Longtime ER doctor becomes county’s new health officer

A former Reid Health chief of staff and top award winner is Wayne County’s new health officer.

Dr. Jennifer Bales was approved 3-0 by Wayne County’s commissioners during their Sept. 18 meeting, a day after the county’s Board of Health unanimously approved recommending her appointment. Bales, a Richmond resident, has been a Reid emergency room doctor for nearly 20 years.

Dr. Paul Rider, chair of the health board, said Bales has a record of leadership at Reid and has experience in the community. In addition, he said, “She has interest in public health issues, particularly when it comes to mothers and children.”

Bales will begin a four-year appointment, taking over for Dr. David Jetmore, who began serving just before the pandemic struck. 

Dan Burk, the health department’s director, was impressed with Bales’ inquisitiveness during her interview.

“I think it will be a good relationship,” he said. “I think she’s well-versed in her field, and I think she will easily carry over into our field.”

The health officer is responsible for running the health department, although day-to-day duties are typically delegated to the director. The department needs a health officer to issue prescriptions, sign birth and death records, and authorize enforcement orders. Burk called the health officer the heartbeat of the department and “vital to this operation.”

“We can’t do anything without a health officer,” he said.

While Burk is in place as director, the department still must hire deputy directors for its clinical side and its environmental side. There is also an open physician assistant position. Burk said it’s important that Bales help select the key clinical positions.

Bales was Reid’s first female chief of staff during 2019-20, leading the staff during the pandemic’s beginning. She was honored with Reid’s Paul S. Rhoads Humanity in Medicine Award in 2020 for that service.

Bales, a native of Lexington, Kentucky, arrived at Reid from the Indiana University Emergency Medicine Residency Program. She received her bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and her medical degree from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.

“We’re fortunate to have her willing to consider this public service,” Commissioner Mary Anne Butters said. “Her background, experience and her devotion to public health has already been demonstrated, and her service during COVID, too, was quite extraordinary as I understand it.”

Water testing

The health department will now provide third-party testing for well water. Testing is required for federal housing loans, and Burk said no private companies provide the service in Wayne County.

Test samples will be driven to Hoosier Microbiological Lab in Muncie. The resident will pay $35 directly to the lab and a $25 administration fee to the health department.

The health board unanimously approved the testing procedure and recommended commissioners approve an amendment to the department’s fee ordinance for the administrative fee. Commissioners did so with a 3-0 vote.

Flu, COVID shots

The health department is providing flu and COVID-19 immunizations from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The department is located at 100 S. Fifth St. in Richmond.