Orange County NC Website
ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: August 19, 2008 <br />Action Age a <br />Item No. <br />SUBJECT: Continuation Grant Acceptance for Primary Care Services at SHSC Site of <br />Health Department <br />DEPARTMENT: Health PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Continuation Grant Budget Rosemary Summers, 245-2411 <br />PURPOSE: To accept the continuation grant funds for primary care services at the Southern <br />Human Services Center (SHSC) site of the Health Department for the period July 1, 2008 <br />through June 30, 2009. <br />BACKGROUND: In Fall 2006, the Orange County Health Department (OCHD) received an <br />initial grant that helped defray some of the capital and operating costs of primary care services <br />that began at Southern Human Services Center in January of 2007. FY 2007-08 was a <br />continuation grant funding year that provided ongoing operational funds in the amount of <br />$44,769. There were 170 visits by 102 distinct patients for primary care services at this location <br />through the end of May 2008. 62% of these patients were uninsured of which 85% were in the <br />0-20% payor category on the sliding fee scale. Nonetheless, the Department exceeded the <br />revenue projection for primary care in 2007-2008, earning a total of $42,620 for primary care at <br />both sites. <br />Grant funds in FY 2006-2007 were used to purchase some capital equipment, for renovating <br />the medical records area to meet security requirements for all medical records, and for <br />temporary staff to supplement the current staff in providing these services. In FY 2007-2008, <br />funding was available only for operating costs. Because the funds are not recurring beyond <br />three years, the grant focused only on temporary personnel and was utilized to expand the <br />available hours of primary care by adding an additional clinician team. Funds were used to hire, <br />on a part-time, temporary basis, a family nurse practitioner, a registered nurse, and a nursing <br />assistant. These temporary staff also enabled the department to more effectively provide <br />services to the increasing refugee population in 2007-2008. <br />The continuation grant for 2008-09 is at the same level as the previous year ($44,769). The <br />budget projection (attached) indicates that the Department will continue to utilize the funds to <br />support a family nurse practitioner, a registered nurse, a nursing assistant, and a laboratory <br />