Post by Logan on Mar 27, 2016 1:44:26 GMT -6
The looming threat of deeper state budget cuts could spell trouble for one of West Virginia’s public health agencies, which is already pushing the limits of its funding after years of cutbacks.
The West Virginia Poison Center, which operates a 24/7 hotline and performs education and outreach to hospitals and the public, runs with a “bare bones” staff, according to Carissa McBurney, community outreach coordinator for the center. McBurney is herself a part-time employee, responsible for conducting community education in all 55 counties ever year on a budget of roughly $10,000.
“We run at bare-bones capacity — it’s always staffed by a nurse, doctor or pharmacist. Currently, all of our phone staffing is handled by nurses. We couldn’t cut any positions or we wouldn’t be open,” she said. “Staffing is basically at a bare minimum right now — there’s no way we could cut anyone to absorb the costs.”
The West Virginia Legislature adjourned the 2016 regular session on March 15, and for the first time since 2009, legislators ended a regular session without approving a state budget. The Legislature has a drop-dead deadline of June 30 to get the 2016-17 spending plan passed, and lawmakers will return to Charleston later this spring for a special session to address the shortfall.
Read more: www.wvgazettemail.com/news/20160326/state-poison-center-could-lose-big-with-budget-cuts
The West Virginia Poison Center, which operates a 24/7 hotline and performs education and outreach to hospitals and the public, runs with a “bare bones” staff, according to Carissa McBurney, community outreach coordinator for the center. McBurney is herself a part-time employee, responsible for conducting community education in all 55 counties ever year on a budget of roughly $10,000.
“We run at bare-bones capacity — it’s always staffed by a nurse, doctor or pharmacist. Currently, all of our phone staffing is handled by nurses. We couldn’t cut any positions or we wouldn’t be open,” she said. “Staffing is basically at a bare minimum right now — there’s no way we could cut anyone to absorb the costs.”
The West Virginia Legislature adjourned the 2016 regular session on March 15, and for the first time since 2009, legislators ended a regular session without approving a state budget. The Legislature has a drop-dead deadline of June 30 to get the 2016-17 spending plan passed, and lawmakers will return to Charleston later this spring for a special session to address the shortfall.
Read more: www.wvgazettemail.com/news/20160326/state-poison-center-could-lose-big-with-budget-cuts