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Health department seeks epidemiologist and accreditation coordinator to boost data capacity and grant competitiveness
Summary
Dr. Brewster and health department staff asked the county to fund an epidemiologist and an accreditation coordinator, arguing the positions would enable data-driven public health work, improve grant competitiveness and support movement toward national accreditation.
St. Mary's County Health Department Director Dr. Brewster (presenting) asked commissioners to fund two county positions: an epidemiologist and an accreditation coordinator. The health director said staffing reductions over recent years left the department without sufficient epidemiology capacity and that the two positions would support evidence-based practice, grant competitiveness and a multiyear accreditation effort.
Dr. Brewster said several grant opportunities worth several hundred thousand dollars had been missed because the department could not demonstrate core epidemiology capacity. She described accreditation as a 3-to-5-year process involving documentation, performance standards and quality-improvement work. Commissioners responded positively to the request; one commissioner said he was "all in favor" of adding the positions.
Staff presented estimated annual costs in the packet: the epidemiologist at about $86,000 (including benefits) and an accreditation coordinator at about $74,100. Commissioners asked for a brief presentation to the audience and thanked the health director for explaining how the positions would improve funding competitiveness and operational effectiveness. The request will be considered as part of the recommended-public-hearing budget.
