So, you want to be a health director
(From our soon-to-be county government reporter, Nate DeGraff)
Guilford County's health board has had some wacky meetings of late, what with all the commotion surrounding former health director Ramesh Krishnaraj. Monday's meeting was more run-of-the-mill, though the board discussed the vacant health director post and laid out its 2005-06 budget proposal.
Interested in being health director? You'll be responsible for a 500-employee department with a $30-plus million budget. You'll also follow in the footsteps of Dr. K, who started his tumultuous tenure with a drunken driving charge and weathered a series of closed-door meetings about his performance before finally resigning last fall. Even his resignation was muddied by unclear procedures and possible breaches of North Carolina's laws with regard to contracts and open meetings.
This new job posting lays out the requirements for his replacement. The last two permanent directors have been doctors, but that prerequisite has been dropped this time around. Non-doctors still need a master's in public health administration and five years administrative management experience in health programs or services.
The board hopes to find a new director by July.
The board also laid out its budget request for the 2005-06 fiscal year. The proposal calls for a budget increase of about 4 percent, from $33.8 million to $35.3 million. Pay raises and other wage-related expenses account for most of the jump.
The proposal must be submitted to the county by the end of next week, and board members and staff promised to keep working on it until then. The board of commissioners will probably vote on the budget in June.
Comments (3)
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Don't really want the job-----I just want to sign the contract, go get drunk, resign, and sit on my duff while collecting 6 months pay, while acting as a non-consultant consultant.
Think that could be arranged??
Posted on March 22, 2005 4:42 PM
Yes if you are a Democrat
Posted on March 23, 2005 7:52 AM
Come on down to Asheboro, Inkslinger. You wouldn't even have to get drunk. Just tell a hospital/practice administrator that he has crossed a few lines he shouldn't have . . . and is dead wrong.
You won't have to resign. You'll be fired. But they'll pay you - and hold your salary over your head to make you keep your mouth shut. When another doctor calls you to "consult", you won't be able to come in . . . because while you're technically still "employed", they cancelled your malpractice insurance.
And the public pays for the party.
Posted on March 28, 2005 1:43 PM