Family services joins health care program

Program to reduce emergency room visits

GRANT COUNTY - Grant County emergency rooms could soon experience a decrease in child visits.

Family Services of Grant County is participating in the University of California Los Angeles and Johnson & Johnson Health Care Institute program aimed at reducing unnecessary hospital visits.

Family Services Executive Director Denise Schmidt said the program teaches parents how to use a reference book for seeking guidance on child illnesses. They also learn how to use a thermometer and measuring spoon.

"This is a simple thing," Schmidt said. "It's just taking the time to show parents how to use a book."

Parents in Head Start are eligible to receive a free book, thermometer, measuring spoon and training as part of the project.

Participants agree to attend one of three November training sessions in Grand Coulee, Moses Lake or Soap Lake, said Nurse Health Specialist Rhoda King. The parents also agree to participate in pre-training and post-training data tracking, King said.

Emergency room visits decreased by 58 percent for past participants in the program, according to 2007 data from the Health Care Institute. Doctor visits decreased by 42 percent.

"It's exciting to be able to do something that really works," said Schmidt.

The number of absences from school decreased by 29 percent after the program, while missed work days decreased by 42 percent.

"Kids are going to be making it to school more often. Parents aren't going to be calling in sick," King said.

In addition to increasing school and work attendance, the program saves hospitals money from uncompensated care and saves families money, King said.

Schmidt said families save an estimated $554 each year in health care costs after finishing the program.

Parents learn to reference a book called "What to Do When your Child Gets Sick," said King, who is leading the training. Books are in English and Spanish.

"It targets five common illnesses in children such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and injuries as well," she said.

Schmidt said the book is written at a third-grade level. With the help of the book, parents can learn when to seek doctor care.

"It's always kind of difficult to decide, 'Well, what do I do? Is it something I should go to the doctor for? Is it something I can take care of at home?" Schmidt said.

Parents make unnecessary trips to the emergency room, she said.

Currently, the training is open only to families in Head Start, according to Schmidt.

"What they're hoping at UCLA is that eventually this could go nation wide, not just Head Start," she said.

Other parents can drop in during the training to see the process, Schmidt said.

Head Start participants receive incentives including dinner, door prizes, drawings for gas cards, and other prizes, she said.

Training is Nov. 3 at Center Elementary School in Grand Coulee, Nov. 4 at Soap Lake Elementary School and Nov. 6 at Best Western Lake Front Hotel in Moses Lake. All sessions begin at 5:30 p.m.

Safeway donated measuring spoons for participants and Samaritan Healthcare donated thermometers.

For more information, call 509-766-9877.