RMP awards counties for innovations, improvements

For three years, the NCACC’s Risk Management Pools have been rewarding members who are taking steps to improve their risk control programs and thereby reduce their overall pool cost.

Awards are given in three categories for each of the three pools. The Best Loss Results Award recognizes pool members who have produced the best risk control results. Each winning county receives $2,500.

The Most Improved Award recognizes members who have worked hard to improve their claims frequency and severity. Each winning county receives $5,000.

The final award recognizes members who have implemented the most innovative and effective programs in county government during the past calendar year. Each winning county receives $10,000.

The big winners for 2005 were Pitt and Surry counties, each of which won a $10,000 award for an innovative and effective program.

Pitt County won the award in the Group Benefits Pool for its Hospitalization Fund. The stabilization fund was developed to level premium costs in adverse years. The program has been able to retain a very rich medical benefit with 100 percent co-insurance for employees. The county benefits with healthier employees, stable coverage and stable rates.

Surry County won the award in the Liability and Property Pool for its Jail Health Program. Prior to July 2004, the county used part-time nurses from the county health department to meet the medical needs of inmates at the county jail. Recognizing that this was insufficient, the county hired a full-time nurse for the jail in July 2004.

This has allowed for consistent review of requests for medical help, intake screenings of inmates, documentation and referral. The nurse reviews all medications and prescriptions and prepares the medicines to be given to inmates. Having a full-time nurse also greatly improved communication with the jail director and staff.

Other winners are:

Group Benefits Pool
Most Improved: Tyrrell County
Best Loss Results: Dare County

Liability and Property Pool
Most Improved: Hyde County
Best Loss Results: Stanly County

Workers’ Compensation Pool
Most Improved: Cherokee County
Best Loss Results: Person County

Beaufort County’s Chrisman receives inaugural Bonner Scholarship

In 2004, the NCACC Risk Management Board of Trustees established a scholarship to honor the memory of longtime Beaufort County Commissioner Frank Bonner, who served as the chair of the Board of Trustees for many years.

Beaufort County Assistant Manager Jim Chrisman was announced Aug. 27 as the inaugural winner of the $2,500 scholarship. Chrisman has worked in Beaufort County for the past two years. Prior to coming to Beaufort County, he worked six years in Carteret County.

Chrisman is currently enrolled in the MPA program at East Carolina University and will use the scholarship to help defray the cost of his continuing education.