State budget impasse impacts local health services
Logan County Department of Public Health to go to four day weeks starting April 1st
Dental Clinic to go to three days a week

[March 12, 2016]  LINCOLN - Due to the lingering budget impasse in Springfield, many human service and public health programs are currently conducting operations without needed State funds. As a result, local health departments statewide are feeling the pinch forcing many to reduce hours and services.

The Logan County Department of Public Health (LCDPH) is no different, and given the prolonged budget impasse, will be making additional operational adjustments to meet the current financial challenges. Starting Friday, April 1, 2016, the department will be closing its doors on Fridays. Currently the department operates until noon on Fridays. By reducing hours of operation, the department plans to further decrease expenses to make up for the current lack of funding. This reduction in hours, however, will not affect Home Care of Central Illinois operations and home care visits will continue on Fridays.

Although the reduction in hours will eliminate 20% of the department’s overall operation hours, all existing services will continue to be provided Monday through Thursday with the exception of dental services. The dental clinic will be operating on a reduced schedule and will only see patients on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. The dental office plans to contact clients who are impacted by the schedule change to reschedule appointments.

Don Cavi, Public Health Administrator, states “the need to further decrease our hours of operation is necessary to ensure that the department will endure the storm of the crippling budget impasse. In addition, these changes are necessary to assure the department can remain resilient in order to maintain operations and services in the community for years to come.

We realize these operational changes may be an inconvenience to some of our clients, but the State’s prolonged lack of a budget leaves us with no other options.” The department reduced hours are not intended to be permanent and the department will notify the public once regular operation hours resume.

LCDPH thanks the community for its support and strives to continue to provide quality services as Logan County’s public health home. The department invites you to visit their new website at WWW.LCDPH.ORG to learn more about their services and to keep informed to make Logan County a healthier community.

[Don Cavi, MS, LEHP, Public Health Administrator, Logan County Department of Public Health]