Wood Haven update: commissioners weigh $80K operational assessment as Medicaid settlement estimate arrives

Wood Haven Administrator Jeff Orlowski and Community Relations Director Aspen Short briefed the Wood County Board of Commissioners on operations, staffing and a potential consultant review during the March 5 meeting.

Orlowski said the facility’s February census was 84.5 with 20 admissions in the month, 17 of which were transfers from Wood County Hospital. He said the average Medicare census — the facility’s largest payer source — rose by about 2.29 in February. Orlowski estimated the county’s portion of a pending Medicaid settlement reimbursement to Wood Haven would be between $860,000 and $1.1 million, though he said he has not yet received formal notice of the payment.

Short described resident programming, saying Wood Haven maintains a 4.8-star average on Google (39 reviews), recently won the Toledo Blade’s top workplace award for the 11th consecutive year, and hosts ongoing activities such as a monthly Movement4Living Parkinson’s exercise program, weekly blood-pressure screenings and a newly established Bedside Music Program for residents who cannot attend community-room events. She also said staff will begin a walking group at senior centers when weather permits and that a “rehab resident of the week” will receive recognition and a small prize.

On staffing, Orlowski said the facility is fully staffed in Dietary and Environmental Services and that officials are focusing on hiring additional STNAs. He also listed recent personnel actions recorded for the board (appointments, resignations, a two-day working suspension and an extension of probationary periods).

Orlowski presented a draft scope from Plante Moran for an operational assessment that would include a two-day on-site operational analysis; he said the consultant proposed a fee of about $80,000–$83,000 with an additional $23,000 charge to produce a detailed action plan. Commissioners questioned whether two days would be sufficient to assess operations across all shifts and whether weekend coverage would be observed. County Administrator Carri Stanley and Assistant County Administrator Dan Scherger joined the discussion; Commissioner Craig LaHote said he would contact Ottawa County to learn whether they had conducted a similar assessment. Commissioner Doris I. Herringshaw expressed openness to further consideration; no vote was taken and commissioners said the issue would be discussed again at a later date.

Next steps: commissioners asked staff to gather more detail about the proposed scope and schedule and to confirm whether a two-day on-site review would include multiple shifts and weekends. No contract or funding authorization was approved at the March 5 session.