Attracting and retaining the right staff with Deborah Wesley, RN, BN, MSN, MHA, CEO, Addison County Home Health and Hospice

The Post-Acute POV

In this episode of the Post-Acute POV, our host Eric Grunden, Chief Customer Officer, is joined by Deborah Wesley, RN, BN, MSN, MHA, CEO, Addison County Home Health and Hospice, to have a conversation on attracting and retaining the right staff across post-acute care.

Join Deborah and Eric as they discuss the impact the pandemic and vaccination mandates have had on recruiting staff, the specific qualities her team looks for in candidates, the importance of displaying empathy to retain employees, and how Addison County Home Health and Hospice uses their EHR as a strategic piece of their recruitment plan. Listen to their discussion below.

Topics discussed during today’s episode:

1. [01:15 – 02:53]: Deborah provides an introduction on herself and the history and mission of Addison County Home Health and Hospice.
2. [03:32 – 04:43]: Second, Deborah comments on 2021 being called “The Great Resignation” and the impact that the pandemic has had on attracting and retaining the right staff.
3. [4:56 – 9:09]: Third, Deborah describes how COVID vaccine mandates have impacted neighboring home health organizations and how Addison County Home Health and Hospice was able to reach a status of 100% vaccination.
4. [9:45 – 11:26]: Deborah then explains how her organization uses their EHR as a strategic piece of their recruitment plan and the emphasis they place on work-life balance.
5. [11:48 – 13:09]: Next, Deborah discusses what her team looks for when recruiting to maintain their positive culture and the importance of being open to challenges and change.
6. [13:30 - 14:46]: Deborah shares how, as their EHR continues to evolve, they are provided with more opportunities to engage their staff by encouraging them to learn new aspects of the software like voice-to-text and developing individualized care plans.
7. [15:21 - 16:32]: Next, Deborah describes how she and her team have displayed empathy with their staff during the pandemic by maintaining an open-door policy, lending a listening ear, and recognizing the stressors employees may be facing at work and in their personal lives.
8. [17:00 - 18:46]: Deborah and Eric conclude the conversation by discussing fresh ways to support work-life balance. She shares the concept of “Coffee and jammies,” which encourages employees to log in each morning and create a plan for their workday to avoid feeling rushed out the door.

Resources

• Learn more about MatrixCare: https://www.matrixcare.com/
• Find out more about Addison County Home Health and Hospice: https://www.achhh.org/
• Read the transcript of today’s episode
• Listen to more episodes of the Post-Acute POV

Disclaimer

The content in this presentation or materials is for informational purposes only and is provided “as-is.” Information and views expressed herein, may change without notice. We encourage you to seek as appropriate, regulatory and legal advice on any of the matters covered in this presentation or materials.

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