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"Public
health is the only health organization that has the entire community
as its target population. Citizens expect public health to be proactive
in health promotion and disease prevention. We need only perform the
role that the community has assigned us."
Bruce Parsons
Gaston County
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"It's this concept that public
health is more than the discharge of statutory and regulatory obligations
that sets Parsons apart. He believes the sole reason a local public health
department exists is to address the health needs of the community. Parsons
leads the Gaston Health Department, accordingly."
Robert Spencer, Executive Director, Gaston Family Health Services, Inc.
Parsons has been recognized for
his work in developing an in-house non-profit corporation to sponsor primary
medical and dental care programs. Gaston Family Health Services, Inc. was
formed in 1992 to provide outpatient and inpatient general medicine coverage
for Gaston residents unable to obtain private medical care. A dental program
was added in 1996.
Parsons attributes much of the
success in Gaston to the technical consultation and support provided by the
North Carolina Office of Rural Health and Resource Development.
"The word 'no' was not in
their vocabulary," said Parsons. "State consultants helped us with
system, program, and facility design then helped us recruit providers."
According to Parsons there are
many advantages to using an in-house non-profit corporation. "Usually,
foundation and other private fundraising is more successful when a 501(c)(3)
is the applicant organization rather than local government. At the same time,
potential benefactors like the institutional stability that is afforded a
non-profit when it is affiliated with a local health department. By housing
Gaston Family Health Services, Inc. at the health department, services can
be aligned and realigned under the health department or the non-profit depending
upon revenue implications and the availability of political support. The health
department can be more 'private' or more 'public' as circumstances require."
Personal Information:
- Wife: Patti Parsons,
MSN
- Hobbies: Travel
and history
- Graduate, Centers
for Disease Control Public Health Leadership Institute, Class of
1999
Current Committee Assignments:
