Saturday, November 23, 2024
11/23/2024
PROBLEM: Much of the region covered by the Blue Ridge Poison Center (BRPC) consists of a rural Virginia population that has limited access to health care resources. Of the 54 counties and 19 cities served, 45 (83%) counties and 13 (68%) cities have been designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in regards to primary care and 100% of the counties and cities served are designated as HPSAs in regards to mental health. The BRPC provides hundreds of public and professional educational programs each year to its service region, which includes these underserved and vulnerable populations. The BRPC also provides 24/7 poison information services that enable nearly 90% of its callers who call from the home to stay at their home and avoid unnecessary health care visits and costs. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: There are three goals of this project: 1) stabilize and expand clinical service associated with the poison center; 2) enhance the poison center educational programs and activities; 3) enhance data acquisition and utilization associated with the poison center. METHODOLOGY: Grant funds will be allocated to stabilize BRPC staffing. The BRPC is in significant need of the increased staffing in the areas of medical direction, education, and epidemiology. To meet this need, part-time assistant medical directors and an epidemiology position has been placed in this grant application. COORDINATION: The BRPC collaborates closely with numerous organizations to provide comprehensive poison prevention education and services to the population served. The BRPC coordinates collaborative educational activities and distribution of educational materials with these organizations. The BRPC works closely with numerous entities in the acquisition and dissemination of data acquired. EVALUATION: The evaluation of the program on attaining its goals will focus on the specific number of new educational programs developed, the number of public and professiona l programs given, the number of new public service announcements created, the number of newsletters distributed, the quality of the data acquired, and the impact on the service region.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
