HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Health Department's consulting physician has applied to keep that job.
Dr. Scott Pauly told Hutch Post Friday that he has officially applied in response to the fact that the Board of Reno County Commissioners approved on March 29 releasing a Request for Qualifications for a doctor to act as a Medical Consultant to assist the county health officer. This is required because the county health officer is Karen Hammersmith, RN, since she is not a doctor.
The position is for public health. This isn't for just all general health items at the Health Department, the medical consultant is specifically for public emergencies, like the one with COVID-19 in recent years.
The statute intends for this consultant to be an individual, though Reno County Counselor Patrick Hoffman said they would look at agreements with other types of arrangements, if that is the response they get, to see if they can fit the statute.
Pauly said he knows very little about what the Board of County Commissioners, acting as the county Board of Health, will consider as part of the decision process. The deadline to submit applications was Friday.
CLICK HERE to download the Hutch Post mobile app.
CLICK HERE to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.