10y
We have a couple of facilities in Florence, so without knowing which location you work in, I can’t verify staffing levels with 100% accuracy.
That said, we recently decided to do rate adjustments at several of the Arizona facilities to ensure we are able to not only recruit, but also retain essential nursing staff. The environment can be demanding but we also want staff to find it rewarding, beyond just a pay rate.
The facilities in Arizona are large and very spread out, so I don’t doubt you’re getting your steps in! In terms of staffing levels, we base our staffing plans on 30+ years in the industry covering 400 locations. We have facilities with well over 100 employees, and other sites with less than 10.
Since we operate on government contracts, in order for us to deviate from the agreed upon staffing levels, we’d have to go to the DOC and ask for an amendment to our contract, to be able to hire more nurses. That’s not to say that doesn’t happen. We added several new provider positions within the last year, for the state of Arizona.
Talk to your FHA and let them know if you have legitimate concerns about staffing. If you don’t feel like your concerns are being addressed, use your chain of command and talk with your Director of Operations.
If you feel more comfortable, you can always call the compliance line anonymously. Hopefully things become more manageable.
Sincerely,
Courtney Penning, Director of Talent Acquisition
