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County long-term care reports fewer agency contracts, LNA conversions and new high-school LNA class
Summary
Staff reported a decline of about 10 agency contracts since September and four agency conversions to permanent staff; a new LNA class through the local high school starts Monday with 15 students. Commissioners and staff said reduced agency reliance is saving money and improving continuity of care.
Long-term care leaders told commissioners Thursday that the county has reduced agency contracts, converted several agency staff to permanent county employees and will start a high-school LNA training class to build the local workforce.
In a staffing update included in the commissioners’ packet, presenters said the county is roughly 10 agency contracts down from four months earlier and has converted four agency workers to permanent staff. Officials said those conversions and additional hires have contributed to budget savings and reduced agency spending in long-term care.
Finance staff reported the long-term care division was approximately $1.5 million under budget at the second-quarter review and that much of the variance stemmed from reduced agency spending and increased in-house staffing.
The county also described a new locally offered LNA class that begins Monday through the area high-school STS program. The class has 15 students divided into groups and will provide LNA training so graduates can enter the workforce upon high-school completion and licensing.
Why it matters: County leaders said continuity of county-employed staff improves resident care and that converting agency workers to permanent employees strengthens relationships and proactive interventions.
Staff also described a “virtual dementia” simulator the county plans to integrate into orientation; presenters said the simulator was an eye-opening training experience and they hope to include it for new hires and, possibly, family members in the future.
Next steps: Long-term care and HR staff will continue conversion efforts, monitor staffing metrics and incorporate the LNA training pipeline into recruitment strategies.
