It's that time of year when yours, truly, Davey G, that is David G. Markham, enthusiastic executive director of GCASA, starts crunching the admission data. Usually, I have shared this data with staff, and board members, and it seems that it might of some interest to the wider audience which this blog has accumulated. So, today, I am starting a new series on this blog, labeled "admissions data". If you follow this series of articles it will help you gain an understanding and appreciation for the people GCASA services in our area.
So fasten your seat belts and get ready for a ride that probably will last a few weeks. Bring along your beverages and cheese doodles to comfort yourself as I present some boring data, but data which I will embellish and pontificate on in what I hope are illuminating, edifying, and entertaining ways.
This first article is on GCASA's overall admissions data in its two treatment programs in Genesee and Orleans Counties and in the Atwater Community residence which has 17 co-ed beds, and 24 Supportive Living beds at 6 sites in Genesee County.
Here is the table showing the admissions for an 11 year period from 1999 - 2009.
Click on image to enlarge for easier reading.
There are a couple of things which jump right out at you.
1. GCASA has doubled its number of admissions over the last 10 years. This has been done in spite of decreases in deficit funding from the Counties and the State, and with no increases in reimbursement rates. How have you done this you might ask? The answer? Excellent management and exceptional skilled and hard working staff.
2. Admissions have leveled off since 2005, how come? Simple answer - needs are as great as ever especially with the the advent of drug courts and the state's change in policy to change the Rockefeller Drug Laws, but there isn't enough resources to meet the demand. Also, Horizons came into Genesee County a couple of years ago to offer services to people who can pay. Unfortunately, this has left GCASA with the people who can't pay and need a sliding fee scale, but with no increase in deficit funding this has put GCASA between a rock and a hard place when it comes to serving people in need who don't have the ability to pay the fees for their treatment.
3. Overall, it is pretty amazing that GCASA has served over 1,000 people per year in Genesee and Orleans Counties. Over the coming articles we will tell you more about the demographic characteristics of who these people are. There is an 80% chance that you know them because they are a member of your family, a co-worker from work, a neighbor down the street, a member of your church.
4. GCASA has four programs: treatment, residential services, prevention, and employee assistance. The data in this series of articles only measures people in GCASA's treatment and residential services programs. Prevention and EAP services get measured in totally different ways.
Please leave your comments and ideas.
This is article #1 in a series on 2009 Admissions data
No comments:
Post a Comment