According to Wandalowski, the call-offs at Gracedale are about twice what they are at other 24/7 operations like 911 and the jail. She suggested it's possible that employees are gaming the system to pull in more overtime.
She added that the county recently made changes to its policy concerning per diem worker Those are part-time workers who must work at least one shift every six months. That policy was changed to require that they work at least four shifts per month, including one weekend shift. In addition, they must work at least one holiday. As a result of these changes, 84 per diem workers either quit or were terminated.
Wandalowski also addressed the issue of resident falls. When a resident falls, staff must wait for an RN to assess the situation to ensure there is no injury. She agreed with the nurse who said a re issue is governed by the union contractsident who recently fell had to sit in the floor for too long, but denied it was a 30-minute wait. She called it a "very isolated incident."
She also addressed mandated overtime. In response to a nurse who complained about receiving frequent requests to work overtime, Wandalowski said an employee can set preferences to eliminate these notifications. She said that from January through March, only 16 people were mandated to work as a result of 283 call-offs.
Several members of Council reported Gracedale visits over the past two weeks. Tara Zrinski, Bill McGee and Kevin Lott were all there. While Zrinski said she thought it was "depressing," Lott and McGee were impressed by the cleanliness.
Zrinski said that, given the environment, the frequent call-offs are justified. Lott argued tht the pay should be higher fir experienced RNs, but Executive Lamont McClure said that issue is governed by the union contract.
28 comments:
“Zrinski said that, given the environment, the frequent call-offs are justified.”
And this idiot is allowed on county council? Clearly she has no clue on how a business runs with her inane justified comment.
Why don’t people vote for real candidates?
Year after year we keep going over the same problems and things aren't improving. Today's county government is utterly incapable of running a nursing home. The county's elderly are pawns in a never ending political game. The current executive relies heavily on union money. He will always put them before anyone else - including the elderly (#19 on his most precious asset list). The nurses will get their raise. They'll vote like sheep for Lamont's re-election, then, wail about their shitty raise. The elderly will continue to be neglected. And we'll have this same discussion again in a few years. John Stoffa was/is a kind and intelligent guy who saw a path to exiting this vicious cycle. He was called everything but his name in vicious attacks. He possessed more care for the county's elderly than anyone who's served county government in decades. They'd be far better served had Gracedale been sold. Stoffa was right. The vicious goons were wrong.
The rn's have it easier than most at Gracedale. Ask the direct care staff what their days are like and you will soon find out the truth. The AFSCME nurses aides do all the grunt work..the heavy lifting and patient interaction. It is hard work indeed and they do the best they can under sometimes terrible circumstances. Tara is correct in her assessment and it is the god awful truth of the matter. Take care of those frontline workers and the rest will take care of itself.
Lamont has blown hot air while he was on Council and now as County Executive. He doesn't care about anybody other than the people who put money in his pocket and his high ups. All political paybacks. Hope the authorities check out what he is doing just like in Allentown.
16 mandated in three months? Last week at the prison we had 15 on ONE SHIFT! Open positions are currently available. We are in a growth industry!
Understaffing is not something new at Gracedale. Go back to late 80's and 90's when the last time this issue was addressed and see what it took and how it was resolved. It can be done but it takes a team effort. I was never forced to work overtime and felt like I was important enough to be adequately paid. Thank you John Stoffa, Thank you John Brown, and now Mr. Clure for turning a blind eye to the problems at our County Nursing Home.
BTW...this is the norm and not the exception.
Put a FOR SALE sign and sell it to a company that runs a a nursing home with experienced staff. The recent hire that's running for election is enough
Keep cutting or not raising taxes and society goes down the tubes. You get what you pay for...
The White Elephant should have been sold years ago. The county had an offer of $35 million, plus annual savings when the county had to share operating costs. That money could have been used in AAA to help seniors stay in their homes, and perhaps even subsidize charity cases at the private nursing home. But county voters, influenced by union flunkies handing out "Save Gracedale" signs, expressed their will to continue to have the county run the White Elephant. I agree with 6:25 AM. Stoffa had it right. He was a prophet, and crucified for it.
Something to ponder. While having coffee at a local barista, two elderly women were speaking about their day and what they had planned. Tara Zrinski questioned the purpose of their life and comment, "They should just die." Draw your own conclusions.
"He was a prophet, and crucified for it."
Now that's funny!!!
Anon 6:20, no surprise. Both Zirinski and Hefenr are major disappointments. Sorry I voted for them. Zirinski is a shameless self-promoter jumping from one of her crazy left-wing causes to another in oreder to advance her personal agenda. Hefner is just mean. Bernie was right. She is arrogant and comes off as a mean know it all talking at people. Unfortunate but they will not get re-elected.
When you think about it when did you ever hear the employees at Gracedale were happy...even going back to the Joe Thoder days. They complain about everything and will always be a bunch of complainers
Second post first one was removed. Were stoffa and Angle in for a stock option with the sale of Gracedale? Who was getting grandfathers clock that was no going in the sale for Gracedale?
Hey Bernie who was going to do the title search for boco bucks close to a Million. We know you got paid some money for part of the title work. Not telling people that are you?
Call Ron Angle out of retirement! Make Northampton County Great Again!
Ron wont run cant win.
One thing about Peg Ferraro is despite her taking some hits due to her age, she has always had a good heart. These new women on council are not at all like her. They think they are great and make fun of Peg. Bernie has often said that Peg is kind. The new people should talk less and try and be more like Peg.
Peg's better than the current crop of imbeciles. But that's not a high bar. She's approved more wasting of taxpayer dollars than the rest of the clown car, combined. Wasting the precious resources of struggling taxpayers, while neglecting the county's elderly is not kind. It's kind of mean.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Keep gov’t out of healthcare.
What happen to working as 1 Team for 1 GOAL helping the Elderly. It's a shame it really is that no one can get along or has to blame others or say it ant me I did not do anything wrong. It's time to quit the whining & get back to helping the ELDERLY & CARING for them & simple as that.
My job is like this everyone in my DEPT just has gossip on everyone else or wants to blame everyone else or try to dig up dirt on co-workers. I have no friends @ work I am there to do a job & earn a paycheck. I don't get involved with the CLICKS I am there to WORK & DO MY JOB & I GO HOME simple as that.
The county should sell this festering problem and move on.
Gracedale is in trouble. The trouble is Admisntration has a one size fits all plan for every employee. The nurses at Gracedale are showing him facts but he refuses to listen to our concerns. He is taking the Stoffa path and attacking Gracedale employees. He is very stubborn and refuses to compromise and come to a solution. It is his way or the highway. He even has Bernie O'Hare hoodwinked. People had hoped for better with this executive and council but i8t has not happened.
Who's this asshole with the Murray/Haddad fuckin' crap hour after hour, day after day, week after week, month after month? If anyone knows exactly, out this creeper so those of us who read this for info instead of it's silly shit, can begin to overwhelm him with spam, junk mail offers, unwanted late night calls, and assorted unpleasant results of Karma.
We thought this was about Gracedale. We are hurting out here and no one cares. Is anyone listening?
I was at Gracedale last week to check on Veterans. The floors were clean and I observed no problems with care. I can not speck for staff dynamics,but all of the Vets told me they are fine that I had time time to talk with. Nobody complains about the food ,they are satisfied as I can tell . I evan eat lunch 3 weeks ago with an Air Force Vet., Along with his spouse. It was good. I can’t say anything about they RN thing except in principle and that ,people vote with their feet. The members of the commissioners that went on campus is a first start,but you should also visit other nursing homes you don’t own to get a feel for “what is normally happening “ under the same conditions,as I have . Under the conditions that may be stressed you have loving and caring employees there that I have observed. So don’t abandon them .
Petey J, sadly the current executive is destroying the place.
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