DARLINGTON — A Joint Economic Development and Finance Committee met on Tuesday, July 19 at 4:15 p.m. in the County Board Room to take up action regarding a request to spend American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds at the Lafayette County Manor.

The Lafayette Manor is ARPA funds for the purchase of PointClickCare which is a software that offers a care management solution that would enable the Manor to enhance quality care for its residents.

Committee Member Scott Pedley offered to rescind or amend his original motion: ‘to put a hold on all requests and cease other requests for ARPA funds at this time, until Sept. 26, 2022’. Pedley’s motion at this time amends the original motion to include ‘except a one-time request from the Lafayette Manor’. The motion was approved.

Manor Administrator Stephanie Crowther presented her case for requesting the funds.

Crowther began, “There is not any medical facilities that have no meds errors. Since I’ve come here there have been two pretty serious med errors (at the Manor) one was a double dose of narcotics. The other was a resident that was sent to the hospital for a seizure. It takes my staff 45 minutes to chart one resident, this takes away care from my residents as a whole. The other issue is there is no accountability in our current system. All of the medications are on paper. So if blood pressure medication was given at 3:00 o’clock, that should have been given at 10:00 o’clock there is no accountability. I can’t follow everybody around.”

Crowther continued, “I’ve looked into two company’s - MatrixCare and I’m leaning towards PointClickCare. This PointClickCare skilled nursing software is used at many nursing homes, it’s easy to learn and many of our new hires, already know the system.”

Pedley noted that six wireless access points in the Manor, which are in need of replacement. The IT Director Bob Ward’s advice was to replace each access point, which would strengthen wireless system.

PointClickCare would cost $19,060 initial investment (with a monthly fee of $1,415, the current program the Manor uses cost $1,200 per month) and replacing the six wireless points would cost approximately $12,000 for a total of $31,060. The county received $3,236,981 from the ARPA fund and has spent $862,216, leaving a $2,374,765 current balance.

Pedley made the motion ‘We authorize spending $31,060 of ARPA funds for the purchase of PointClickCare at $19,060 and an additional up to $12,000 to upgrade wireless access points at the Manor’. Committee Member Larry Ludlum seconded. Motion approved unanimously.

This will need to go to County Board for approval at their Aug. 16 meeting.