Brevard Health Department Honored With Productivity Awards
By Space Coast Daily // April 14, 2013
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Brevard County Health Department was honored with three Davis Productivity Awards including the Emergency Diversion Program for Dental Clients, Specialty Care Referral Program, and Nurse Issuance Plan.
“The hard work and dedication of staff is truly appreciated – and is a clear demonstration of our commitment to public health, our department and to the people we serve,” said Dr. Heidar Heshmati, health department director. ‘They represent the heart and soul of our health department.”
Since 1989, the Prudential-Davis Productivity Awards Program has recognized and rewarded state government employees whose work significantly and measurably increases productivity, promotes innovation, and improves the delivery of state services and/or saves money for Florida taxpayers and businesses.
• Emergency Diversion Program for Dental Clients: Through the combined efforts of the Brevard County Health Department and local hospitals, an Emergency Diversion Program for dental was established. It is a referral based program for individuals who present with acute dental pain, needing treatment by a dentist. This program provides services to low income/underinsured adult members of Brevard County. In the first year, the dental program provided 360 adult appointments, 246 examinations, 236 x-rays and 217 extractions.
• Specialty Care Referral Program: Specialty providers volunteer their time in the Primary Access to Health (PATH) health department clinic or their private offices. The PATH Program partners with local hospitals to provide diagnostic testing through in-kind donations, and partners with Florida Institute of Technology to provide a behavioral health component. This is instrumental in providing free diagnostic and quality medical care to our clients. All services are coordinated by the Florida Department of Health, Brevard County and supported by he Board of County Commissioners, local hospitals and volunteer private providers.
• Nurse Issuance Plan: Nurse Issuance is a limited ability for Registered Nurses working in a health department setting to both order and issue very selected medications for special circumstances. The program reduced patient waiting time from two hours to 30 minutes, increased efficiency and productivity by 80 percent, increased patients seen by 10 percent – with a cost savings of over $150,000.
