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Highlands Today

Health Director Vacancy Still Unfilled

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By BILL RETTEW JR.

Highlands Today

Published: August 12, 2008

SEBRING - The process to find a new director for the Highlands County Health Department is still ongoing following Dr. Paula Thaqi's resignation four months ago.

Hiring physicians is also a struggle in Highlands County, which is designated as a federal "Health Professional Shortage Area," signifying a shortage of primary medical care, dental or health providers.

The health department took more than six months before a replacement physician was hired.

With a long lag between resignations and hirings, the local health department and state might change the rules mid-game, in order to fill the county health director's position.

Two applicants interviewed on June 17, and neither took the $120,000-to-$140,000-a year position.

A pool of 35 to 40 applicants applied, but Robert Paluseek, finance and accounting manager and acting administrator, said in May that the hiring process was "a little frustrating," since many of the applicants were without minimum qualifications.

The acting director is hoping for a chance to throw his hat into ring.

Paluseek was not qualified under originally advertised guidelines, which required applicants to be licensed Florida physicians. Paluseek also noted that two-thirds of health departments statewide are run by administrators rather than physicians.

"I think I would be a qualified candidate," said Paluseek, on Monday. "It's a pleasure working here. You do get very good insight into the nuances of each program and department."

Next week, Paluseek will meet with the Florida State House Officer to develop a hiring strategy, and possibly new job guidelines. If the job opening went to a non-physician, it would pay considerably less, said the acting director.

Kay Mollenkopf, health department public information officer, said the hiring process would likely again call for advertisement on a state Web site, with applicants answering qualifying questions.

Hopefuls would then be ranked, and a new leader chosen by committee.

Dr. Daniel Haight is director of the Polk County Health Department and associate professor with the University of South Florida Infectious Disease and International Medicine, and loves working for the public.

"It's a delight as a physician in the role of director to work with the county government," said Haight. "Whether as an administrator or director, we get to work with partners and local agencies that care and do much for their community."

Carolyn Miller is the physicians recruiter at Highlands Regional Medical Center. She said there is a shortage of physicians nationwide, with some positions easier to fill than others.

Urologists are tough to hire, but the county's demographics and large senior population attract general practitioners and internists.

Miller prefers to hire physicians with families, those who she figures will make a good fit in the community.

"We're a rural area with great access to larger metropolitan areas," said Miller. "I sell the physicians for the same reasons I live here. They can easily get to either coast for the weekends and reach Naples, Orlando or Tampa in two hours.

"Of course, somebody can always sell their area as well as you can sell yours."

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