Director asks budget committee to add $8,000 for nursing services at group home

Lauren Lawler, director of the Duke County Home for Children, asked the budget committee to add $8,000 to the home’s nonreverting fund to cover nursing services the program now requires.

Lawler said the home recently began budgeting for nursing and medical services for the first time and has contracted a medical director and a nurse to provide care, triage and standing orders. "We have some nursing services that are gonna be coming due next year," she said, asking committee members to place the money under a nursing-services or contractual-services line. She described three levels of care — emergent, urgent and routine — and said telehealth and a contracted nurse reduce unnecessary ER trips.

Committee members asked whether the line should be titled "professional services" or "nursing services," and Lawler replied, "Nursing services," clarifying she expects $8,000 will cover the majority of next year’s need and that the program will return to the council if it requires more. The committee did not take a final vote; the request will be reflected in the budget packet sent to the full council.