Wendel seeks to separate health, human services departments | News, Sports, Jobs

Dr. Carmelo Hernandez is proposed to function Director of the Division of Psychological Hygiene and Social Providers in Chautauqua County.

MAYVILLE — With the departure of Christine Schuyler as the general public well being director and commissioner of Social Providers, Chautauqua County Govt PJ Wendel is shifting forward to separate the departments.

The Chautauqua County Division of Well being and Human Providers was first fashioned in 2011 when the county merged its Division of Well being and Division of Social Providers.

“For 11 years, the county has operated with a Division of Well being and Human Providers, however I imagine our packages and providers will probably be higher aligned and additional enhanced by separating this pre-existing division and creating a brand new construction for the supply of those providers,” Wendel stated in a information launch. “I’m excited to announce our new plan going ahead that includes the restructuring of our present DHHS providers and likewise consists of an integration with a present county division.”

The 5 social service divisions of DHHS, together with the divisions of Household and Youngsters’s Providers, and Transitional and Medical Help, will combine with the Chautauqua County Division of Psychological Hygiene to kind the Chautauqua County Division of Psychological Hygiene and Social Providers.

As well as, the DHHS Division of Well being will as soon as once more be a stand-alone division because the Chautauqua County Division of Well being, to incorporate all county public well being and illness prevention packages, environmental well being providers, coroners, and offering medical providers to the County Jail and county Emergency Providers.

These modifications, that are topic to the evaluate of the Chautauqua County Legislature and New York state, are desired by Wendel to take impact in early 2023.

“This new construction will present a stronger and extra environment friendly means for our present staff to ship human providers to Chautauqua County residents,” Wendel stated. “Many people and households usually obtain providers from a number of areas of county authorities and this restructuring will higher combine our psychological hygiene and social providers in order that we’re engaged on a united entrance to supply well timed, accessible and high quality care to county residents as we maximize our partnerships and enhance neighborhood help programs. The planning behind this integration has been within the works for a lot of months and the groups on either side have labored diligently from the very starting to verify this can be a proper match for our county. I’m happy to see how organically this plan has taken root with our psychological hygiene division and social providers divisions.”

Wendel additionally introduced new management for these departments as soon as the reorganization modifications go into impact. Carmelo Hernandez will function Director of the Division of Psychological Hygiene and Social Providers and Dr. Michael Faulk will function Chautauqua County’s Chief Medical Officer and head of the Division of Well being.

Since September 2021, Hernandez has served because the Director of Neighborhood Psychological Hygiene Providers for the Chautauqua County Division of Psychological Hygiene.

“In a brief period of time, Carmelo has confirmed to be a robust chief, collaborator and advocate for psychological hygiene providers in our county,” Wendel stated. “His background in social providers and psychological hygiene providers make him a superb proponent to make this new integration profitable.”

In his new position, Hernandez will present administrative oversight for psychological hygiene and social providers. This consists of final accountability for day-to-day operations thus ensuing high quality service to the neighborhood whereas assembly state and federal mandates for every program.

“I sit up for persevering with my management position with our division of psychological hygiene providers and dealing with my new colleagues within the social providers divisions,” Hernandez stated. “This restructuring will higher combine psychological hygiene and social providers so we are able to guarantee our purchasers obtain the absolute best expertise whereas we proceed to help their journey for hope, wellness, restoration and resiliency.”

Faulk has served as doctor within the county Division of Well being and Human Providers’ Division of Medical Examiners and Coroners since January 2019. He additionally at the moment serves as Medical Director of Built-in Acute Look after US Acute Care Options at Warren Common Hospital, and Affiliate Medical Director for Public Security for the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Workplace.

“Mike’s huge expertise and background in a lot of our emergency medical providers, medical and clinic providers proves he’s a worthy chief as we as soon as once more return to a separate division of well being,” Wendel stated. “Mike has labored very onerous over his previous three years with the vounty, and I’m proud to advertise somebody who has confirmed himself in our group.”

“I deeply admire the chance to serve our neighborhood on this position,” stated Faulk. “Having oversight over the numerous sides of medical care the county gives will foster improved collaboration whereas striving to supply our residents with the very best high quality public well being providers. I’m each honored and humbled to have been requested to step into this distinctive position and lead what I already know to be a devoted and proficient group of pros inside the Well being Division, Coroners Program, County Jail and Emergency Medical Providers. After spending the final 15 years offering emergency and acute care throughout this area, I hope to use this information and expertise in a broad method to not solely assist remedy a few of our most necessary challenges affecting the well being and wellness of our neighborhood but additionally to earn the belief of our residents.”

Faulk has been the interim public well being director since Schuyler’s departure final month.