Herrin Hospital is implementing a new system to track meth-related incidents

Local action is providing a boost to Williamson County in its fight against meth. While the county government has passed a resolution to strengthen the county’s work against meth and increase public awareness, a local hospital has begun implementing a promising new system to track incidents related to meth.

Robert Barnett, Williamson County Government chair for 2006, introduced a resolution to strengthen the county’s response to methamphetamine. Under the resolution, the county will take a stand against meth to increase the prevention of meth and facilitate meth lab clean-up. As part of their work, County officials will increase public awareness of meth and identify local areas of heavy meth activity.

In other news, Herrin Hospital is implementing a new system to track meth-related incidents. This tracking system was designed to reveal the impact meth has on hospital resources, identify the most pressing areas of need in the fight against meth, and ensure that children who are victims of meth-related incidents receive the proper care. As an added bonus, the statistics created through use of the tracking system will help to document the need for funding when the hospital applies for grants and other moneys.

The tracking system was developed in large part due to the efforts of members of Williamson County CASA’s medical subcommittee who are also employees of the hospital. Herrin staff have generously agreed to work with other hospitals to help them implement similar systems to track meth-related incidents.