07-21-2012, 02:11 PM
Just when DC is privitizing Health Care DC hires Dr. Steven Harris at $150,000 a year? Go figure?.... REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE TESTED YEARLY FOR TB?.... IT WAS FOR A REASON!
http://capitalsoup.com/2012/07/20/florida-department-of-health-congratulates-dr-steven-harris-on-new-position-with-department-of-corrections/
TB outbreak point person leaves job for corrections department post
By Pat Beall
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Dr. Steven Harris, the point person defending the state’s reaction to the worst U.S. tuberculosis outbreak in 20 years, has stepped down to accept a job with the Florida Department of Corrections.
The outbreak, first revealed by The Palm Beach Post on July 8, brought charges of “outrageous” inaccuracies in media coverage from Harris, who said the general public wasn’t notified because the outbreak had been largely limited to the homeless population. P.O. SUPERVISE THOSE WHO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE HOMELESS.
A Department of Health spokeswoman emphasized that Harris was not being ushered out of the department over the controversy. On the contrary, Jessica Hammonds said: “We are proud of him.”
Harris’ departure is one of two high-level changes announced late Friday at the Florida Department of Health, which has been slammed in recent weeks for its response to the outbreak: In addition to Harris’ announced departure, State Surgeon General Dr. John Armstrong appointed Kim Barnhill chief of staff.
Key lawmakers involved in voting to close A.G. Holley State Hospital, the state’s tuberculosis hospital in Lantana, were not informed of the outbreak by state health officials, which the federal Centers for Disease Control labeled the worst outbreak in two decades. That’s despite the fact that the state knew about the problem months before Gov. Rick Scott signed off on shuttering the hospital.
A.G. Holley, which handled the state’s most difficult-to-treat TB patients, closed on July 2. Eighteen of 34 Holley patients were sent home. Another 16 went to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.
Linked to 13 deaths and 99 illnesses, including six infected children, the strain of TB known as FL 046 is now mostly contained in Jacksonville’s homeless population. However, people with FL 046 have been reported in 17 other Florida counties.
In response, the health agency has stated relocating a sick individual does not mean the disease is spreading.
Since January, Duval County Health Department officials have screened nearly 2,100 people who may have come in contact with people with active tuberculosis. In April, the CDC projected that more than 3,000 people had been in close contact with the sick, but only a few hundred had been evaluated.
Harris, who could not immediately be reached for comment about his new post, will be director of medical services for the Department of Corrections. Prior to joining the Department of Health, he served as medical director of the Dallas County Health and Human Services Department and before that as country director for Haiti for the CDC’s AIDS program.
Barnhill, who has overseen operations of health departments in Madison and Jefferson counties, was previously director of statewide services for the Department of Health. She brings broad public health expertise, Armstrong said.
Harris, he said, is “moving to an exciting position in DOC. This gives DOH an opportunity to enhance collaboration in areas of mutual interest between our two agencies.”
http://capitalsoup.com/2012/07/20/florida-department-of-health-congratulates-dr-steven-harris-on-new-position-with-department-of-corrections/
TB outbreak point person leaves job for corrections department post
By Pat Beall
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Dr. Steven Harris, the point person defending the state’s reaction to the worst U.S. tuberculosis outbreak in 20 years, has stepped down to accept a job with the Florida Department of Corrections.
The outbreak, first revealed by The Palm Beach Post on July 8, brought charges of “outrageous” inaccuracies in media coverage from Harris, who said the general public wasn’t notified because the outbreak had been largely limited to the homeless population. P.O. SUPERVISE THOSE WHO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE HOMELESS.
A Department of Health spokeswoman emphasized that Harris was not being ushered out of the department over the controversy. On the contrary, Jessica Hammonds said: “We are proud of him.”
Harris’ departure is one of two high-level changes announced late Friday at the Florida Department of Health, which has been slammed in recent weeks for its response to the outbreak: In addition to Harris’ announced departure, State Surgeon General Dr. John Armstrong appointed Kim Barnhill chief of staff.
Key lawmakers involved in voting to close A.G. Holley State Hospital, the state’s tuberculosis hospital in Lantana, were not informed of the outbreak by state health officials, which the federal Centers for Disease Control labeled the worst outbreak in two decades. That’s despite the fact that the state knew about the problem months before Gov. Rick Scott signed off on shuttering the hospital.
A.G. Holley, which handled the state’s most difficult-to-treat TB patients, closed on July 2. Eighteen of 34 Holley patients were sent home. Another 16 went to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.
Linked to 13 deaths and 99 illnesses, including six infected children, the strain of TB known as FL 046 is now mostly contained in Jacksonville’s homeless population. However, people with FL 046 have been reported in 17 other Florida counties.
In response, the health agency has stated relocating a sick individual does not mean the disease is spreading.
Since January, Duval County Health Department officials have screened nearly 2,100 people who may have come in contact with people with active tuberculosis. In April, the CDC projected that more than 3,000 people had been in close contact with the sick, but only a few hundred had been evaluated.
Harris, who could not immediately be reached for comment about his new post, will be director of medical services for the Department of Corrections. Prior to joining the Department of Health, he served as medical director of the Dallas County Health and Human Services Department and before that as country director for Haiti for the CDC’s AIDS program.
Barnhill, who has overseen operations of health departments in Madison and Jefferson counties, was previously director of statewide services for the Department of Health. She brings broad public health expertise, Armstrong said.
Harris, he said, is “moving to an exciting position in DOC. This gives DOH an opportunity to enhance collaboration in areas of mutual interest between our two agencies.”