Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #337FY0001 Florida Poison Information Network-CMS/DOH
Requester:		Jan Gorrie			Organization:		Stautory Teaching Hospital Council
Project Title:		Florida Poison Information Network-CMS/DOH			Date Submitted:		01/30/2001 10:43:10 AM
Sponsors:		Ken Littlefield
Statewide Interest:		The poison center network serves the entire state.
Recipient:		Tampa General Hospital			Contact:		Vincent Speranza
		2 Columbia Drive			Contact Phone:		(813) 844-7044
		Tampa 33606
Counties:		Dade, Duval, Hillsborough
Service Area:		Private Organization
Project Description:
Enhance the existing funds for the three statewide poison information centers to provide for increased workload and expense of continuing operation of emergency information service. Call volume has increased over 48% in the past five years while funding has increased only 17%. The issues: State funding has remained nearly level over the past few years as call volumes have increased and the cost of providing this emergency care system has dramatically increased due to amplified workload. 1995/96 1999/00 Difference %Change Calls: 111,551 164,686 53,135 +48 Total SPI FTE 27 31 4 +15% Calls/FTE 4131 5312 1181 +29% State Budget $3,119,896 $3,658,378 $538,482 +17% .In 1995 -96, the Florida Poison Information newtwork answered 111,551 calls for assistance with an operating budget of 3,119,896. .By 2000 the call volume increased to 164,686 (+48%)with a State-allocated operatingbudget of 3,658,378(+17%). .During the same period, the total number of "Specialists in Poison Information" handling the calls increased from 27 to 31(+15%),and their call/FTE ratio(measure of workload)was increased 29% to 5312 call/FTE in 1999-2000. .Increased workload without commensurate enhancement of resources has caused continual shrinkage of the available operating budget for core services of the Network over the past 5 years. Additional Workload Increases & Financial Drain Issues: .In recent legislative sessions, a mandate to integrate the EMS/911 and Poison Network systems was adopted. Going into effect in October 1999,the Network witnessed an annualized increase of 14,600 calls(+9%)over and above normal volume increases induced by rising Florida population and public awareness of the Network's free services. .Follow up calls to assess recommendations given for care have dramatically increased. State allocated budgets currently provide for approximately 50% of thoses assessment calls actually made. .Host institution-mandated increases in personnel salary and benefits have to be absorbed even though Sate allocations for cost-of-living increases are not considered. .Newly approved national poison center certification criteria(by the American Association of Poison Control Centers)have mandated a two-fold increase in the time the medical director must spend physically present in the poison center. If this is not mandated, AAPCC certification can be withdrawn. According to legislative mandate,loss of AAPCC certification equates with loss of State funding. .The same new AAPCC criteria have mandated quality improvement outcome-based program (thereby an increase in workload for current staffing)be established which monitor customer satisfaction at the home and health care institution level.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
Enhancement of funds to provide for increase workload and expenses of Florida Poison Information Network
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:						$250,000
Identify item(s) in the Appropriations Bill to be reduced:
Specific Appropriation #:
Specific Appropriation Title:
Amount to be reduced:			$
Fund Source:
Total cost of the project:			$250,000
Request has been made to fund:				Operations
Type of funding match:		None
Was this project previously funded by the State?							Yes
	Fiscal Year:		1999-2000		Amount:		$3,658,378
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?							Unknown
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?							Yes
	Agency:		Health, Department Of
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?							Yes
Is there a documented need for this project?							No
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?							No