Controversy continues on new health administrator appointment

Controversy continues on new health administrator appointment


"Claudia Blackburn, new administrator for the state Department of Health in Leon County, worked her first full day Tuesday but her hiring continues to rile leaders oppossed to the selection process.
Rising concern surrounds the partnership between DOH and Florida State University’s School of Medicine as sole decision makers. The partnership puts FSU in a position of authority about public health at state-run clinics in Leon County.
Some question the school’s motives, suspect a power grab and appear dubious of FSU’s ability to relate to and care for a patient load dominated by minorities and under- and uninsured residents.
The Tallahassee Branch of the NAACP, compelled to respond, is hosting a town hall meeting Monday to discuss the hiring process, health disparities for blacks countywide and the Leon County Commission’s concurrence during an April 8 vote on Blackburn’s appointment.
The commission unanimously supported a late-added agenda item to approve Blackburn’s appointment. Local NAACP President Dale Landry said commissioners were led to believe they could only go along with Blackburn, who most recently served as health director of the Sedgwick County Health Department in Wichita, Kan.
“They don’t have to rubber-stamp,” said Landry, who said County Administrator Vince Long failed to ask the right questions on options. “They are running to cover their butts because the community is going to come in and raise sand.”
Landry said there’s concern about FSU’s motives.
“Now all of a sudden folks see dollars signs,” Landry said, adding the NAACP is taking statewide notice of such partnerships. “We are concerned that it will become an economic engine for FSU.”
Long, who said the new partnership model is unique, defends the county’s action by saying state law doesn’t explain a local commission’s options. He also dispelled claims the county is outsourcing the health department, noting it’s a state department, and added Leon County had no say in selecting Blackburn as a candidate.
Except for Commissioner Bill Proctor, several commissioners say they’re comfortable with Blackburn’s appointment and had no reason to question her ability. Although Commissioner Nick Maddox said he’s troubled the county was shut out on the front in of the hiring process.
“I think it warrants a discussion,” said Proctor, who bashed fellow commissioners as shying away from a battle with FSU and the state’s Department of Health. “I think what this appointment has done is that it triggers interest into the process and the direction in which public health is going.”
Maddox said the current concern could have been avoided with more communication.
“Right now the job is hers and we have to give her a chance to prove her worthiness,” Maddox said. “But the process we went through to choose her was not one where I felt Leon County was involved enough.”
DOH Spokeswoman Sheri Hutchinson did not explicitly answer the Tallahassee Democrat’s inquiries about the county’s options when asked to concur with Blackburn’s selection or what would have happened if commissioners had rejected her candidacy.
“The department is not aware of an instance where a county commission has not concurred with the selection of the Florida Department of Health,” Hutchinson said in an email.
Dr. Les Beitsch, who worked with DOH on the agreement to hire the administrator and was involved in the candidate search, said FSU is spearheading local efforts but Florida A&M University and Tallahassee Community College will be part of ongoing public health efforts, although neither school had a say in Blackburn’s appointment.
The local partnership is the third statewide where the health department partners with a medical school to lead public health efforts. Examples include the University of South Florida for Hillsborough and Polk counties and the University of Florida in Duval County.
Beitsch said it’s absurd to think FSU is hungry for public-health power, adding this is one of many partnerships involving the medical school’s rolling strategic plan for more community presence.
“When you have a partnership, you don’t take over your partner,” Beitsch said. “You don’t cannibalize your partners. That’s usually considered bad form.”
Blackburn was deemed the top choice in a national search this spring. Her employment agreement said she’s a university employee assigned to the state health department. She reports to the state’s DOH’s deputy secretary for statewide services.
Beitsch noted Blackburn was a prime candidate because of her work in community health, which includes acquiring federal grants to address infant mortality among blacks in Kansas. Infant mortality and racial disparities are long-standing issues in Leon County.
The new administrator was inundated with meetings Tuesday and unavailable to comment.
Blackburn wrote in an email, “I’m delighted to begin my journey as part of the Leon County public health community. I look forward to meeting all the local stakeholders soon and working with them to foster a healthier Leon County for everyone.”
County Commission Chairman Kristin Dozier and Commissioners John Dailey and Mary Ann Lindley said they do not have concerns with Blackburn’s appointment.
They all said Blackburn should be given a chance.
“I understand why there’s been distrust in the past but I don’t think it dictates the current situation or what could happen in the future,” Dozier said.
“I think we are all on the same goal. We have to keep working together. Segregating our community right now is taking our community back.”
Proctor said he fears privatization is coming and that would imperil healthcare access for those who need it most.
“I want to be wrong on this one but only time will tell,” Proctor said.
To see a video, go to Tallahassee.com/news
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The Tallahassee Branch of the NAACP will host a town hall meeting 6-8 p.m. Monday at the Southside Arts Complex, 2525 S. Monroe St. The main purpose is to alert residents of the hiring process surrounding Claudia Blackburn, new administrator for the state Department of Health in Leon County, and healthcare disparities in Leon County."