Richland County health officials report successful DHS 1-40 review, outline staffing needs

Brandy Anderson, Richland County Health Officer and public health manager, told the county's Health & Human Services standing committee that the local health department completed Wisconsin DHS'required 1-40 review and received a certificate designating it a level 2 department. "I'am very pleased, grateful, relieved that we did have a successful 1 40 review," Anderson said.

The review involved an on-site visit and documentation checks; Anderson said the state team's feedback highlighted staff enthusiasm and community partnerships as strengths and identified opportunities for improvement. Key needs the department will address over the next five years include creating a formal quality-improvement (QI) plan and rebuilding environmental-health capacity after the departure of the county's long-time environmental-health coordinator, Troy Morris. Anderson said the department has hired a public-health specialist with registered sanitarian experience to help with environmental health work.

Anderson also briefed the committee on service trends cited in the review: an uptick in TB skin testing in April (higher than January'March combined), continued vaccine clinic activity, and a successful VFC (Vaccines for Children) audit. She noted that changes in state reporting and program rules following the emergency period reduced reported COVID immunization totals for 2023 compared with prior years.

The committee asked about next steps; Anderson said the department will develop a QI plan and incorporate the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) objectives and metrics into the annual report and future updates to the board. The committee requested a CHIP progress update at the next meeting.

The review document will be kept in the committee packet, and Anderson said the department will bring follow-up items and staffing updates back to the committee on a quarterly basis.