The Barren River District Health Department was presented with the first Commissioners Award for Excellence last week by Dr. Rice C. Leach, the Kentucky Commissioner for Public Health. This award recognizes the work of the Barren River District Board of Health and the Barren River District Health Department for their success in leading a large complex health department through significant internal and external change, Leach said. The leadership of the Barren River District Health Department has spent the last several years assessing their local situation and bringing about changes necessary to participate meaningfully in the rapidly evolving health care environment.The Barren River District Health Department serves residents of eight counties, currently maintaining a staff of 190 employees under a budget of $8.2 million. This represents a significant reduction in staffing from eight years ago, when Director Frank Brown took over the post.During this period, the health department has turned several major health services over to the private sector, including a home health agency and a large maternity care program. Some services such as Hospice and its Primary Care Center were merged into the non-profit sector. These moves were made in response to changes in the health care market, including the move to managed care reimbursement.During the transition, the Barren River District Health Department has reemphasized some core public health roles that were typical three decades ago, and developed new roles to meet demands of the 21st century.We have transitioned to a broader focus on health of the entire community, Brown said. We are working to promote positive health behaviors and provide preventive health services that address the leading risks for disability and premature death. We are also responding to protect the public against health threats, including bioterrorism.With new roles, Barren River District Health Department staff members have undergone a shift in the tools they use to improve community health status. In addition to traditional nursing skills, health department professionals are learning new ways to reach the public with information and promotional messages, such as working better with the media, use of the Internet and working in partnership with other agencies, businesses and community organizations.