2007 News

October 30, 2007

Bucks County Commissioners Announce Launch of Digital Health Dept.
Public Will Have On-line Access to Food Facility Inspection Records

Today, the Bucks County commissioners are delighted to announce the launch of the county’s digital health department, a Web-based, searchable database of food facilities and related inspection reports that the public can access from the county’s Website, www.BucksCounty.org.  Commissioners Charley Martin, chairman, Jim Cawley and Sandy Miller have made an ongoing commitment to public access and transparency, a commitment evidenced by this latest project.

“Our digital health department will allow citizens to use the Internet to retrieve inspection reports in a simple fashion, so that they can make informed decisions for their families,” noted Chairman Martin.  “As we continue to migrate off our mainframe system and offer more services online, this was an area we felt was important to put at the forefront of our efforts.”

Commissioner Cawley added, “These inspections have always been available to the public, but in paper form.  We’re moving toward electronic access as a way to enhance the services we offer to Bucks Countians. We believe the quick-search and advanced-search features will allow our citizens to pinpoint information quickly and easily.”

“This software is an enormous step forward in efficiency for our employees and ultimately the public,” Commissioner Miller added, pointing out the green nature of the change.  “It is our intention that not only will the public benefit from expeditious information, but the environment will benefit from reduced paper usage.”

According to Joe Funk, Health and Human Services director, the Website is part of an overall improvement to the way the county conducts inspections.  Funk states that Health Department inspectors will be using digital tablets when they visit county food establishments, which range from restaurants to high school cafeterias, to supermarkets and temporary food vendors at events such as the Grange Fair.  “Our inspectors will be able to complete an inspection and upload the results right to the Web site,” Funk noted.    

 The system currently maintains a database of the county’s approximately 2,200 food facilities.  Visit the Food Facilities Inspection Reports page to access the site.  Inspection reports will be added to the site as inspections are conducted.