In 2014, Douglas County was struggling to adequately provide public health services to the community and a report was conducted in order to analyze the county’s best options.
The result of this report, and the hard work of public health leaders in the community, was the decentralization of public health from the county and the establishment of a 501(c)3 non-profit known as Douglas Public Health Network in the fall of 2015. Douglas Public Health Network (DPHN), operating as a consortium of both for profit business and non-profit organizations, is a new way to provide public health services. While the county retains public health authority, Douglas Public Health Network and its affiliated non-governmental organizations provide the services. The majority of services are provided directly by the participating organizations:
- Umpqua Community Action Network (UCAN) took over the Women, Infant and Children’s program and provides nurse visiting services.
- Umpqua Community Health Center (UCHC) provides immunization services, women’s reproductive health, family planning and sexually transmitted disease (STD) and school based health services
- ADAPT provides adult and school based mental health services
DPHN itself contracted with the county to take over the Communicable Disease, Emergency Preparedness, and Tobacco Prevention and Education (TPEP) programs. DPHN is also involved with specialized programs focusing on specific topics such as public health modernization, prescription drug overdose prevention, and oral health.
DPHN is managed by a board of directors with Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer serving as Executive Director/Public Health Administrator overseeing an eight person staff.
Greg Brigham, PhD CEO ADAPT, Board chair
Tim Freeman Douglas County Commissioner
Cindy Shirtcliff Advantage Dental
Lucy Zamerelli Trillium
Mike Fieldman Umpqua Community Action Network, Exec. Dir.
Eddie Larsen COO Aviva Health
Kat Cooper Umpqua Health
Jason Gray, MD Mercy Medical Center, Chief Medical Officer
Executive Director & Emergency Preparedness Coordinator | Teresa Mutschler
Chief Medical Strategist | Bob Dannenhoffer, MD
Communicable Disease Officer/Epidemiologist | Laura Turpen
Program Manager | Christin Rutledge
Public Health Generalist & Records | Mark Stout
Public Health Modernization Program Coordinator | Brian Mahoney
Epidemiologist / Interim Tobacco Prevention & Education Program Coordinator | Bailey Burkhalter