Sample Phone Script

Hello (Insert district legislator name),

This is (Your name) and I was recently made aware of our Governor’s proposed budget that cuts half the funding to our Washington Poison Center. This is of great concern for me as the Poison Center provides services that are viable and necessary for the health of our families and community. 

The services provided by the Washington Poison Center, save lives and precious health care dollars.  It is the only place a person can get free health care advice on poisonings 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.

I urge you to reinstate the poison center’s funding to 100 percent.

Sincerely, (Your name)

Support Letter Template

Month, Day, 2009

Recipient Name
Recipient Address

Dear (Recipient),

I (Insert name), would like to offer my support to the Washington State Poison Center (WAPC) and express my concern regarding the 50 percent budget cut to the organization and impending impact it will have to our community.

The WAPC prevents harm from poison and other toxins to our kids, teens, elderly and even pets. You may or may not be aware that the number one cause of accidental death in the state of Washington is from poison. Cutting the WAPC’s budget and prohibiting the organization’s ability to serve Washington residents will significantly impact lives and put an additional strain on our existing healthcare resources.

(Insert any background information about yourself and why you support the center. Include any interaction with the WAPC)

The WAPC provides an invaluable, free service to citizens in Washington State that not only saves lives, but also precious health care dollars and resources. The WAPC can manage approximately 85 percent of calls over the phone, reducing unnecessary and expensive visits to emergency departments or physicians’ offices. Without the center, these departments and physicians will receive an overwhelming influx of patients.

The center is also an essential resource for health care professionals as many call WAPC for guidance and advice.

I urge you to consider the ramifications associated with cutting the WAPC budget and request the state legislature reinstate funds so the center can continue providing quality expert advice to help save lives.

Supporting the Washington Poison Center will go a long way in saving lives, as well as healthcare dollars.  Washington State citizens deserve our attention on this very important issue. 

Thank you for your consideration of this important issue.

Sincerely,

(Your name)


WAPC – Additional Facts & Figures

Here is an overview of the situation we face as well as some background information about the WAPC (for even more information, please visit our website - www.wapc.org)

• On December 19, 2008, Governor Gregoire released her proposed budget for the 2009/2011 biennium to the Washington State Legislature.  The proposed budget cut funding which supports several non-profit organizations including the WAPC, received a 50 percent ($2 million) cut in funding.  State funding of WAPC services accounts for approximately 80 percent of the center’s total revenue.  This recommendation comes amazingly enough when the last increase was eight years ago, and that increase was only half of one percent.

The Washington Poison Center has operated at a deficit for the last four years, and is currently projected to end the year with another operating deficit.  The WAPC needs increased funding support to continue to provide the services our states citizens need.  A 50 percent reduction in the states funding support jeopardizes the center’s ability to continue operations at any level. 

• According to the Washington State Department of Health, the number one cause of accidental death in the state of Washington is from poisoning and it is the third leading cause of unintentional hospitalization.

• The WAPC is a free service available to everyone, providing access in more than 140 languages and TTY/TYDD access for the hearing impaired.  The center is staffed by medical professionals, pharmacists, nurses, poison information providers and physicians, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days per year.

• The WAPC answer’s nearly 100,000 calls per year, from parents of small children, adults, senior citizens and from other health care providers.  You may not know that,

• 53 percent of our calls concerned children age six and under
• Calls from seniors has increased 61 percent over the past three years
• 12.9 percent of WAPC calls were from other health care providers seeking information and advice

• More than 85 percent of our cases can be managed over the telephone by the WAPC staff, reducing unnecessary and expensive calls to 9-1-1 or visits to the emergency departments or physicians’ office.

• During a recent phone survey, the WAPC asked callers, “What would you do if the poison center was not here?” The results below show a dramatic influx of patients to hospitals and other emergency centers which puts an additional strain on our community health care resources.

• 36.5 percent would call or visit a physician
• 27.9 percent would call or visit a hospital emergency room
• 18.2 percent were unsure what they would do
• 12 percent would call 9-1-1
• 5.4 percent would do nothing and “wait and see”