PHS Accomplishments 2024-2025
Office of Border Health
- Delivered over 30 emergency preparedness presentations,
reaching more than 650 individuals across local community-based
organizations through the Partner Relay Program.
- Coordinated meetings with the Cross Border Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Task Force and binational partners to strengthen patient‑centered transfer processes between Mexico, San Diego, and Imperial Counties.
Office of Health Equity and Climate Change
- Published the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency FY 23-24- FY 25-26 Health Equity Strategic Plan, establishing a clear roadmap to advance health equity across the region.
Medi-Cal Administrative Activities/Targeted Case Management (MAA/TCM)
- Submitted $9.3 million in MAA claims to the Department of Health Care Services, achieving a 137% increase in FY 23-24.
- Secured $165,000 in cost savings through effective oversight and optimization of the Hansine Fisher & Associates contract.
Office of Workforce Development
- Engaged over 375 San Diego State University and California State University students of all majors through community outreach and tabling, educational presentations, and leadership/healthcare panels.
- Authorized and coordinated medical evaluations, treatments, supplies, and equipment for approximately 15,000 chronically ill and physically disabled children and youth, providing comprehensive case management throughout their care journey.
- Delivered 19,824 hours of physical and occupational therapy services across six Medical Therapy Units and one satellite site, supporting approximately 1,600 children with innovative, client‑centered interventions.
- Recommended and secured 1,158 pieces of medically necessary rehabilitation equipment, ensuring children received timely support tailored to their functional needs.
Epidemiology Unit
- Registered 96,413 and investigated 16,070 communicable disease cases, including COVID‑19, influenza, and RSV; demonstrating large‑scale public health surveillance and response capacity.
- Identified and responded to major foodborne outbreaks, including a salmonella outbreak with 133 cases and a multi‑jurisdictional norovirus outbreak affecting 34 individuals; prompting rapid intervention and cross‑agency coordination.
Immunization Unit
- Entered over 3.9 million vaccine doses into the California Immunization Registry, supporting accurate statewide reporting and immunization tracking.
- Achieved a 99.8% age-appropriate vaccination rate for children ages 0–18 who presented for immunizations, demonstrating exceptional quality and adherence to clinical standards.
Office of Vital Records
- Processed and registered over 62,000 vital records, including 38,203 birth certificates and 24,376 death certificates in 2024, ensuring accurate and timely documentation for the County.
- Issued 457 medical marijuana identification cards, supporting secure access and compliance with state regulations.
Public Health Lab
- Tested 17,948 public health specimens, including critical diagnostics such as COVID testing, rabies investigations, and water quality analyses; strengthening disease detection and environmental health protection across the region.
- Awarded a $2.5 million Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending grant, expanding capacity and advancing strategic public health laboratory initiatives.
Sexual Health Clinics
- Delivered 4,136 sexual health services to 2,388 individuals, including launching the County’s Oral HIV PrEP (Pre Exposure Prophylaxis) program and expanding access to Jynneos and Heplisav‑B vaccines across clinic sites.
Harm Reduction
- Reached 618 participants through the Harm Reduction Services Program, completing one full year of service with 1,823 total visits, supported by the deployment of the new Live Well on Wheels mobile unit.
Programs
- Conducted 514 PrEP navigation appointments and initiated 496 individuals on PrEP, strengthening (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) HIV prevention efforts countywide.
- Provided 30,345 routine opt-out HIV tests, identifying 29 positive individuals, linking 20 to HIV medical care and Antiretroviral (ART) adherence support, and connecting 125 individuals to essential treatment services through High Impact Prevention Programs.
Chronic Disease and Health Equity
- Strengthened countywide tobacco control efforts, completing compliance inspections and issuing 264 Tobacco Retail Licenses across the unincorporated region, with findings indicating significant retailer non‑compliance.
Healthcare Program for Children in Foster Care
- Improved health outcomes for children in foster care, ensuring timely preventive care with 93% of 1,200 youth receiving medical exams and 85% of 1,000 youth receiving dental exams while in out‑of‑home placement.
Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health
- Served more than 5,000 individuals (including children, pregnant individuals, infants, and families) through referrals, health education, and resource support across Maternal, Child, and Family Health Services.
- Delivered comprehensive assistance through the California Home Visiting Program, providing in‑depth services to 178 families, and tangible support (such as gift cards, diapers, and hygiene supplies) to an additional 900 families countywide.
- Achieved strong infant health outcomes among 396 Black Infant Health participants, with 86.5% of singleton infants born at a normal birthweight (2,500 grams or more). Additionally, 93.5% of infants initiated breastfeeding at birth, and 75.3% of those assessed at three months continued breastfeeding.
Office of Violence Prevention
- Strengthened countywide violence prevention capacity, training 1,162 community partners (including law enforcement, behavioral health, and community organizations) and 59 healthcare providers; these efforts led three healthcare systems to update their domestic violence protocols to align with state law.
Epidemiology/Bioterrorism
- Coordinated six influenza Point of Dispensing (POD) exercises, vaccinating 261 community members and conducting 24 staff POD trainings across Public Health Centers to maintain readiness for emergency mass‑vaccination operations.
- Expanded emergency response capacity by delivering more than 23 Stop the Bleed trainings to Public Health Nurses, community partners, and participants at countywide events, strengthening preparedness for life‑threatening bleeding emergencies.
- Completed five
CHEMPACK sustainment visits to ensure cache security, equipment
integrity, and rapid deployment readiness for chemical nerve agent
antidotes, while reinforcing compliance with state and federal
requirements.
- The CHEMPACK program is a federal asset within the Strategic National Stockpile and managed by the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. CHEMPACK containers store pre-positioned nerve agent antidotes in secure sites across the county to enable rapid deployment during chemical emergencies. Effective response requires close collaboration among public health, healthcare facilities, EMS and fire agencies, and other stakeholders.
Programs and Planning Unit
- Engaged more than 320 organizations through the San Diego Healthcare Disaster Coalition, strengthening regional disaster preparedness across hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, behavioral health partners, community clinics, government agencies, and other critical sectors.
- Ensured 97% (224 of 231) of active tuberculosis cases were reported by the community to Public Health Services within one business day from the start of treatment to prevent further transmission.
- Ensured 98% (235 of 241) of active
tuberculosis cases were tested for HIV, per CDC guidelines, working
towards meeting the national TB program 2025 goal of 99%.
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