Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAudience Comment - HSGF Recommended Funding155NE100THST.,SUITE100SEATTLE,WA98125WAPCORG206)517-2350)C14?(4AWASHINGTON1o/2J/ioPOISONCENTEROctober26,2020RE:CityofRenton2021-2022HSGFRecommendedFundingTotheCityCouncilofRenton,ThankyouforconsideringcontinuedfinancialrecognitionoftheWashingtonPoisonCenter.Asanonprofitagency,fundingfromyourcityisessentialinsupportingourabilitytoprovidefree,confidential,24/7/365emergencytreatmentservices,aswellasimportantpubliceducationprograms.WehavearobusthistoryofassistingRentonresidentswithexperttreatmentadviceandqualitypubliceducation.Asarecipientof2019-2020HSGFfunding,weprovidedthefollowing:•In2019,weassisted950Rentonpatientswithouremergencytelephonehelpline,whichisfreelyavailable,regardlessoffinancialability,insurancestatus,preferredlanguage(interpretationisavailableinover260languages),oranyotherfactors.•Inthefirst9monthsof2020,wehaveassisted707Rentonpatients—alreadysurpassingour2020serviceunitgoalof250patients.•In2020,ourservicescontinuetobeanexemplarymodelofvalue-basedhealthcare.AmongRentonpatientswhocalledthepoisoncenterfirst,wetreated440athome.Doingsosavedapproximately$660,000ofyourcommunity’shealthcaredollars,aswellaseasedstrainonoverwhelmedprehospital/EMSsystems,hospitalEmergencyDepartments,andhealthcareproviders—avaluableserviceduringtheCOVID-19pandemic.•Withtheexpertiseofourcallcenterpharmacists,nurses,andboard-certifiedphysicianmedicaltoxicologists,theaveragecostofacalltoourtelephonehelplineis$65.Withthe707patientshelpedsofarin2020,wehaveprovided$45,955ofservicestoyourcommunity—farbeyondthe$9,000wewillreceivefromthisyear’sHSGFfunding.•Between2019and2020todate,wehaveadditionallyreachedover100Rentonresidentswithpubliceducationandoutreachontopicsincludingvaping,medicationsafety,andoverdoseprevention.Fundinginthe2021-2022HSGFcyclewillsupportandensureallresidentsinRentoncontinuetohaveaccesstoouressentialservices.ThisfundingadditionallyenablesustoprioritizeRentonresidentswithqualitypublichealtheducation—aservicethatismoreimportantthaneverduringthisturbulenttimeofemergingpandemicconcernsandpoisonrisks.Thankyouagainforyourconsideration.Wegreatlyvalueyourcontinuedsupportandchampioningofourvitalservices.EricaL.LiebeltMDExecutiveandMedicalDirectorTheWashingtonPoisonCenterisa501tc]3)nonprofitorganizationEQUALOPPORTUNITYEMPLOYER