I've just been re-reading "It's Private" and all the subsequent comments, trying to figure out where I'm going with all this...and, frankly, I have no idea. I think my point is just that there are other ways to do things, and it behooves us to be the best at what we do.
Or maybe I want to build a conspiracy theory about Wakkenhut...what a weird organization THAT is...
There are been 78 comments (not counting my own)posted on the blog to date...I went through them to see just what the themes are. I put each comment into one of six categories; of course the decision about where each comment went was subjective, and could be disputed..often comments touched on more that one category...still, I think its revealing to see what people are most concerned about.
1)Administration/Management Issues (i.e. who's running this place and why are they doing such a lousy job) 21 comments
2)Mental Health Issues in Society (i.e. how are current political priorities affecting mental health treatment today, funding, etc.) 19 comments
3)Quality of Treatment Issues: (i.e., bad doctors, bad policies, bad ideas etc.)18 comments
4)Other: (a lot of these were comments about the blog itself) 11 comments
5)Staffing Issues: (quality, quantity, distribution) 6 comments
6)Facilities Maintenence Issues: trees, mice, ants, mold, etc. 3 comments
So one thought is that if we are to be competitive in the modern world, we need much better management...we need people who see clearly that quality treatment depends on quality staff, who have patient-oriented priorities in budgeting, who can provide a dynamic, effective presence in political settings, where funding decisions are made. We need someone with a vision of how we could serve the community and become, again, a model for quality treatment. We need someone who is interested in what the line staff know and can include them in problem solving.
Can we affect this? Can we have any influence on the whos and hows of management?
What would it take to change directors? Ideas, anyone?
Comments since last post are on: "It's Private" and "A House is not a Home"
17 comments:
Short of some outragous scandal embarassing the state, the director stays.
However disatisfied one might be with current leadership, they are but players, too, in the States devalued attitude towards taking care of the mentally ill.
If leadership were to change, the overall agenda that has been inplace for the past 10 years still will direct the director.
"Cost neutral" budgeting results in a slow entropic death of the services, the staffing, the facilities. Staff who have been in this Madhouse have wittnessed the slow deterioration. The loss of a culture where differences of view points were healthy and additive to the well being of the organization, are now less so. Ridgidity is setting in as the stress of financial concerns become more a focus then treatment.
Juggling staff each shift to meet the bare minimum patient to staff ratios, at least on paper.
Denying admissions due to medical concerns, and putting off medical care because the funds are not there.
Losing staff due to the erroded benifits package and increased work related stresses.
Vote, lobby, and organize support for the services we wish to have available.
Other wise the entropy will reach some critical point where the organization is no longer sustainable. Cold cost/benifit reasoning will prevail over concern for our patients.
E2
Welcome and well met E2.
Enguarde!
‘Short of some outragous scandal embarassing the state, the director stays’
One could argue that retaining ineffective or even incompetent staff of any level in a publicly funded organization is reflective of public concern over fiscal inefficiencies with tax-payer funding. One could also argue that same issue right up the line, chain, whatever you desire to name it. Isn’t it requisite of true leadership to provide oversight within the scope of their control, to demonstrate effective decision making, to expect and insure accountability, to encourage and facilitate participation and to actively promote equity? To develop, lead, and even direct their team? To make us all peak performers? To share and nurture the vision?
Perhaps you meant to say “a director stays”.
‘However disatisfied one might be with current leadership, they are but players, too, in the States devalued attitude towards taking care of the mentally ill’
‘If leadership were to change, the overall agenda that has been inplace for the past 10 years still will direct the director’
We are to feel sorry for management. Management are nothing but pawns of the system, cogs in the machine, helpless victims in an uncertain world, merely puppets on a string. Do they not have a responsibility, a duty, to represent and pursue the best interests of the consumers, the staff and the organization?
One can not argue the fact that a legislative agenda exists that has a direct and negative impact on the consumer’s care. However, who has the greatest opportunity to affect that agenda? Management’s only response is to fail to respond, fail to act?
Leaders do not choose to become victims! Leaders choose to act decisively, to work the vision inside and outside the organization! Leaders work to insure satisfaction! They recognize and celebrate that they can not do it alone. They nurture the vision.
‘ "Cost neutral" budgeting results in a slow entropic death of the services, the staffing, the facilities. Staff who have been in this Madhouse have wittnessed the slow deterioration.’
Very true! The madhouse staff, and most importantly the madhouse consumers, are just barely surviving in the darkness as we blog. It is a question of responsibility and accountability. And here at the madhouse, only one, or a select favored few, are making those decisions. So who is really responsible?
‘The loss of a culture where differences of view points were healthy and additive to the well being of the organization, are now less so’
Less so is an understatement at best, more like nonexistent! True leadership all the way to the top of the department would never have allowed this to occur. ‘Love em or lose em!
‘Ridgidity is setting in as the stress of financial concerns become more a focus then treatment’
Financial concerns result in rigidity and a priority over treatment. As it is repeatedly represented that we deliver dynamic and effective care, this seems rather obtuse. Isn’t the quality of the consumers care the number one priority; the very reason the madhouse exists?
And oh yes, the madhouse staff have seen much rigidity during management’s current tenure. Who’s watching the madhouse management?
‘Juggling staff each shift to meet the bare minimum patient to staff ratios, at least on paper’
So it really is a sham, a deceit; nothing but spin. Wonder what CMS would say? Sounds like a safety issue for all concerned! A huge risk to the organization.
Who is truly responsible and accountable for these decisions? What will it take to affect change, more despair, more departure, more death?
‘Denying admissions due to medical concerns, and putting off medical care because the funds are not there’
“Do no harm” Sound familiar? This mandates the first issue. Who cries the warning about the second issue, a question of ethics, to where it can be seriously addressed? Leaders choose to act with whatever means necessary to champion the cause.
Losing staff due to the erroded benifits package and increased work related stresses.
All of us are responsible for the continued erosion of our benefits, we have chosen not to act in whatever way we can.
That being said, can someone explain the decisions made to enhance retention? Nurse management given base building increases, staff nurses given a one-time bonus, mental health clinicians and other organization staff given nothing. An active investment and attention paid to physician salaries (not that it isn’t needed), but no others, at least legislatively. Empty promises of promotion, increases, movie tickets, ice cream socials, suggestion boxes, shall I go on? Where are the results of these staff satisfaction surveys given to us all these years? More importantly, where is management’s attention to any identified issues? Leaders choose to act in the best interest of all.
Stress is a reality of our chosen endeavors. Leaders act to alleviate, not create, additional stress for everyone, and modulate all other in a manner that benefits all within the madhouse, not just themselves.
‘Vote, lobby, and organize support for the services we wish to have available’
Here, here! How and where do we cast our vote at the madhouse, to whom do we appeal to strive for that noble goal?
True leadership will lead us out of the darkness and into the land of redemption! Hallelujah!
Oh I’m sorry, I missed it; I must have been blinded by the glimmer of hope. You meant we are to do it by ourselves, management’s favored solution. Except we are not given the tools, the opportunity or the authority.
‘Other wise the entropy will reach some critical point where the organization is no longer sustainable. Cold cost/benifit reasoning will prevail over concern for our patients’
A not so subtle threat and a very astute observation of the current conditions found within the madhouse. Who really created the entropy and who is responsible and accountable to reverse it? Cost benefit analyses and a true commitment to using the results to facilitate effective and productive change would be a refreshing and enlightening approach.
The real and prominent issue here is effective leadership. At the very least, a change in leadership would provide an excellent opportunity for improvement.
Can you see it? Can you feel it?
Shine the light!
All Right! Ok. Spirited discussion! Great Points...need to be pursued....
But listen to this great idea!!!!
The consensus seems to be (uh, the consensus at the committee meeting)..(er, the posse get together)...(um, the a... well, actually, it was the other day at work...)Anyhoo...........
Where was I....There is an obvious problem. The problem has certain tempermental proclivities and therefore is unlikely to change. These same proclivities, however, would make a better job, with more prestige, more money, new secretaries, etc, seem quite attractive to our problem.
The solution becomes obvious: Find him a new, better job.
I hope everyone will look high and low and when they come across something that might appeal, that they will send the job notice to our problem!!! Perhaps with a note of encouragement and a promise to write a supportive letter of reference!!...
What do you think, bloggers? Is this a great idea or what? Please advise!
And for chrissake, GET BLOGGING!!!
g.f.
Interesting, well seasoned, provocative.
Promote the Peter Principle for herr direktor.
It would appear that Iraq needs significant aid with all of their issues and government contractors pay extremely well. And, I hear that 'temporary marriage' is religously sanctioned. What more could one want?
Some outrageous scandal embarrassing the state.
Like a gray haired woman performing fellatio in a 2nd floor office and the subsequent reassignment of the hispanic female housekeeper that interrupted it.
Like creating and/or ignoring near catastrophic conditions that provide multiple opportunities for sentinel events.
Like promoting personal nepotism and fiscal ignorance.
Like fostering a negative, devisive, battered organizational culture that has no other voice but that of an internet blog.
Inquiring minds want to know. Where is a good whistleblower when you need one? Lights, camera, action!
On.. what?
..On gaurd?(zing,)(salute perry thrust)ow..ow.ow..OW!!. Stop that...hard times to be a leader. no money..OW... mission statement not congruent with actions..of states goals regarding long term plan for the hospital?? What's the objective of the commitee when they place a person in such a position? If that were to change.
who is going to pick the next office holder??
The gov? the line staff?
I want a person can communicate, who will walk through the units and come to a team meeting, address concerns, share a vision that might empower... maybe driving a red sleigh.. that will leave me a pointy thing.
E2
Right On!!!!! We do need a true leader. So many interesting points, counter-points and ideas. I really like the fresh idea about having leaders with integrity. One that might put safety first, ahead of JACKOFF paperwork. How about someone that is interested in what is happening at the human level? With our patients AND line staff. The organization is top heavy and needs to lighten THE LOAD on the upper floors before it topples. Unite. Speak out. There is power in numbers.
Now the head of the helm is going to take on another sweet young skirt to help him.....Hum maybe she will ask her brother in-law to give us some $$$$$ from his millions ? I am sure with movie star status we could be placed on the map....
EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT!
Directors Forum a huge success!
Have you heard?! We see the special edition of the Fort in Short that spins a kinder, gentler version of what ocurred and what was stated at THE FORUM and who shows up?
THE JOINT!!! WOWZER!!! Our opportunity to show what we are all about! Been traced yet?
Now there is a group that needs a change. Rumor has it that they are working harder to find problems, to justify their deemed status to los federales and keep those tax dollars coming!
Think they'll scratch the itch?
DR.LAGRENADE'S "OPEN DOOR" POLICY IS AN INVITATION TO PUT YOUR HEAD INTO THE LIONS MOUTH....................IT'S NOT FOR A LACK OF COMMUNICATION TO "MANAGERS",THERE IS PLENTY OF THAT. IT'S POLITICS,PERSUATION,IN GROUP OUT GROUP PSYCHOLOGY,AND A CYNICAL ATTITUDE TOWARD ADDRESSING THE REAL ISSUES. FEAR RULES,THERER IS NO SUCH THING AS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AT FT. LOGAN OBVIOUSLY,WHY WOULD WE BE LOSEING SO MANY EDUCATED,EXPERIENCED AND DEDICATED STAFF............ITS NOT FROM NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE MANAGERS,ALTHOUGH,MAYBE IT IS.
EXTRA! EXTRA!
APPARENTLY JOINT THOUGHT WE WERE A GREAT INSTITUTION! ONLY 5 RFIs! THEY EVEN SAID THEY WOULD FEEL SAFE HAVING A LOVED ONE CARED FOR AT OUR FACILITY! HA! BRAVO KEITH BRAVO!
What's a RFI?
g.f.
IF THE STATE ACTUALLY REALLY KNEW THE GRAFT,FALSIFIED DOCUMENTATION,AND SHINANIGANS THAT TAKE PLACE PRE INSPECTION,YOU WONDER WHERE MARVA IS SOMETIMES,DONT YA........THE PERFORMANCE, THE DANCE DONE FOR THE INSPECTION,WE ALL WITNESS IT,DONT WE,INTERESTING ISNT IT? AND THEY WITNESS US WITNESSING IT AND OUR SILENCE,INTERESTING ISNT IT?THE COLUSION...........GUESS WE HAVE FAMILIES TO FEED,CHILDREN TO RAISE,THEY KNOW THAT TOO,DONT THEY.....SO EFFECTIVE ISNT IT.........SORT OF A CLOSED SYSTEM FEEDING ON ITSELF........LIKE THE COAL MINERS........AND THE SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE......AT LEAST ON PAPER..........HOW COULD PAPER BETRAY US SO........IT'S MADE OUT OF TREES,SOMETHING I ALWAYS LOVE.......ITS A TERRIBLE THING ISNT IT TO WITNESS THE DEGRADATION OF A SYSTEM THAT USES LANGUAGE THAT ACTUALLY SOUNDS GREAT AND IS IN REALITY ABUSEING THE HUMAN BEINGS IT PROFESSES TO WANT TO HEAL,NURTURE AND SUPPORT........IMAGINE YOUR LOVED ONE AT FT.LOGAN AND EVERYONE SO BUSY WITH PAPERWORK SAYING WE DID DO THESE WONDERFUL SOUNDING THINGS FOR YOUR LOVED ONE.........ONLY WE DIDNT..........WE ONLY WROTE THAT WE DID..........NO WONDER AN INSPECTOR ONLY LOOKING AT PAPER COULD SAY,GOSH....I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE HAVING MY LOVED ONE HERE....YEAH, MAYBE PRESSED BETWEEN THE PAGES. THE SADNESS AND HEARTBREAK TURN INTO HARDPLACES LIKE STONES IN OUR CHEST,WE LOOK HELPLESSLY TO OUR LEADERS,BUT THEY ARENT LOOKING AT US. I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE A FEW,EXACTLY,A FEW WONDERFUL,GENUINE,CAREING,SINCERE,HONEST,MANAGERS,I KNOW THEM,BUT THATS ALL,NO MORE THEN THAT. THE POISON AND RANCOR THAT RUN RAMPANT AT FT. LOGAN IS EATING IT ALIVE.THE PATIENTS ARE SECONDARY TO THE ENTIRE PROCESS,WE ALL ARE PRESSURED TO BEHAVE OTHERWISE,WHILE BURDENED WITH VOLUMINOUS EXPECTATIONS THAT LEAVE NO TIME,NO MEANINGFUL TIME WITH THE PATIENTS,WE FEED AND MEDICATE AND HOUSE.......THATS IT.....THERE IS NO LEADERSHIP AT FT. LOGAN.............AMBITIOUS PEOPLE,EMPTY RHETORIC, LEADERSHIP COVERING THEIR BUTTS,AND US WATCHING THE WHOLE SHOW,AND THEM WATCHING US JUST WATCH THEM CONTINUE WITH THE WHOLE CHARADE.
"Requirement for Improvement" They found only five notable deficiencies that need to be fixed! Job well done to all the staff that made the director look good in the eyes of the surveyors!
One time along time ago I was working in a very fine Mental hospital and JACHO came in and the only thing they could find for the hospital to do is put and extra door out of the fine gift shop we had... Did they Know that the hospital paid folks like me to come in at over time pay to make up treatment plans that had been somehow missed.... Back then we ony had 2 social workers for 100 patients.... So yea there would be something missed.... What we have how many social workers per patient hum Tax payer's money well spent hum...
E2 where are you I have missed your great bloggs in the last few days... Oh to hectic with JACHO?
Where Is Shine The Light ? another who must have been to hectic with JACHO to blog oh we miss you .....
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