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Last Updated: May 26th, 2010 - 17:07:52 |
Seward County Woman, Infants and Children (WIC) director Tiffani Krause said her WIC office space is tight.
Prior to Monday, members of her staff shared desks and one employee kept bruising her leg as she slid her desk chair just a few inches into a nearby filing cabinet.
As of this week, that employee will see no more bruises. While, working conditions at the WIC office can now be seen as less tight, the office remains busy and crowded, Krause said.
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| Seward County Woman, Infants and Children (WIC) director Tiffani Krause shows off the clerk’s office. Prior to this week, the office housed three clerks, the WIC dietitian and immunization nurse. Photo by Laura Eastes |
“We are still bursting at the seams,” said Krause. “(We) still are having problems. We have parking issues, there are always parking issues downtown. We just work through it. I don’t foresee us having a smaller clientele. I think with all the changes in healthcare, we are going to see more people in the health department.”
The county health department and WIC, office are located along Lincoln Avenue. Before the health department moved in, the space was used to sell tractors. The building was remodeled for the healthcare facilities. However, the east side of the WIC office remained an unfinished garage. The health department and WIC used the space as storage and for janitorial supplies.
In December, the Seward County Commission approved for the garage space to be converted into an additional office for the use of WIC personnel. Portions of the garage remain for storage and for janitorial supplies. The $19,949 renovation by Cox Construction was paid by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The new space is to be used as an immunization and examination room. Prior to renovations, there was no such room. WIC nurses attempted to use any space available when in need, often using the education room.
In addition, the immunization nurse shared a desk with the WIC registered dietitian. The shared desk was located by the front clerk's space. Three desks and filing cabinets lined the room.
Krause said it was a squeeze and employees fell on top of each other. The dietitian will remain by the front clerk, but at least she gets her own desk.
The WIC office has a waiting room, clerk's office, an education room, Krause's office, a WIC registered nurse office and now, the immunization exam room and office.
“We really need a bigger education room but right now we are happy,” said Krause. “We get a lot of overbooking. A lot of time clients don’t show up. We automatically double book.”
The education room is used to hold classes, clinic, displays information boards, meetings and waiting room. The waiting room has space for six chairs and a play area for children.
“We are still pretty tight in our waiting room,” said Krause. “It is a small waiting room and it stays very busy. Monday is a slow day, but if you are in here on Friday this place is filled up. They are on top of each other and standing. We still don’t have enough room but it is getting better.”
In June, WIC will celebrate five years in Seward County and within the same office space.
County health department director Martha Brown remembers when the space was switched from the health department to WIC space.
“We remodeled as best as we could at that time,” said Brown. “I think it was undershot the number of clientele WIC would have.”
Prior to opening in Liberal, all Seward County WIC clients traveled to Sublette, Kan., for services. State officials predicted 900 clients in 2005. By October 2005, WIC recorded 1,200 clients. The Seward County WIC office is predicted to see 1,850 clients in 2010, said Brown.
Krause admits even in the early months of the WIC office being opened she saw a need for more space.
“We had a fairly small space,” said Krause. “Now, we have two full-time registered nurses. Before it was just me and a part-time registered nurse.We now have three full-time clerks. Before we only had two full-time (clerks). We now have an immunizations nurse who reviews all of our immunizations through WIC and also gives the immunizations.”
The space issues are not limited to the WIC office, but also to the adjacent health department.
“Before WIC was in existence here, the education room was the heath department's education room,” said Brown. “Prenatal classes were held in there. If we had health department meetings, they were held in there. Now the space has to be opened to WIC clientele all the time. There really is no place for us to have meetings. Our prenatal program classes are held at the library.”
The health department and WIC have a total of 23 full-time employees and three part-time contracted employees.
“We always try to see more people each year, do more immunizations, do more for the county and target those people in the community that are at risk,” said Brown. “We try to meet the needs of the community.”
During county commission capital improvement plan work sessions, commissioners discussed the need for space at the health department.
Brown admits it will be a long road until anything is finalized, but is happy with the current discussions of potentially utilizing the basement or purchasing available space next door.
For full story please see Friday's Times
© 2008 Southwest Times
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