This effectively means that Gracedale would have to close.
So much for moral obligation.
How has Morton responded? On Friday, she notified NorCo Council that she is resigning, effective November 14. This has also been confirmed by Executive Tara Zrinski.
Hopefully, this will spur Zrinski to do what she should have done when she assumed office - get an Administrator who actually knows how to run a nursing home. Listen to people on County Council like Dave Holland, who was part of the administration team at Gracedale that turned a failing nursing home around.
Gracedale is on the agenda for this week's budget hearing. That should be interesting.
UPDATED 10:10 AM: One Council member tells me he received no notice of the resignation and was unaware of it until a reader posted here anonymously. But Executive Zrinski has confirmed that Morton has resigned with three weeks notice.
Just so know, mortin was picked by mcclure and voted in by the last county council? Including warren and keegan?
ReplyDeleteMorton was selected by McClure but is NOT a cabinet official. Council had no say in her selection.
Delete@1253 nice try though!
DeleteIts a start. If Tara really wants to change this county for the better she needs to fire all the department heads. Starting first with MaryLou. If you want to turn this county around you need to get rid of Lamonts people.
ReplyDeleteIt is a disgrace that the residents, county employees of Gracedale and the Gracedale volunteers (especially the Friends of Gracedale) have had to endure this administrator, this executive who supported her and those on council who did not only the same but even fought with those on council who expressed concern about Gracedale particularly under Morton. Can’t wait to hear their comments now that Gracedale is such a terrible mess. It will take more than just replacing Morton. A team is more likely what is needed at this point. Guess the Gracedale city plans are on the back burner for now. It would be great if CMS would step
ReplyDeletein now to call the shots since Tara appears not capable of doing so.
And they are singing that great country ballad - "Thank GOD and Greyhound she's gone".
ReplyDeleteThere is not enough rope in all of NORCO to pull the exec and council's heads out.
ReplyDeleteShe gets to resign, leaving a smoldering mess behind.
ReplyDeleteZyrinsky, Wasalowsky, Kraft, Keegan, McClure, new guy Carson, all played a role in causing this disaster.Not sure even a Premier Nursing Management team, if brought in, could remedy the issues. This exec and group of misinformed commissioners do not have the ability to put this back together.
Carson didn’t cause this. He didn’t do anything. He never should have been hired.
DeleteCarson accepted the position, accepted the existing problems, you are correct, he did nothing.
DeleteThe continuum of care position should have never been created.
DeleteCounty Council has no direct oversight of Gracedale and its daily operations. Read the home rule charter at least once, yes they provide the budget and can demand that it is being spent wisley but other than that what else can you dig on council for. I think you should run for council next cycle
DeleteThey have one last shot to fix this. Why do I get the feeling 43% is going to make a mess of it.
ReplyDeleteOh Children, there is nowhere for you to play kick-the -can anymore
ReplyDeleteThree weeks is not long enough to recruit and hire a qualified administrator. CMS requires an administrator. There cannot be any gap. 3 weeks is sufficient to find a management company and get it approved through Council on an emergency basis. A management company will bring somebody in day one. Nobody in the region would be willing to accept the administrator position for less than $200k at Gracedale, as the risk to one’s own licensure is too great.
ReplyDeleteThe administration was, I’m pretty sure, looking earlier for a replacement. The last Gracedale presentation to Council didn’t go well, indicating a change was due.
DeleteAgree, they need someone with a nursing background that can handle a large facility. The current assistant administrator is new to her license. Also, maybe if they worried more about the real issues instead of the dress code, They would get more done.
DeleteThe assistant NHA can carry the license without interruption.
DeleteIf it weren't for the State stepping in, Morton would still be there- can the State do the same to our incompetent Executive? She has no clue what she is doing.
ReplyDeleteI thought the presentation by Carson and Morton was poor and that Kelly Prentice was focused on changing public perception as opposed to addressing very real issues. But I question whether Zrinski saw it that way.
ReplyDeleteVerbal mirrors and smoke , without researched solutions or suggestions. They all gave lip service to the public, and Gracedale families and patients.
ReplyDeleteAfraidvthiscwill not end well.
Good riddance. From the beginning, Michelle demonstrated a serious lack of leadership and the management skills necessary to oversee a facility as complex as Gracedale. She routinely micromanaged veteran employees who had more experience and institutional knowledge than she did (They're happy she's gone) instead of focusing on the bigger picture.
ReplyDeletesoon you will all be gone and the place will be up for sale to the lowest bidder
DeleteThis is a tough business and when the finances don't match up, it doesn't matter who the administration is. Do you think the right administrator will get a better staff and more of it when the budget is limited ? This is a terrible business to start off with. Insurance and government reimbursements are limited, cash payers can't afford this, costs are increasing rapidly and eventually the business is running at a breakeven if lucky. That is why so many close up. I would never go into this business for anything. The risk/reward profile is terrible and with all these complaints, the business will surely have a horrendous reputation for year irrespective who is running the place. So I ask on here .... How does a change in administration solve the financial problems and fix a terrible reputation that will last for years ? Would you want to work there ? Who would want to put money into this business ?
ReplyDeleteAt this point I will now switch sides and say sell it. What will happen if funding is withdrawn? It certainly looks like a sinking ship. We deserve better!!!
ReplyDeleteWish the director of corrections would do the same. She has shown once again she doesn't have the back of her employees. And the jail is only getting worse with the decisions that are being made. That department needs major help. And the first thing is getting rid of the administration.
ReplyDeleteDidn’t Zrinski just hire two other expensive bureaucrats to focus on Gracedale? Surely one of them is qualified to step in and take over, right?
ReplyDelete