Local and Regional Health Departments
Every Tennessee county has a local health department and some of Tennessee’s larger counties have multiple health department facilities. A total of 89, primarily rural, county health departments operate under the Tennessee Department of Health, grouped into seven regions served by a TDH Regional Office. The public health services provided at the 89 rural health departments vary, reflecting population health needs and the capacity of funding available year to year.
Tennessee’s six larger, metropolitan counties—Madison, Shelby, Knox, Davidson, Hamilton, and Sullivan—have health departments that operate under local governance, working closely with the Tennessee Department of Health. Directors of the six metropolitan county health departments are appointed by concurrence of the Commissioner of the Department of Health and the county mayor of the county for which the appointment is made. Depending on local ordinances and practice, other county government or community may also play a role in nominations or the appointment. Services provided at the six metropolitan health departments vary, reflecting population health needs and the capacity of funding available from year to year. Links follow to the websites of the metropolitan county health departments in Tennessee.