Health Department implements several changes after controversies rock agency

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Mecklenburg County health director said the Health Department has implemented major changes after controversies rocked the agency the past couple of years.

Director Gibbie Harris told county leaders the department has hired a new medical director for the clinic, Lab Corp is now doing lab work and two full-time nurses have been added to help with electronic medical records.

Past coverage of Mecklenburg County Health Department:

Tuesday's meeting is centered around what has been done since the new commissioners took office and what is planned for the upcoming year.

Mecklenburg County Health Director Gibbie Harris tells #MeckBOCC the department has made numerous changes in response to numerous controversies over the past few years--- changes include bringing in LabCorp for lab work and hiring a medical director for the clinic @wsoctv
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) January 16, 2019

The changes came after major mistakes were made in the health department over the past few years.

[PAST COVERAGE: After string of health department controversies, leaders expected to make changes]

In 2017, the department failed to notify 185 women about abnormal pap smear results. When Channel 9 asked for information about the failure, the county mistakenly released private medical records of 2,000 patients.

The old county commission board formed a committee to look at oversight, but they never met.

Harris also said the department has extended its hours for patients.

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