COVID creates a shortage, but expands other opportunities

 

September 10, 2020



POMEROY-Garfield County Hospital District (GCHD) is experiencing a Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) shortage, an outcome of the education shutdown due to COVID-19 restrictions.

It was expressed at the GCHD Board meeting September 1; they are experiencing a shortage of CNAs. It is a problem other area hospital are also experiencing, caused by the lack of training classes being offered due to COVID-19 restrictions. This has forced GCHD to hire CNAs through a staffing agency, which is at a much greater expense.

The board has been informed the Columbia County Health District (CCHD) in Dayton has been holding training classes and may be open to accepting some trainees from Pomeroy. A class was recently completed and the CCHD is uncertain when the next class will be scheduled.

The CNA is an entry-level position, and according to GCHD co-CEO Jayd Keener, students are typically expected to pay their own tuition. They will be reimbursement upon securing a job. This prevents many potential candidates from taking that step to get trained. Currently, GCHD has eight CAN openings.

Mat Slaybaugh, co-CEO, also announced because of COVID–19 funding, GCHD can now hire a temporary courier/screener for delivering COVID-19 testing samples, and screening visitors to the clinic and hospital.

Since hiring a new full-time care coordinator, Quality Behavioral Health (QBH) has requested representation from the GCHD Board to be a part of the QBH board to help facilitate better communication and a working relationship as QBH ramps up their human services in the Pomeroy office, The GCHD board is considering a community member for that position, rather than a board member.

Steve Cannon GCHD Board member presented the Finance Committee report which indicated GCHD has finished and filed the cost report which reveals a probable Medicare payback requirement. Jim Heilsburg, CFO, has been maintaining a reserve just for this purpose. In addition, revenue is promising due to steady Clinic business, increase in emergency department visits and lab usage. The GCHD is on pace to break even with the COVID-19 Small Business Administration grant.

Radiology has purchased a new EKG machine, and the machines used for a medical storage system are becoming obsolete. The GCHD owns the medical storage machines, which will either need to be replaced, or be updated with new hardware to get by for another five years. A specific amount was not disclosed, but either option will be at a great expense. Keener suggested doing the upgrade for now, but when the machines need to be replaced, they should consider leasing them so that future upgrades would be included.

A generator fuel tank purchased at a bargain price about a year ago from the Pullman hospital, may not be feasible for installation at the GCHD. The larger fuel tank was necessary to meet standards required by the State. However, the larger tank has become a challenge to install because an appropriate location has not worked out. The GCHD is currently considering the purchase of a new, smaller tank that will meet the code requirements and sell the larger tank.

Keener reported that the GCHD has joined a research collaborative, Northwest Health Education Resource Outcomes Network (NW HERON), through Washington State University (WSU), for a program that will research the effects of COVID-19 on cancer patients. They will be working with community members through the clinic who are cancer patients, but not necessarily COVID-19 victims. They are looking to see how they have been affected regarding mental health, finances, food, etc. Those participating in the research will be held in complete anonymity and will be compensated monetarily. The clinic will also receive a small amount of funds for their participation. The Columbia County Health System and other rural hospitals and clinics have already signed up for the program. Keener feels that the collaboration with the WSU group will help give the GCHD future access to medical student assistance at no charge.

Keener also gave an update on the GCHD’s COVID-19 activity. They have administered 86 tests with only three positive results, and have no tests currently pending. (125 tests, 121 negative, and 4 recovered has been reported by the Garfield County Health District, whose numbers also include tests that have been administered elsewhere.) They are still ordering Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) whenever possible to be sure they maintain a good supply. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Department of Health (DOH) are anticipating a shortage of PPE this fall due to the upcoming flu season. She added Governor Inslee has issued a 166-page document outlining requirements for skilled nursing facilities to begin opening up to more visitors. The document is currently under her review, but one change that has occurred is allowing a beautician to visit patients every other week.

Keener attended a webinar regarding flu vaccines, and reported that the CDC and the State are predicting a shortage of flu swab tests. The shortage may require testing health-care workers first, then in-patients, rather than offering to the community at large. The CDC is pushing for drive-through vaccine clinics, but because the Pomeroy clinic is a Rural Health Clinic, they are required to do vaccinations on site, with a 15-minute monitoring time.

The CDC is also pushing for the vaccinations to begin mid-September.

They are also awaiting the arrival of the high-dose flu vaccines which are earmarked for seniors and those who are immuno-compromised.

 
 

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