Pine Valley Community Village reports perfect state survey, new partnerships and seeks wage increase for practical nurses

Britney, the Pine Valley Community Village administrator, briefed the Richland County Community and Health Services committee on facility operations, a recent state survey and staffing needs during the Dec. 4 meeting.

She said the facility's November average census was 69 and that state surveyors completed a biannual review on Oct. 28 with no citations: "That was a perfect survey," Britney said. She described recent respite stays, additions to therapy and care roles, a new contracted care position and a new partnership for care supplies expected to cut food-related costs by about $20,000 a year.

Britney also disclosed three self-reports the facility made in October and November: a family misappropriation (not staff-related), an intentional-neglect allegation that prompted an investigation (the administrator recused from that investigation), and a resident care complaint. "We self report, we tell on ourselves so that, you know, we put things in place," she said.

During discussion of staffing and compensation, members focused on starting wages for licensed practical nurses. Britney said starting wages were very low for some positions and that a corrected grade/description would move starting pay from about $25 to roughly $27 per hour. A member commented: "Gotta pay your people," during the discussion. Committee members moved and seconded the wage-change item and approved it by voice vote.

The administrator said the facility uses contracted nurses on 12–13 week assignments to maintain continuity and that new on-site clinical services (including access to physicians for wound care) augment nursing care. She noted partnerships that provide certain care supplies with little or no cost to the facility.

On procurement, Britney said Pine Valley had signed a contract with a food vendor (Foreman's Food, formerly Reinhardt) that began service in early December and is expected to expand menu availability while lowering costs. She characterized the vendor change as an operational improvement for residents.

The committee approved an update to Pine Valley's holiday addendum to align recognized holidays with the county handbook, removing a separate Veterans Day listing from the facility addendum.

Next steps: committee-approved wage adjustments will move through county personnel and payroll processes; staff indicated some items (procurement decisions and personnel changes) may return to a full county board or administrative process as required by policy.