Galveston County Health District

What Galveston County Health District does

Galveston County Health District (GCHD) is a county-level public health agency established in 1971 and designated as the Local Health Authority for Galveston County, Texas under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 121.021. The organization provides comprehensive public health services to county residents through multiple divisions: Vital Statistics (birth and death records), Community Health Services (immunizations, TB control, HIV/STI services, WIC nutrition program, diabetes education), Environmental Health Services (food establishment permitting, inspections, pool and septic permits, beach water monitoring), Emergency Medical Services, and Animal Services. GCHD also operates Coastal Health & Wellness, an integrated primary care clinic offering medical, dental, and counseling services for all ages, including a County Indigent Care Program for uninsured residents. The district additionally runs the HEAL (Healthy Eating, Active Living) community wellness program and maintains Public Health Preparedness capabilities including Medical Reserve Corps coordination.

GCHD is governed by a five-member United Board of Health operating through an interlocal agreement between member governments of Galveston County. The agency employs between 251 and 500 staff across multiple service locations in Texas City, Galveston, and Dickinson. Revenue is derived from interlocal government funding (primary), fee-based services (vital records at $23 for birth certificates and $21 for death certificates, environmental health permits, immunization administration fees), EMS billing, and clinical services through Coastal Health & Wellness. The district's core technology infrastructure consists of public health information systems and electronic health records at the Coastal Health & Wellness clinic, with online self-service portals for permit applications and vital records ordering through VitalChek.

The organization maintains strategic partnerships with the University of Texas Medical Branch (through CEO Dr. Philip Keiser's concurrent academic appointment), the Texas Department of State Health Services, and a broad network of community organizations including hospitals, physician practices, schools, and faith-based agencies. Distribution channels include direct in-person service delivery, online self-service portals, and community outreach programs at schools, churches, and health fairs.

Name

Galveston County Health District

Legal name

Galveston County Health District

Website

https://gchd.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Galveston County Health District is the designated Local Health Authority for Galveston County, Texas, providing integrated public health services including vital statistics, immunizations, disease control, environmental health permitting, EMS, and clinical care through Coastal Health & Wellness to county residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Services

NAICS

Administration of Public Health Programs (92312)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial/Regional Health Departments (HLAJAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

Keywords

• Public health services
• Vital statistics records
• Environmental health permits
• Emergency medical services
• Animal control services

Headquarters

HQ city

Texas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Budget Funding: Funded through interlocal agreements between member governments of Galveston County through the United Board of Health
2. Vital Statistics Fees: Fees for birth and death certificates - $23 for birth certificates, $21 for death certificates
3. Environmental Health Permits: Fees for food permits, mobile food unit permits, temporary food establishment permits, pool permits, septic permits
4. Healthcare Services: Coastal Health & Wellness provides medical, dental, and counseling care for patients; also operates County Indigent Care Program
5. Immunization Services: Low-cost vaccines through Texas Vaccines for Children (TVFC) program and Adult Safety Net Vaccines, with administration fees
6. EMS Billing: Emergency Medical Services with associated billing for ambulance services

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Galveston County Health District is the designated Local Health Authority providing comprehensive public health services to Galveston County residents, including vital records, immunizations, communicable disease control, environmental health permitting and inspections, emergency medical services, and animal control. It also operates Coastal Health & Wellness, a primary care clinic offering medical, dental, and counseling services, along with the County Indigent Care Program for uninsured residents.

Product overview

Galveston County Health District provides comprehensive public health services to the community through multiple divisions operating as an integrated public health system. Core services include Vital Statistics (birth/death records), Community Health Services (immunizations, TB control, HIV/STI services, WIC, diabetes education), Environmental Health Services (food permits, beach water monitoring, pollution control), Emergency Medical Services, and Animal Services. The organization operates Coastal Health & Wellness, a primary care facility offering medical, dental, and counseling services. The HEAL program addresses community wellness through nutrition and fitness education. Services are provided across multiple locations in Galveston County, Texas, with permits and forms available through online systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Coastal Health & Wellness: A healthcare services division offering medical, dental and counseling care for all ages.
• HEAL

Products and services

• Birth & Death Records (Vital Statistics) Vital statistics division that registers and issues certified copies of birth and death records, available in-person, by mail, and online through VitalChek. Services Galveston County residents and those needing certified records for legal purposes.
• Community Health Services Program improving community health through public health nursing, immunizations, HIV/STI services, tuberculosis control, WIC, and diabetes education, with health education outreach to schools and community organizations.
• Immunization Services Vaccination program offering Texas Vaccines for Children (TVFC), Adult Safety Net vaccines, and private vaccines to protect children and adults against vaccine-preventable diseases.
• Tuberculosis (TB) Services TB prevention and control program providing evaluation, chest x-ray, treatment services, case management, and Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) including Video DOT for Galveston County residents.
• Diabetes Education Education program addressing diabetes management, risk factors, prevention of type 2 diabetes, and complications, providing resources and screening information.
• HIV/STI Services Comprehensive HIV and STI prevention and control services including Healthy Concepts Clinic for testing, Forward PrEP Program, Disease Intervention Specialists, and Hep C Care Coordination.
• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Federal nutrition program providing food assistance, nutrition education, and referrals to health services for pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children up to age 5.
• Environmental Health Services Division overseeing air and water pollution services, consumer health services including food permits and restaurant inspections, public and semi-public swimming pools, on-site sewage facilities, and beach water advisories.
• Food Permits and Inspections Permit issuance and inspection services for retail food establishments, mobile food units, temporary food establishments, and farmers markets, including plan review and fee schedules.
• Coastal Health & Wellness Healthcare facility offering medical, dental, and counseling care for all ages, accepting new patients, with lab and x-ray services, telehealth visits, and Marketplace Open Enrollment assistance. Includes the County Indigent Care Program.
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Emergency medical response and ambulance services with charity care policy, provided through the Galveston Area Ambulance Authority.
• Animal Services / Galveston County Animal Resource Center Animal shelter services including pet adoption, rescue and foster programs, lost and found, animal control, pet registration, and wildlife management.
• HEAL Program (Healthy Eating, Active Living) Community wellness initiative promoting healthy eating, active living, cooking skills, diabetes education, and cognitive fitness through classes and workshops.
• Public Health Preparedness Emergency preparedness program addressing bioterrorism, emergency information, natural disasters, Strategic National Stockpile, and Medical Reserve Corps coordination.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2024 Annual Report documents accomplishments and public health initiatives established in 2024

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Coastal Health & WellnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoastal Health & Wellness operates as a division of GCHD providing medical, dental, and counseling care. Services include lab and x-ray, telehealth visits, and Marketplace Open Enrollment. A Shared Services Agreement exists between GCHD and Coastal Health & Wellness for operational integration.
• University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Philip Keiser serves as a professor of medicine at UTMB in addition to his role as GCHD CEO and Local Health Authority. This creates an academic-practice linkage between the health district and the medical branch.
• Galveston County Member GovernmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe United Board of Health operates through an interlocal agreement between member governments of Galveston County. The board sets policies that protect the everyday health and well-being of county residents.
• Community PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with youth groups, homeless coalitions, senior service centers, county head starts, disaster and assistance agencies, health education centers, health promotion agencies, hospitals, private physicians, school districts, faith-based agencies, civic organizations, state and local health services, and home health agencies.
• Texas Department of State Health ServicesminorOthersCoordinates with DSHS for tuberculosis control services, vital statistics (birth/death records outside Galveston County), and TVFC vaccine program. TB division works with state and national TB experts.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Williamson County and Cities Health District: Texas county-level health district serving Williamson County with similar integrated public health services — analogous organizational structure as a multi-jurisdictional health district rather than a single county department.
• Austin Public Health (Travis County): Joint city-county public health authority serving Travis County with clinical services, environmental health, EMS coordination, and vital statistics — directly comparable integrated service delivery model.
• Fort Bend County Health & Human Services: Suburban Houston-area county public health agency offering WIC, immunizations, environmental health, and clinical services — highly comparable to GCHD in coastal-suburban Texas county context.
• Tarrant County Public Health: Tarrant County (Fort Worth area) public health department offering the same integrated menu of clinical services, environmental health, and disease control under a Texas county government mandate — the closest structural peer to GCHD.
• Bexar County Health Department: San Antonio-area county public health department providing clinical care, immunizations, environmental health permits, and disease surveillance under a county government structure analogous to GCHD.

Others

• NACCHO (National Association of County and City Health Officials): National membership and advocacy organization for the local health department category in which GCHD operates — provides benchmarking, accreditation frameworks, and federal funding pass-through relevant to GCHD's strategic context.

Broad incumbents

• Harris County Public Health: Harris County's public health division serving the Houston metro area; comparable as a large Texas county-level health department delivering clinical services, environmental health, and disease control programs under a unified structure.
• Dallas County Health and Human Services: Major urban Texas county public health agency providing immunizations, WIC, environmental health, and clinical services to Dallas County residents — directly comparable in scope and regulatory authority model.

Regional players

• Texas Department of State Health Services: State-level public health agency that oversees county health departments and coordinates the TVFC, TB, and vital statistics programs in which GCHD participates — upstream regulatory and funding counterpart.
• Galveston Area Ambulance Authority: The statutory vehicle through which GCHD operates its EMS services in Galveston County — adjacent operational partner rather than competitor, but intimately linked to GCHD's EMS revenue stream and emergency response capability.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gchdinfo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCejiFOfgb0I-Gda-wIaWzAw
• Facebookfacebook.com/GCHDinfo
• Instagraminstagram.com/gchdinfo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Galveston County Health District