New county health officer may be picked by March

A new health officer will be in place at the Spokane Regional Health District by March if the agency’s new board chairwoman has her way.

Mary Verner said Wednesday she expects to resolve questions about whether to restructure the agency by February, and to find and approve a replacement for fired health officer Dr. Kim Thorburn the next month.

Verner, a Spokane City Council member, acknowledged that’s an ambitious plan for two major changes.

“Our target is going to be March,” she said. “I’m not sure we can do it by March.”

Verner said she expects to appoint an ad hoc committee at today’s health board meeting to consider whether to retain a combined health officer and administrator as the primary district official, or whether to split the duties into two jobs.

That group will be asked to return with a recommendation at the board’s February meeting.

If Spokane picks a split position, it will be one of the largest health districts in the state to do so. Most of the larger entities in Washington combine the tasks; many smaller agencies split the duties and hire medical doctors to serve as health officers on contract.

Health board member Mark Richard said last week that he’s leaning toward retaining the structure of the district. Problems with Thorburn, whose contract was terminated in November, were caused by communication issues and personality differences, he said.

Verner said she will seek input about the change, including anonymous comments, from the health district’s 250 employees.

Health District Administrator Torney Smith said he has been notified that one regional doctor is interested in Thorburn’s former post, which paid $125,000 a year. Smith did not identify the doctor.

The board is to meet at 12:30 p.m. today in the Public Health Center, Rooms 320 and 321, 1101 W. College Ave., Spokane.