Administrators address staff concerns
Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Nov 03/00) - Stanton Regional Hospital's chief executive officer admits administration "missed a step" when it decided to merge two in-patient units.
The merger was announced early last month in an effort to reduce Stanton's deficit of $1.3 million. The move was expected to save the hospital $350,000 annually. Dennis Cleaver, Stanton's CEO, said it wasn't a bad decision, but one crucial part of the decision-making process was inadvertently overlooked.
"The step we missed was a more careful consultation with the front-line care providers," he said.
Cleaver announced Tuesday that the merger would not be going ahead.
The surgical in-patient unit has been closed since the beginning of the summer. It is closed during the months of June, July and August every year. Since administration was planning on the merger this year, said Cleaver, the surgical unit did not re-open in the fall.
Before the surgical unit can re-open, Stanton has to recruit about 15 nurses to fill vacant positions in all areas of the hospital.
"For now surgical inpatients are being placed in available beds which take into account the patient's need and the need to provide high quality care.
"So most of the surgical inpatients are continuing to go on to pediatrics for an interim period here, but some are going on to other units depending on what their needs are," he said.
According to Cleaver, Stanton's administration has a very good relationship with its staff and the recent feelings of discontent among staff members was an isolated situation.
"It's not to say that the staff are not valued, it's exactly the opposite and I'm hopeful that everyone will recognize that the decision was changed because we do value the advice and input that staff provide," he said.
Cleaver realizes that employee morale has been effected by the mishap, but he ensured that "this particular planning process was uncharacteristic of how Stanton normally carries out its planning process.
"Over the course of the next few months we hope to regain the confidence of the staff."
Cleaver said hospital staff will be consulted over the next few months to gather suggestions on how the deficit could be reduced.
The surgical unit is expected to be up and running in January.
