Health Department Unable to See Patients Until Further Notice

SAN ANGELO, TEXAS -- The San Angelo-Tom Green County Health Department is currently unable to see patients due to the unexpected death of Dr. Stephen Seifert, the department's local health authority.  

Originally from San Antonio, Dr. Seifert attended Texas A&M and the University of Texas Medical School. He was a flight surgeon for three years before joining Shannon Medical Center as an Emergency Medicine doctor and becoming the EMS medical director.

Dr. Seifert served as the Health Department's medical director for more than 15 years. 

Without Dr. Seifert's standing delegation orders, which are required by law, the department's nurses lack the authority to administer shots, test and treat for sexually transmitted diseases, and administer other communicable disease control measures. The Health Department is currently working on appointing a new local health authority. 

The City will alert the public as soon as the Health  Department begins scheduling and seeing patients again.