to be vaccinated.” Locke said the infant was seen at the Denver Health Emergency Department and that anyone at that emergency room “between 10:30 and 04:30” on April 6 should consider their vaccination status and seek guidance.

Locke emphasized that “if you're fully vaccinated, the risk is not there,” while urging that people who are unvaccinated or under‑vaccinated should pay attention to the exposure times. She also noted the publicly used threshold for declaring an outbreak: “the definition of an outbreak ... is 3 or more,” meaning state authorities would label Colorado as having an outbreak if a third confirmed case appears.

Locke gave the ED address for potential exposure follow‑up: “777 Bannock Street, Pavilion A.” She also advised clinicians to notify public health immediately if they suspect measles in a patient, even before confirmation, because early notification enables rapid public health steps to limit exposures. The board discussed vaccine availability; Locke said the county health department and the hospital have MMR on hand and that retail pharmacies listed by staff (Walgreens and City Market) also carry vaccine supplies.

County officials reiterated standard guidance: infants typically receive their first MMR at 12 months, but under certain exposure conditions local and state authorities recommend a single dose for infants 6 through 11 months who are traveling to or visiting areas with known measles activity; that dose is followed by the routine two‑dose series after 12 months. Locke said the Health Alert Network notification (HAN) circulated to providers urged immediate reporting to Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) when measles is suspected.

No local Montezuma County cases were reported during the meeting. Officials encouraged anyone with potential exposure at the specified Denver Health ED window to contact public health for assessment and next steps.","Montezuma County health department reported a Colorado measles case involving an unvaccinated infant seen at Denver Health Emergency Department and advised that unvaccinated or under‑vaccinated people who were at the ED during the specified window consider evaluation and vaccination.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Montezuma County Board of Health appoints Jocelyn Hirschman as county medical officer

Montezuma County review finds mental health, substance use and alcohol‑related deaths among top concerns

Montezuma County health officials relay measles exposure window tied to Denver Health visit