Delco to put health study, with possibility of county health department, out to bid
UPPER CHICHESTER >> Delaware County Council unanimously approved moving forward with a health service study that would include the potential of a countybased health department.
At their Wednesday meeting, this time held on the road at the Upper Chichester township building, all five council members agreed to seek requests for proposals to study the delivery of health and public health services in Delaware County. The last such analysis was completed a decade ago.
“The final study will be used by the county to implement an effective structure for the delivery of public health services and policies,” council Vice Chairman Colleen Morrone said. “The results of this study will include a thorough analysis with recommendations to enhance a public health service quality and efficiency including the advisability of establishing a county-based health department.”
County Executive Director Marianne Grace formed a committee, including Dr. Jim Bonner, county Medical Examiner Dr. Frederic Hellman, county Senior Medical Advisor Dr. George Avetian, Lori Devlin, county director of Intercommunity Health and Chelsea Price, head of the county’s Victims Services, to create the draft.
She explained that the requests will be sent to nine universities that have public health divisions: Johns Hopkins University, Drexel University, Temple University, Jefferson University, Harvard University, University of Wisconsin, University of Pennsylvania, Rowan University and the University of Pennsylvania.
Some of the issues the study will evaluate include health services for unserved and underserved populations as determined by infant mortality rates, childhood immunization coverage, rates of infectious disease, incidences and risk factors of chronic illness and drug-, alcohol-, and tobacco-related deaths with a special focus on opioids.
The analysis also is expected to look at issues related to mental health, health insurance coverage and accessibility, environmental health risks, emergency response and preparedness and social determinants of health including violence and trauma. The study will also account for differences in cultural, social and economic strata.
County officials anticipate that those performing the study will reach out to government, community leaders, health advocacy groups and faith-based organizations to gain a broader perspective.
Grace said those intending to
“The final study will be used by the county to implement an effective structure for the delivery of public health services and policies.
The results of this study will include a thorough analysis with recommendations to enhance a public health service quality and efficiency including the advisability of establishing a county-based health department.”
— Delaware County Council Vice Chairman Colleen Morrone
submit a proposal will be given a month to ask questions about the requests and responses will be provided by the end of November. She said she anticipated receiving contractor proposals by Feb. 4.
Delaware County Councilman Kevin Madden thanked officials for their work, particularly for including the evaluation of merits of having a county health department.
He noted that the issue of a county health department had been a political football for years and that having experts immersed in the specialty of public health conduct an analysis removes politics from it in outlining the pros and cons of having one.
“I think of what county council or county government is meant to provide to the community and the safety and health of our community has to be near the top of the list,” he said.
At least one of his counterparts agreed.
“Public health and safety in Delaware County for our over 560,000 residents is a top priority,” Morrone said. “We are committed to ensure the best possible health services and safety practices in Delaware County.”