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For Release Tuesday,
15th
January, 2002 |
CONTACT: TIM O’CONNOR |
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PHONE:561-355-3576
FAX:561- 355-3038 |
PALM BEACH COUNTY—Jeri Pigott, Senior Public Health Nutritionist with the Palm Beach County Health Department recently won the Davis Productivity Award from the State of Florida, Florida Tax Watch and Council of 100.
Pigott was instrumental in developing innovative staff training and educational materials that helped nutritionists better assess infants needs, understand the differences in artificial baby milk (ABM) or baby formulas, like composition and taste, and promoted the use of lower priced products contracted through the state. In addition, breastfeeding education and training were offered as the most effective and nutritious means of feeding most infants.
The results were evident very quickly as the use of non-contracted infant formula dropped from 11.54% to 4.69% over 10 months saving approximately $80 per infant per month or $376,320 annually. This saving allowed WIC to maximize the clients served as they were able to increase from 79.2% to 81.3% infant participation in the WIC program. Another key component was the increase in mothers breastfeeding from 58.9% to 61.6%. All training materials developed have been shared with other state agencies and the program is now in use in many areas.
Two other Palm Beach County Health Department programs received an honorable mention for their efforts. The Child Fatality Review & Prevention Project has reduced the infant mortality rate through innovative preventive programs like “Safe Infant Sleeping” Guide. The guide helps mothers prevent suffocation through proper crib and other placement of the baby.
The second project, the laboratory billing system, established in the Health Department Lab, has reduced the average billing error rate from 45% to 5%, increased cash flow for 3rd party claims by 50% and reduced the number of personnel necessary for data entry.
The late J.E. and A.D. Davis of Winn Dixie Stores had a vision to create an awards program recognizing the unsung heroes of state government and called upon Florida Tax Watch to administer the Davis Productivity Awards in 1989. To date, the awards program has recognized nearly 5,000 individuals and work units for adding $3.4 billion to the value of state services.
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