In July, I told you that Gracedale's (NorCo's nursing home) CMS rating had jumped from two (below average) to three stars (average). Executive Lamont McClure stated as recently as last night that he has warned staff against "chasing stars" because the nursing home will never reach five stars (above stars). This is because the facility includes residents who suffer from dementia and Alzheimer's, and they are treated with psychotropic drugs disdained by CMS. Despite these admonitions, McClure was happy to report last night that Gracedale's rating has jumped from three to four stars.
Given that the families of prospective residents use the CMS rating as a guide for selecting a nursing home, this higher rating should increase the current census of 456 residents in a home with a maximum capacity of 688.
At last night's meeting of NorCo Council, McClure also explained why Jennifer Stewart is no longer Administrator. She's still at Gracedale, but now directs the Admissions office. McClure moved her there because she's "an expert at getting the census up." This results in more revenue to the home and less of a need for a county contribution.
Council member John Brown insisted last night that Gracedale's operational expenses exceed revenue, but McClure disputed that argument last night. It is certainly true that the county does rely on an annual IGT (intergovernmental transfer) grant to fund the facility.
Human Services Director Sue Wandalowski told County Council that the home is now the possibility of performing dialysis in-house, which would decrease the need to send residents to the hospital and increase revenue.
Gracedale is also in the process of getting a daycare license for employees with children.
18 comments:
John Brown is a disgrace. Grace dale does a great job taking care of people. That care requires resources. Brown focuses solely on money. Can we save money by treating Grace dale residents like orphans in a Charles Dickens novel? Yes, but Ebenezer Scrooge isn't any sane person's idea of a role model when it comes to caring for grandma.
What a brilliant job the McClure Administration has done managing Gracedale.
The county should have rid itself of that white elephant years ago.
Jennifer Stewart is an absolute gem! Too bad it isn't contagious. Enough said.
Susie Wonderlowski should get her NHA and the Administratrix !
Yep he did great. Tell us again Tom G how this is a failed administration!
Would you expect any less from John Brown and his BFF Tom G who
Increased star rating is good, but it's been done via very expensive use of agency staffing. Even with IGT the audited FY 22 & 23 reports show expenses well in excess of revenue. COVID relief money and the Gracedale fund balance have been used to make up the gap. Those funds have been depleted.
So, if JS was "reassigned" who is running Gracedale?
Wasn’t Mike Colon Admissions Coordinator at Gracedale? He’s now Deputy Director of HR at the County. So he apparently has a higher ranking position for doing a so so job at Gracedale? Says a lot about administration.
Te, he. Rs are so screwed. They want to run on Gracedale and Elections. Gracedale is essentially a government run health care program. Nobody trusts Rs to run one of those. As for Elections, they want to run against the ES&S screw ups, but they deny elections they don’t win and are perfectly cool when they do. No one will be in a hurry to give them the management of elections.
Heckman's comments towards the end of the meeting, and his broader perspective on the role of government to serve the public, will be sorely missed this time next year.
Who is the temporary home administrator Bernie?
Agree, Ron Heckman has always been a champion of the people. Please tell me he is running again. If not for council, he should be running for executive. His understanding of county operations and funding is head and shoulders above Zeorinski and tommy G.
Who says he did a “so so job” ? Stewart is probably better at it, and the home is on an upswing since the change with her was made. But, it doesn’t mean Mike didn’t do a good job.
Why wasn't it on an upswing with Mike?
There are certain employees in place in the career service at Gracedale who were scheming to keep it artificially low.
Not that this has to do with the post, per se, but Bernie, have you heard they took away the 4th retention payment for Career Services? Seems like they dipped into the wrong pot to pay agency. Northampton County strikes again with the shady business!
That’s interesting but I doubt it.
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