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County implements plans to attract, retain hospital staff
County implements plans to attract, retain hospital staff
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Local political, health care and educational leaders have undertaken a series of measures meant to improve staff retention and recruitment at Monroe Community Hospital.
A long-term care task force in conjunction with Common Ground Health will study opportunities to address the communitywide nursing home staffing crisis.
“Like so many things, the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t create the staffing crisis we’re seeing in long-term care facilities and nursing homes throughout Monroe County and New York State. Instead, it exacerbated an existing problem that can no longer go unaddressed, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said in a news release.
Bello said hospital leadership and county staff “are committed to ensuring the residents of our facility continue to receive the best service and care possible.”
As an initial step to address nursing staff turnover at MCH, the county implemented pay increases for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants, created new leadership positions for additional growth opportunities for current and future employees, and created a nursing recruiter position.
Those initiatives were approved by the Civil Service Commission on April 8.
Alyssa Tallo, executive health director at MCH, said long-term care facilities across the nation “are grappling with staffing shortages. This is a community-wide problem, which requires a community based solution.”
The county said there are “upwards of 500 jobs are available in long-term care and nursing home facilities throughout Monroe County at any given time.”
To attract new talent and improve the career pipeline at the hospital, the county has partnered with Monroe Community College to provide advanced training and education to accelerate job growth and advancement within the MCH nursing staff through the school’s MPower Healthcare program.
The task force convened by Common Ground Health will identify critical issues contributing to the staff turnover crisis felt in facilities throughout Monroe County.
“While our community’s older-adult population continues to grow significantly, the long-term care system has not kept pace,” Common Ground CEO Wade Norwood said. “Common Ground Health looks forward to working with Monroe County and engaging a task force to create a plan to meet the community’s long-term care needs, including recruiting, training and retaining a diverse skilled and home-health-care nursing workforce.”
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