Whew!! Made it to the 26th! that quiet, backwater day in which the ripples of time and events start to diminish...soon the pool will be calm again as the giant rock of Christmas sinks to the bottom.
Unless you've gone out shopping, I suppose...in which case your ripples may last longer...
I like the feeling of "reset" the holidays give me. I do feel like the new year is a new start somehow, and I can put all of my errors and regrets for 2008 into a box, seal it with packing tape and forget about it...2009 is a new, empty box, free of error for a moment, with plenty of room to begin the new collection....or to attempt again, a year free of sin.
I sin more and more as the year wears on. I get tired of being good, don't you? By December I've become my evil twin. I'm impatient with clients' problems, my friends are all exhausting, I have no money (well that's nothing new, really...just more apparent), nobody loves me and I can't stand anybody. Universal Peace and Love are a distant memory...and I'm just holding on, waiting for the big rock of Christmas to hit, because I know things will subside afterwards.
And today they are subsiding! I checked for comments for the first time in weeks and published the ones that were there - sorry about the delay. I've enabled instant comments so that won't keep happening as we (Orpheus and I) wander in and out of Blog Awareness. Now when you comment, it should publish automatically.
I'm looking forward to seeing the Obama administration's version of health care. I saw a lady on CNBC this morning talking about a "health care bubble".... and she was making sense. "Bubble" combined with any economic sector is ominous. And I am constantly nagged by Obama's insistence that making all medical records digital will somehow be the cure for something important. It makes me think he may be laboring under the impression that HIPPA works, too. I wish all politicians in a position to make health care policy were required to experience healthcare first hand for long enough to really get a taste for how cumbersome and unprivate HIPPA has made things. I want someone to get it with me that digital records makes your private healthcare information available to anyone with a financial or legal interest in you, along with their employees in the thousands, but keeps you, your family and your friends signing endless numbers of consent forms when they should be holding your hand or sponging your brow.
I know, I know: pharmacists can't read the Doctors' writing and give the wrong pills, the patient is unconscious and can't provide the relevant history, the patient forgets to mention they've got seven other pain pill prescriptions from seven other Doctors....I know, I know...
But I just want healthcare to be more personal than that, I guess. I'd like the Doctor to talk to my family who'll give the history. So they're wrong - that's what it's like to be human. I don't want to be tuned up like a car based on what the average performance index is...science hasn't accounted entirely for "healing" yet and I want the intangible part.
Anyway.
Hope all of your holidays were happy and that you, too, experience a feeling of renewal. And, Good Luck to all of us in the new year!...we seem to be approaching it with some trepidation; let's think of it as the much to be desired end of the consumer society. Let's develop some other interests this year. I'll bet we could think of something worthwhile.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The Union Needs Your Help
Colorado WINS is in need of Ft Logan staff's help. They are needing you to sign membership cards and volunteer time. You may be getting calls from WINS representative Deanna DeHaven (720-256-7491) the representative of Fort Logan, and from your co-workers here at the Fort.
As Colorado State employees, we are Colorado WINS so we are helping ourselves; the Governor needs to see that there is interest here to give us the voice everyone is wanting to heard.
Already Colorado WINS has been given an audience by the Joint Budget Committee just last week when 3 State employees gave testament to their concerns and needs. So this is the beginning of good potential for future cooperation in problem solving on many levels.
For those of us who are dealing with PERA, specifically folks who are about to retire, don't think the union doesn't pertain to you, since the union will be having a voice in PERA as well.
Orpheus
As Colorado State employees, we are Colorado WINS so we are helping ourselves; the Governor needs to see that there is interest here to give us the voice everyone is wanting to heard.
Already Colorado WINS has been given an audience by the Joint Budget Committee just last week when 3 State employees gave testament to their concerns and needs. So this is the beginning of good potential for future cooperation in problem solving on many levels.
For those of us who are dealing with PERA, specifically folks who are about to retire, don't think the union doesn't pertain to you, since the union will be having a voice in PERA as well.
Orpheus
Sunday, November 30, 2008
North Florida Regional
I just had the inevitable first hand experience with emergency health care....uninsured emergency healthcare, that is. My adult daughter, who has no insurance (one of two daughters in this fix) sprang a leak. She had a perforated ulcer, which resulted in uninsured surgery and a 6 day hospital stay.
I've got to say that the hospital - North Florida Regional in Gainesville, Florida - did a great job. They provided wonderful care. And they provided it knowing there would be no reinbursement from insurance. Bless all of their hearts.
So the taxpayers and insured citizens of Florida, supplemented, perhaps, by the larger group of US citizens, paid to save my daughters' life and they did an excellent job. Thank You, all. This happened right before Thanksgiving; although what we ate was radically adjusted, we had a very Thankful Thanksgiving this year. We (including the recently opened daughter) ate matzo ball soup - nourishing and easy for the insulted stomach to handle. We all loved it.
Of course the stress that launched the perforated ulcer is not relieved by this event....
I heard that Barbara Bush had a perforated ulcer at just the same time as my daughter. I'll bet she has insurance - I doubt that her care could have been much better, though. I can imagine the stress Ms. Bush must feel watching the disaster her son has presided over. I know I feel stress watching my daughters be uninsured...even after watching this recent event unfold, with its high quality care. For the sake of this essay, I'd like to be able to say that if Audrey had been insured, she wouldn't have had the level of stress that produced the ulcer....but Barbara defeats that argument by having the same condition and plenty of resources.
Even so, it's a lousy way to run a country. And a single payer system would result in a better money flow for the providers. If every provider knew that every patient was going to have a predictable, reliable amount of insurance for their care, the system could settle down and focus on just providing care - and save billions in paperwork and administrative costs. Think of the staff it takes to bill different codes for different reimbursement amounts to different payers and try to pursue those who cannot pay because who could pay the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars a life saving procedure can cost to provide?
And think of how it would feel to live among people who all knew that they could address their health needs as they arose - who could all take the medication their providers prescribe (which is to say who all could afford the medications their providers prescribe).
I think we could reduce depression, anxiety disorders and stress related illnesses by 10-15% by having a single payer system. Add up the savings from that, add it to the savings from reducing administrative costs and voila, you've got enough money to do the thing right! Probably - almost certainly - cheaper than now! And as an added bonus, providers no longer have to generate money to pay stockholders who have bet on healthcare and healthcare insurance as a for profit industry. Those stockholders will all have to go invest their money in renewable energy instead.
I'm telling you...single payer is the way to go. Each provider remains a privately run business - it just knows what its product is worth and can run its business accordingly.
And meanwhile, as we wait for this future healthcare paradise, I'm very grateful for the excellent care provided to my uninsured daughter when she needed it. Thanks, North Florida Regional! You guys are the best!
I've got to say that the hospital - North Florida Regional in Gainesville, Florida - did a great job. They provided wonderful care. And they provided it knowing there would be no reinbursement from insurance. Bless all of their hearts.
So the taxpayers and insured citizens of Florida, supplemented, perhaps, by the larger group of US citizens, paid to save my daughters' life and they did an excellent job. Thank You, all. This happened right before Thanksgiving; although what we ate was radically adjusted, we had a very Thankful Thanksgiving this year. We (including the recently opened daughter) ate matzo ball soup - nourishing and easy for the insulted stomach to handle. We all loved it.
Of course the stress that launched the perforated ulcer is not relieved by this event....
I heard that Barbara Bush had a perforated ulcer at just the same time as my daughter. I'll bet she has insurance - I doubt that her care could have been much better, though. I can imagine the stress Ms. Bush must feel watching the disaster her son has presided over. I know I feel stress watching my daughters be uninsured...even after watching this recent event unfold, with its high quality care. For the sake of this essay, I'd like to be able to say that if Audrey had been insured, she wouldn't have had the level of stress that produced the ulcer....but Barbara defeats that argument by having the same condition and plenty of resources.
Even so, it's a lousy way to run a country. And a single payer system would result in a better money flow for the providers. If every provider knew that every patient was going to have a predictable, reliable amount of insurance for their care, the system could settle down and focus on just providing care - and save billions in paperwork and administrative costs. Think of the staff it takes to bill different codes for different reimbursement amounts to different payers and try to pursue those who cannot pay because who could pay the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars a life saving procedure can cost to provide?
And think of how it would feel to live among people who all knew that they could address their health needs as they arose - who could all take the medication their providers prescribe (which is to say who all could afford the medications their providers prescribe).
I think we could reduce depression, anxiety disorders and stress related illnesses by 10-15% by having a single payer system. Add up the savings from that, add it to the savings from reducing administrative costs and voila, you've got enough money to do the thing right! Probably - almost certainly - cheaper than now! And as an added bonus, providers no longer have to generate money to pay stockholders who have bet on healthcare and healthcare insurance as a for profit industry. Those stockholders will all have to go invest their money in renewable energy instead.
I'm telling you...single payer is the way to go. Each provider remains a privately run business - it just knows what its product is worth and can run its business accordingly.
And meanwhile, as we wait for this future healthcare paradise, I'm very grateful for the excellent care provided to my uninsured daughter when she needed it. Thanks, North Florida Regional! You guys are the best!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Magic Money
I got a ridiculous number of phone calls at work last week. My job now is to assist our clients to find and use the various safety nets the community offers....and to help them sort out the inevitable bureaucratic snafus that they encounter after doing this.....
The mental health center I work for did not used to be known for its service to the severly and persistently mentally ill, but all that has changed. We're getting good at it now....and we've got two people working on "benefits acquisition". This allows the case managers to manage more consumers and the therapists can focus on therapy instead of the panic that comes from not having food, heat and so forth. We can provide acute care, day treatment, medication services, everything....as long as the consumers can survive in the world. Survival is the key....the key to mental health and everything else. First things first, is my policy.
Sometimes I get customers that aren't SPMI - they're just family members, friends, people like you and me who need my kind of help....they hear we're there....they have a question, a problem...they call us up as a last resort...especially questions about social security and Medicare. It's a generational thing. At this age (my age) those two entitlements become facinating. Of course you guys out there at the enchanted castle are similarly fascinated, I'm sure, about PERA. Age.... and the economy.
Boy, things have changed in 8 years, huh? Remember when there was a budget surplus and Monica Lewinsky? Those were the days! ....the days that, along with years of days before them, paved the way to today. But the last 8 years were the worst because there was a lazy arrogance in charge that thumbed its nose at the impending disaster the rest of us had begun to anticipate. I'm saying that we all knew, didn't we? ...that it couldn't last...that it was heading in a bad direction....that this herd of beef was heading off the cliff??
But at last I feel like I understand why in news stories, $70 Billion is small change while in my household $70 dollars is a fairly big deal. It was Magic Money!! It was pretend....monopoly...an elaborate accounting game upon which piles of Magic Money could stack up....an online role playing game ... only bigger....and, as it turns out, - more's the pity - relying at its base, on something called "the real economy"....which was mostly ignored. And which languished due to inattention, while the game played on...and on....until....oops....all the Magic disappeared and we were left with just the "real economy"...where $70 is a fairly big deal.
Today there was a big meeting where all the biggest economies got together to try to reestablish the rules for Global Magic Money. Good luck to them.
I'm clear about the fact that I live in "the real economy"...and must contribute to that economy in order to earn my keep. It seems fair to me. My consumers who are disabled are unable to contribute in the same way, and I feel strongly now as I always have, that the rest of us have an obligation to take care of them. It's selfish, really. It's because I wish to live in a world where we take care of one another. It's a sweet coincidence for me that by doing one, I do the other....that "earning my keep" is the same as "taking care of others".
I like to think that we could all live entirely without Magic Money....all of us, everywhere....globally. I think that if we all earned our keep by taking care of others, all of us would be taken care of.
Then we could paint and write novels and garden.
Why not.
The mental health center I work for did not used to be known for its service to the severly and persistently mentally ill, but all that has changed. We're getting good at it now....and we've got two people working on "benefits acquisition". This allows the case managers to manage more consumers and the therapists can focus on therapy instead of the panic that comes from not having food, heat and so forth. We can provide acute care, day treatment, medication services, everything....as long as the consumers can survive in the world. Survival is the key....the key to mental health and everything else. First things first, is my policy.
Sometimes I get customers that aren't SPMI - they're just family members, friends, people like you and me who need my kind of help....they hear we're there....they have a question, a problem...they call us up as a last resort...especially questions about social security and Medicare. It's a generational thing. At this age (my age) those two entitlements become facinating. Of course you guys out there at the enchanted castle are similarly fascinated, I'm sure, about PERA. Age.... and the economy.
Boy, things have changed in 8 years, huh? Remember when there was a budget surplus and Monica Lewinsky? Those were the days! ....the days that, along with years of days before them, paved the way to today. But the last 8 years were the worst because there was a lazy arrogance in charge that thumbed its nose at the impending disaster the rest of us had begun to anticipate. I'm saying that we all knew, didn't we? ...that it couldn't last...that it was heading in a bad direction....that this herd of beef was heading off the cliff??
But at last I feel like I understand why in news stories, $70 Billion is small change while in my household $70 dollars is a fairly big deal. It was Magic Money!! It was pretend....monopoly...an elaborate accounting game upon which piles of Magic Money could stack up....an online role playing game ... only bigger....and, as it turns out, - more's the pity - relying at its base, on something called "the real economy"....which was mostly ignored. And which languished due to inattention, while the game played on...and on....until....oops....all the Magic disappeared and we were left with just the "real economy"...where $70 is a fairly big deal.
Today there was a big meeting where all the biggest economies got together to try to reestablish the rules for Global Magic Money. Good luck to them.
I'm clear about the fact that I live in "the real economy"...and must contribute to that economy in order to earn my keep. It seems fair to me. My consumers who are disabled are unable to contribute in the same way, and I feel strongly now as I always have, that the rest of us have an obligation to take care of them. It's selfish, really. It's because I wish to live in a world where we take care of one another. It's a sweet coincidence for me that by doing one, I do the other....that "earning my keep" is the same as "taking care of others".
I like to think that we could all live entirely without Magic Money....all of us, everywhere....globally. I think that if we all earned our keep by taking care of others, all of us would be taken care of.
Then we could paint and write novels and garden.
Why not.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Someone else's turn at the helm
No one seems interested in blogging anymore and I'm giving up the ghost. Anyone interested?
Orpheus
Orpheus
Friday, August 22, 2008
We've been bluffed!
There has recently come to light some facts and articles about the Utah State Hospital (you know the one we're supposed to be emulating) being in some legal trouble over not keeping their employees safe. The article states that there have been numerous fines to the hospital for this reason as well as law suits. Seems they have had to revamp their system to help defer more legal problems.
I guess that helps make sense as to why we're having the same problems here. Guess HMG didn't want us to know about this. It's been going on over the past 6 years as some of the articles dated back that far.
I'm hoping that by having this come to light our hospital can change (I know, I know). Without the legal problems etc. Don't we deserve to be protected on the job, or were we hired to be assaulted? Kind of makes you wonder.
Stay safe out there and watch each other's backs. Until HMG makes some changes we need to keep ourselves safe. If you'd like to check out the articles yourself just Google "Utah State Hospital".
Orpheus
I guess that helps make sense as to why we're having the same problems here. Guess HMG didn't want us to know about this. It's been going on over the past 6 years as some of the articles dated back that far.
I'm hoping that by having this come to light our hospital can change (I know, I know). Without the legal problems etc. Don't we deserve to be protected on the job, or were we hired to be assaulted? Kind of makes you wonder.
Stay safe out there and watch each other's backs. Until HMG makes some changes we need to keep ourselves safe. If you'd like to check out the articles yourself just Google "Utah State Hospital".
Orpheus
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Hope everyone is happy!
Well it seems that it's time for a mix up at the Fort. A lot of people are making team changes it seems. I would assume to be a little happier or find a way to keep working here. I hope everyone is happy in their new positions as it's getting confusing on who works where etc.
I liked the one from the DON on the new policy that people can only use their cell phones on their break. What break? Hmmm. Maybe someone should enlighten him.
We may also need to be getting the life preservers back up on the wall by what was in the most recent issue of the Fort in Short. Sounds like were having budget problems already with no fix in sight. How did this happen? Why do we constantly have our tails in a crack. There's got to be answers and it shouldn't mean that we take the brunt of the problem (like we did to get to July).
I think it would also help if they were honest with us and let us know what's going on. We're adults we can handle it.
One more thing. There are surveys being passed around for the union. The surveys are a chance to tell what you think needs a fix etc. It will give the union a direction in which to proceed. So please mail them in if you get one.
Orpheus
I liked the one from the DON on the new policy that people can only use their cell phones on their break. What break? Hmmm. Maybe someone should enlighten him.
We may also need to be getting the life preservers back up on the wall by what was in the most recent issue of the Fort in Short. Sounds like were having budget problems already with no fix in sight. How did this happen? Why do we constantly have our tails in a crack. There's got to be answers and it shouldn't mean that we take the brunt of the problem (like we did to get to July).
I think it would also help if they were honest with us and let us know what's going on. We're adults we can handle it.
One more thing. There are surveys being passed around for the union. The surveys are a chance to tell what you think needs a fix etc. It will give the union a direction in which to proceed. So please mail them in if you get one.
Orpheus
Sunday, July 20, 2008
We're back on line sorry for the wait!
Due to unforeseen difficulties (computer crash) I've been unable to access the blog. Gaddefly was good enough to help me figure this one out. Sorry if you haven't seen your postings, but this is why.
I hope you will continue to write in as you all have very good things to say!
So onward and upward. Has anyone noticed how much money is being spent already in the new fiscal year!? Can you believe dear bloggers that the Fort spent 7% of next years budget on the 4th of July weekend alone. Do you fear what I fear?
When will HMG stop letting this happen to us? I believe it is something they can control, but instead bury their heads in the sand and pretend it will all work out.
Now too we have two more difficult cases on the admission teams and no funding in sight. When will they learn? We can't keep cutting our noses off to spite our face and live on to tell about it. I for one would like to know where the money is going to come from. Of course we can't get OT still (saw that one coming a long while back). HSS is doing a booming business at the old Fort. Can this actually be cheaper than paying some of us OT? You tell me.
Glad to be back. Hope to hear from you soon!
Orpheus
I hope you will continue to write in as you all have very good things to say!
So onward and upward. Has anyone noticed how much money is being spent already in the new fiscal year!? Can you believe dear bloggers that the Fort spent 7% of next years budget on the 4th of July weekend alone. Do you fear what I fear?
When will HMG stop letting this happen to us? I believe it is something they can control, but instead bury their heads in the sand and pretend it will all work out.
Now too we have two more difficult cases on the admission teams and no funding in sight. When will they learn? We can't keep cutting our noses off to spite our face and live on to tell about it. I for one would like to know where the money is going to come from. Of course we can't get OT still (saw that one coming a long while back). HSS is doing a booming business at the old Fort. Can this actually be cheaper than paying some of us OT? You tell me.
Glad to be back. Hope to hear from you soon!
Orpheus
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Hang in there folks
Here's to the line staff for taking us through the "budget crunch". The fiscal year is upon us and let's hope that things change once it passes. For it is not only the line staff that have had to endure and cinch up the drawstrings, it is the patients too who have had to suffer because of the lack of funding.
I'm talking about lack of supplies that we use to help make the patients comfortable. I find it hard to believe that we can afford to pay HSS people to work here, but can't afford to buy Kleenex etc. etc.
And about those HSS people. I appreciate them being able to be there and they really do help us out in a time of need. But weren't we told that there would be no pool people to help out and we'd have to pull from our own resources to cover shifts?
I for one am tired of HMG talking out of both sides of their mouths. Why can't they be up front and honest with us. It would sure go a long way to closing the gap between Line Staff and HMG. I have yet to see an HMG person working on a unit to help fill a need. Like we were told they would do.
Hopefully after the 1st things will get back to "normal", whatever that is. I hope to God that they don't keep us where we are and continue to burn out the entire Line Staff body. We need a break here folks. Something has to give and I think the Line Staff have done their share of giving lately.
Orpheus
I'm talking about lack of supplies that we use to help make the patients comfortable. I find it hard to believe that we can afford to pay HSS people to work here, but can't afford to buy Kleenex etc. etc.
And about those HSS people. I appreciate them being able to be there and they really do help us out in a time of need. But weren't we told that there would be no pool people to help out and we'd have to pull from our own resources to cover shifts?
I for one am tired of HMG talking out of both sides of their mouths. Why can't they be up front and honest with us. It would sure go a long way to closing the gap between Line Staff and HMG. I have yet to see an HMG person working on a unit to help fill a need. Like we were told they would do.
Hopefully after the 1st things will get back to "normal", whatever that is. I hope to God that they don't keep us where we are and continue to burn out the entire Line Staff body. We need a break here folks. Something has to give and I think the Line Staff have done their share of giving lately.
Orpheus
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Get those ballots in and search for the truth!
The union representatives met with us on Wednesday and the ballots are out and need to be mailed back in ASAP!! People will be calling you to check and see if you have received your ballots and if you've mailed them in.
If you haven't received your ballot yet you can contact the American Arbitration Association at 1-800-529-5218 and they will get one to you.
If you haven't signed a card it's not to late. Call Bobby Adams (union rep) at 303-903-0734 and he will see to it that you get one. Or check with some of your co-workers as they have them too.
Hopefully you will sign on as things at the Fort aren't getting any better. I've been told that there are over 20 positions to fill. Has anyone noticed all the HSS staff working these days? I thought we were told that there was no money for them or for overtime. When will we be told the truth? Does HMG even know the truth?
Orpheus
If you haven't received your ballot yet you can contact the American Arbitration Association at 1-800-529-5218 and they will get one to you.
If you haven't signed a card it's not to late. Call Bobby Adams (union rep) at 303-903-0734 and he will see to it that you get one. Or check with some of your co-workers as they have them too.
Hopefully you will sign on as things at the Fort aren't getting any better. I've been told that there are over 20 positions to fill. Has anyone noticed all the HSS staff working these days? I thought we were told that there was no money for them or for overtime. When will we be told the truth? Does HMG even know the truth?
Orpheus
Monday, May 05, 2008
Where's HMG?
So where is the help HMG said they would provide to help cover the units. I for one have not seen one member of the HMG on any unit helping out. Seems it was all talk and no walk.
This does not help the fact that assaults are escalating at an alarming rate and seclusion and restraints are on the rise too. Could there be correlation? I think so.
Let's face it people are burned out and sick and tired of picking up after administration's mistakes. It doesn't appear that they are doing anything out of the ordinary to help us out on the line. This in turn is producing increases in sick calls because we've had it.
Again my fear is that HMG will decide that since we can do with less and it will remain that way after the new fiscal year kicks in. It will be interesting to see if this comes to fruition.
This "hospital" has become a very unsafe place to work due to understaffing and HMG's continuing demands that we keep seclusion/restraints at a minimum. This could only be accomplished with increased staffing as there are just too few staff to cover everything happening during a shift.
All this boils down to the safety issue again. How can they (HMG) think that this "hospital" is a safe environment and continue not to help us out. Guess it's up to you and me folks. As it always has been.
Orpheus
This does not help the fact that assaults are escalating at an alarming rate and seclusion and restraints are on the rise too. Could there be correlation? I think so.
Let's face it people are burned out and sick and tired of picking up after administration's mistakes. It doesn't appear that they are doing anything out of the ordinary to help us out on the line. This in turn is producing increases in sick calls because we've had it.
Again my fear is that HMG will decide that since we can do with less and it will remain that way after the new fiscal year kicks in. It will be interesting to see if this comes to fruition.
This "hospital" has become a very unsafe place to work due to understaffing and HMG's continuing demands that we keep seclusion/restraints at a minimum. This could only be accomplished with increased staffing as there are just too few staff to cover everything happening during a shift.
All this boils down to the safety issue again. How can they (HMG) think that this "hospital" is a safe environment and continue not to help us out. Guess it's up to you and me folks. As it always has been.
Orpheus
Saturday, April 26, 2008
We're getting closer!
We're getting closer to the end of the "budget crunch" but at a cost. Has anyone noticed how burned out everyone is getting from working understaffed? Assaults are starting to rise too as patients seem to be aware of our plight and are taking advantage of it.
Sure we're saving a lot of money and so far are staying open, but at a cost. I don't know about you, but I'm afraid administration will think that the current way of operating will be too comfortable and will want to keep it that way after the new fiscal year starts.
If the current rate of burn out and assaults increases there may not be any staff left who are willing to keep working here. When will it end? I fear that it won't and we'll be expected to keep "saving our ship" into the new fiscal year. It's time to start making some noise about this and make it known that this money saving venture comes at a cost to staff and patients.
Patients are not getting the attention they need and are definitely not getting the treatment they need to "recover". We have truly become a warehouse now and it's a shame because this could be a really good "hospital".
Orpheus
Sure we're saving a lot of money and so far are staying open, but at a cost. I don't know about you, but I'm afraid administration will think that the current way of operating will be too comfortable and will want to keep it that way after the new fiscal year starts.
If the current rate of burn out and assaults increases there may not be any staff left who are willing to keep working here. When will it end? I fear that it won't and we'll be expected to keep "saving our ship" into the new fiscal year. It's time to start making some noise about this and make it known that this money saving venture comes at a cost to staff and patients.
Patients are not getting the attention they need and are definitely not getting the treatment they need to "recover". We have truly become a warehouse now and it's a shame because this could be a really good "hospital".
Orpheus
You call this a good deal?
Has anyone else noticed how horrible the choice for insurance is this year? The state took away the only good option for insurance and left us with 3 horrible choices. Some people have said "well just get Kaiser." Unfortunately it's limited to certain zip codes and we're not in one and we don't live in the San Luis Valley so that's out.
The deductibles are out of site and we'll probably just get those met when the coming fiscal year is up. The premiums are going up too which makes the whole deal a farce.
What can we do? Writing your congressman or even the governor are a good start. I've read where you need to write to the governor instead of e-mailing him as he only answers a small percentage of what he receives. Who knows maybe the union could help us here too since it covers thousands of people all over the state.
Maybe it is time to move on as we keep getting put down and put down. If it isn't the Fort it's the state. It would be nice if we could get the upper hand once in awhile. What do you think?
Orpheus
The deductibles are out of site and we'll probably just get those met when the coming fiscal year is up. The premiums are going up too which makes the whole deal a farce.
What can we do? Writing your congressman or even the governor are a good start. I've read where you need to write to the governor instead of e-mailing him as he only answers a small percentage of what he receives. Who knows maybe the union could help us here too since it covers thousands of people all over the state.
Maybe it is time to move on as we keep getting put down and put down. If it isn't the Fort it's the state. It would be nice if we could get the upper hand once in awhile. What do you think?
Orpheus
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Union News
According to the Colorado WINS union reps we are set to get the union here at the Fort. All we need to do is be sure and send in the ballots when you receive them. Several people are helping to remind people to do this when it is time.
Bobby said that we had over 500 cards signed for the balloting to be allowed and that this is well over the 45% that was needed for the balloting to happen. He also said that we will be joined by 32,ooo other people state wide in the union. This should give us more bargaining power when needed.
The cards we signed for the union are being tallied and verified right now and we should see the ballots coming before long.
I'm hopeful that this will help us in the long run and that it will have been worth the effort. Something needs to change here (at the Fort) and this will be a good start.
Sorry it's taken so long to get this news on the blog.
Orpheus
Bobby said that we had over 500 cards signed for the balloting to be allowed and that this is well over the 45% that was needed for the balloting to happen. He also said that we will be joined by 32,ooo other people state wide in the union. This should give us more bargaining power when needed.
The cards we signed for the union are being tallied and verified right now and we should see the ballots coming before long.
I'm hopeful that this will help us in the long run and that it will have been worth the effort. Something needs to change here (at the Fort) and this will be a good start.
Sorry it's taken so long to get this news on the blog.
Orpheus
Friday, April 11, 2008
Union Meeting April 16th!!!
To reiterate what a couple of bloggers have sent in already, there IS a meeting in the auditorium on April 16 at 8 a.m, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. Please plan on attending one of the meetings if you want to see some change in this place. You should also come with agenda items that you want to see addressed.
Two that I can think of right off the top are staff and patient safety on the units due to decreased ratio of staff to patient. It's getting worse instead of better. Also I think we need to address where the HMG could do a little trimming on their level. So far all I've seen are cut backs on the line staff. Do we really need that many administrators?
If you have any questions at all please bring them to the meetings and we've been reassured that they will be answered if possible. Now is our chance to act to help get this place back to where it once was and be as prosperous as it once was. We need to quit living from one fiscal year to the next and hope that we make it. Now is the time for the line staff to take action and we have no one to blame but ourselves if we don't!
Orpheus
Two that I can think of right off the top are staff and patient safety on the units due to decreased ratio of staff to patient. It's getting worse instead of better. Also I think we need to address where the HMG could do a little trimming on their level. So far all I've seen are cut backs on the line staff. Do we really need that many administrators?
If you have any questions at all please bring them to the meetings and we've been reassured that they will be answered if possible. Now is our chance to act to help get this place back to where it once was and be as prosperous as it once was. We need to quit living from one fiscal year to the next and hope that we make it. Now is the time for the line staff to take action and we have no one to blame but ourselves if we don't!
Orpheus
Monday, April 07, 2008
Save Our Ship!
Undoubtedly you have noticed the floatation devices with crepe paper chain links behind them outside all the units. This is not only juvenile, but it advertises the mess we are in here at the Fort. What would visitors think when they see this? Do we want the public to know what dire straits the place is in? I don't think so.
If this is supposed to be a morale booster they are going about it the wrong way. I remember making paper crepe paper chains in grade school. Why not just post the good things that people are doing for the units outside. Maybe have a contest to see who could get the most compliments or something of that nature.
Administration obviously needs some help in coming up with morale boosting ideas. What they have done is degrading and is a shout for help! I'm ashamed for them.
In case you didn't know there is going to be proposed union meetings on March 9 throughout the day. Please try and make it to one of these meetings. This is an effort that could truly make a difference here at the Fort, but we need to come together and work this out for ourselves because Administration is too busy playing games.
Orpheus
If this is supposed to be a morale booster they are going about it the wrong way. I remember making paper crepe paper chains in grade school. Why not just post the good things that people are doing for the units outside. Maybe have a contest to see who could get the most compliments or something of that nature.
Administration obviously needs some help in coming up with morale boosting ideas. What they have done is degrading and is a shout for help! I'm ashamed for them.
In case you didn't know there is going to be proposed union meetings on March 9 throughout the day. Please try and make it to one of these meetings. This is an effort that could truly make a difference here at the Fort, but we need to come together and work this out for ourselves because Administration is too busy playing games.
Orpheus
Friday, March 28, 2008
Everyone Needs To Help
So now we hear the truth. Administration has not squandered $400,000, but $700,000 and we are the one's that are going to pay for it.
Keith and Co. have now implemented the "Together We Can Do It" plan for the rest of the fiscal year. It sounds more like it is up to the line staff to cover for some very poor judgments on administration's behalf. Cost containment I believe they call it.
They are putting it to us that by following the "plan" we won't be cost contained and the hospital won't fold before July 1. Seems to me if there were some better planning done earlier in the year we wouldn't be in this predicament.
They talk about sending people home if the unit is quiet and we are "overstaffed". How about sending home some of the social workers and administration too. Shouldn't the burden of saving the hospital be shared? Why should administration be spared?
We are being told that no "excessive spending" is to be done and that we are cutting costs to the bone. Seems to me we've been doing this for quite a while now.
They have suggested through a memo that if we have concerns about safety issues etc. that we can call the Joint Commission, but should talk to our supervisors first. You should only do this if you want to be the next one out the door, as they don't need anyone messing with their "plan".
When is administration going to take responsibility for what they have done, or not done with the place and help get things back in order. We are already burned out, thus the sick calls that are, as they say, partially to blame for the budget crunch.
Let's face it, administration got us in this mess and they need to get us out in a manner that is viable to everyone, not just administration.
Orpheus
Keith and Co. have now implemented the "Together We Can Do It" plan for the rest of the fiscal year. It sounds more like it is up to the line staff to cover for some very poor judgments on administration's behalf. Cost containment I believe they call it.
They are putting it to us that by following the "plan" we won't be cost contained and the hospital won't fold before July 1. Seems to me if there were some better planning done earlier in the year we wouldn't be in this predicament.
They talk about sending people home if the unit is quiet and we are "overstaffed". How about sending home some of the social workers and administration too. Shouldn't the burden of saving the hospital be shared? Why should administration be spared?
We are being told that no "excessive spending" is to be done and that we are cutting costs to the bone. Seems to me we've been doing this for quite a while now.
They have suggested through a memo that if we have concerns about safety issues etc. that we can call the Joint Commission, but should talk to our supervisors first. You should only do this if you want to be the next one out the door, as they don't need anyone messing with their "plan".
When is administration going to take responsibility for what they have done, or not done with the place and help get things back in order. We are already burned out, thus the sick calls that are, as they say, partially to blame for the budget crunch.
Let's face it, administration got us in this mess and they need to get us out in a manner that is viable to everyone, not just administration.
Orpheus
Friday, March 21, 2008
Watch your step!
It seems that the official witch hunt has started at the Fort. I'm eluding to the incident on one of the admission teams where the RN 3 had his keys taken from him and was told to leave without being told why.
This tells me that the administration is looking for ways to weed out people with anything possible.
This RN was also told that he could not have any contact with anyone working at Ft. Logan. If I'm not mistaken it takes a restraining order for this to occur. I wonder if anything like this was obtained before giving him the boot. Here again they do what they want with us when they want to.
So my friends my advice to you is to fly under the radar if you want to remain gainfully employed at Ft. Logan. They are watching and waiting for us to screw up so they can give us the boot also.
Orpheus
This tells me that the administration is looking for ways to weed out people with anything possible.
This RN was also told that he could not have any contact with anyone working at Ft. Logan. If I'm not mistaken it takes a restraining order for this to occur. I wonder if anything like this was obtained before giving him the boot. Here again they do what they want with us when they want to.
So my friends my advice to you is to fly under the radar if you want to remain gainfully employed at Ft. Logan. They are watching and waiting for us to screw up so they can give us the boot also.
Orpheus
Friday, March 14, 2008
Up and Running again!
Hey bloggers. The temporary problem has been resolved so keep on blogging and look for your comments here.
Orpheus
Orpheus
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Temporary break down!
Howdy bloggers, unfortunately at this time I'm unable to post comments to the blog. I haven't figured out what is wrong with it yet but give me time and I will. So don't be alarmed or angry if your comments haven't been posted. They are all good ones too.
Orpheus
Orpheus
Sunday, March 09, 2008
No More RN's or MHC's
The newest rumour to hit the wire is that administration is going to attempt to replace RNs with LPNs and MHCs with lesser qualified personnel as RNs and MHCs leave this wonderful place. Wouldn't it be nice instead of having a head hunter attitude that administration would sit down with the line staff and work things out. We are after all supposed to help people fix problems. If we can't even fix our own how can we help other people fix theirs?
I put out an open invitation out for administration to do just that. Lets dispel the rumours get down to brass tacks and get this ironed out.
Amazing what a budget crunch will do. To bad we didn't get the emergency appropriations this year like we've been so fortunate to have received in the past. Are we breathing our last at the Mad House?
I can't help but wonder what would happen if we were to get the union here. Did any of you attend the on campus meetings this past week? It sounded good. I'm just wondering if there's anything they can do with what's left. You can call Bobby Adams from the union "anytime" as he said. His number is 303-903-0734. Give it a try.
Orpheus
I put out an open invitation out for administration to do just that. Lets dispel the rumours get down to brass tacks and get this ironed out.
Amazing what a budget crunch will do. To bad we didn't get the emergency appropriations this year like we've been so fortunate to have received in the past. Are we breathing our last at the Mad House?
I can't help but wonder what would happen if we were to get the union here. Did any of you attend the on campus meetings this past week? It sounded good. I'm just wondering if there's anything they can do with what's left. You can call Bobby Adams from the union "anytime" as he said. His number is 303-903-0734. Give it a try.
Orpheus
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Say Goodbye to Propersity and Safety
So you're wondering why all the II and III positions have now been turned into I's? Why isn't there any upward mobility? Just why can't we get outside pool help now?
I'll tell you. It's another careless and half cocked idea by the administration again. This being the decision to house two totally inappropriate patients on the intake teams. They never should have been here as we can't handle the required time and resources it takes to assist these patients.
I'm told now that we are $200,000 in the hole for these patients (which we won't be paid) and that's where all our raises etc. have gone. Now we can't even afford to pay outside pool to come help us out. We're supposed to rely on in-house pool and line staff to fill the holes. Has anyone checked out the sick calls recently? That should tell you that we are burned out and don't want to fill the holes. If anything, the overload is causing us to further burn out. Anyone see a pattern here?
Why does administration think that we can handle these types of patients and not pay the consequences? It appears to me that the danger risk is rising on all the units because we're understaffed and underpaid. Next thing you know they'll be asking us to volunteer our time!
The safety factor is the big issue here once again. Instead of fixing existing problems and bolstering the crew they keep dragging us down with these follies of their's. Right now we're barely equipped to handle our "regular" patients let alone special needs patients.
But of course we're told if we could all just follow the example that Team 1 is giving with the pilot for the "Recovery Program" we'd all be much happier campers and the units would be much safer. From what I've seen, the patients run Team 1 as the line staff have their hands tied with this new paridigm that we are being told to use. Seems to me it's just another in a long line of models that the mental health community keeps trying to impliment but as usual runs up against brick walls with no where to go. Do they really think that this program will help patients live on their own in the community? Most of the paitents are repeat patients and from what I see don't want to try to make it on their own. Of course we provide the out for them.
Orpheus
I'll tell you. It's another careless and half cocked idea by the administration again. This being the decision to house two totally inappropriate patients on the intake teams. They never should have been here as we can't handle the required time and resources it takes to assist these patients.
I'm told now that we are $200,000 in the hole for these patients (which we won't be paid) and that's where all our raises etc. have gone. Now we can't even afford to pay outside pool to come help us out. We're supposed to rely on in-house pool and line staff to fill the holes. Has anyone checked out the sick calls recently? That should tell you that we are burned out and don't want to fill the holes. If anything, the overload is causing us to further burn out. Anyone see a pattern here?
Why does administration think that we can handle these types of patients and not pay the consequences? It appears to me that the danger risk is rising on all the units because we're understaffed and underpaid. Next thing you know they'll be asking us to volunteer our time!
The safety factor is the big issue here once again. Instead of fixing existing problems and bolstering the crew they keep dragging us down with these follies of their's. Right now we're barely equipped to handle our "regular" patients let alone special needs patients.
But of course we're told if we could all just follow the example that Team 1 is giving with the pilot for the "Recovery Program" we'd all be much happier campers and the units would be much safer. From what I've seen, the patients run Team 1 as the line staff have their hands tied with this new paridigm that we are being told to use. Seems to me it's just another in a long line of models that the mental health community keeps trying to impliment but as usual runs up against brick walls with no where to go. Do they really think that this program will help patients live on their own in the community? Most of the paitents are repeat patients and from what I see don't want to try to make it on their own. Of course we provide the out for them.
Orpheus
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Us and Them
Why do we have to have sides here at Ft Logan? By sides I mean us and them. Them being the administration and us being the line workers. Ever since I have worked here there has been this split and it seems counterproductive in doing what we're supposed to be doing here at Ft Logan ie: helping patients get well and get on with their lives.
With the current undertow of anguish on the line staff's part and the "get them before they get us" attitude of administration all we seem to accomplish is bickering between the two parts invloved.
What I fear is that karma is going to come back and bite us all in the proverbial ass and leave us all without a place to work.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could talk to the administration without the whole hospital knowing and that there would be no strings attached, meaning they would "get even with us" in some form or fashion. What ever happened to being able to voice your opinions about what is being done and actually sitting down with administration to figure out what we are going to do to help the clients? Once again I have not seen this happen on any of the units I have worked on.
It seems to me that at this point we are going to need an outside facilitator if this is ever going to happen here at Ft. Logan. One, because both sides tend to piss off the other so often and for another, Administration is unwilling to hear any comments from their "set in stone" changes, ideas, morals.
We have been educated as equally if not more than some of the administration personnel and yet they don't want to hear sound and founded ideas that would help make the machine run a little more smoothly. As of late it has become even more of a battle ground as half cocked ideas from adminitration are put into place without any forethought or planning ie (locking the bathrooms). I'm sorry here too that one unit's inability to watch their unit has resulted in everyone having do to this rediculous task. Of course adminitration's take on it is that it's a JACHO policy. I find that hard to believe. Just another show of force from administration.
The next question is who to get to facilitate lessening of the hostilities between us and them. Maybe the Governor's wife would be interested. She seems to be pulling for mental health these days. Or maybe she could even appoint a committee to help with the transition from a authoritative to a cooperative model.
What ever happened to the job satisfaction survey we recently were asked to fill out? Or was this just another show on administration's part to make us think they are wanting to hear from us. Any ideas bloggers?
Orpheus
With the current undertow of anguish on the line staff's part and the "get them before they get us" attitude of administration all we seem to accomplish is bickering between the two parts invloved.
What I fear is that karma is going to come back and bite us all in the proverbial ass and leave us all without a place to work.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could talk to the administration without the whole hospital knowing and that there would be no strings attached, meaning they would "get even with us" in some form or fashion. What ever happened to being able to voice your opinions about what is being done and actually sitting down with administration to figure out what we are going to do to help the clients? Once again I have not seen this happen on any of the units I have worked on.
It seems to me that at this point we are going to need an outside facilitator if this is ever going to happen here at Ft. Logan. One, because both sides tend to piss off the other so often and for another, Administration is unwilling to hear any comments from their "set in stone" changes, ideas, morals.
We have been educated as equally if not more than some of the administration personnel and yet they don't want to hear sound and founded ideas that would help make the machine run a little more smoothly. As of late it has become even more of a battle ground as half cocked ideas from adminitration are put into place without any forethought or planning ie (locking the bathrooms). I'm sorry here too that one unit's inability to watch their unit has resulted in everyone having do to this rediculous task. Of course adminitration's take on it is that it's a JACHO policy. I find that hard to believe. Just another show of force from administration.
The next question is who to get to facilitate lessening of the hostilities between us and them. Maybe the Governor's wife would be interested. She seems to be pulling for mental health these days. Or maybe she could even appoint a committee to help with the transition from a authoritative to a cooperative model.
What ever happened to the job satisfaction survey we recently were asked to fill out? Or was this just another show on administration's part to make us think they are wanting to hear from us. Any ideas bloggers?
Orpheus
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Building Morale
So what could we do to build morale around the Mad House? Nothing administration is doing seems to be doing the trick. Adding more duties and paperwork to the mix is definitely not helping. Sometimes it seems they don't care where the morale of the hospital is. To me it seems that they are trying to drive off employees.
This ideation has even manifested itself in the notion (hospital wide) that "you will like the changes or get out". You don't dare go against their ideals or you will be faced with this proposition.
Why is it that the only SAFE place to vent about what we (line staff) feel is right is in a blog and in a clandestine mode? I guess the blog is a needed impliment if we are to stay even somewhat employeed at The Mad House.
Maybe what we need is a union here at old Ft. Logan. I was skeptical at first but now see it's benefits. Hopefully they would be able to help us keep the old guard in check and help us little folk have a say in how our work environment is handed to us. I've never been a union person, but there's a first time for everything. As they say. Go to coloradowins.org to get info on the union.
Orpheus
This ideation has even manifested itself in the notion (hospital wide) that "you will like the changes or get out". You don't dare go against their ideals or you will be faced with this proposition.
Why is it that the only SAFE place to vent about what we (line staff) feel is right is in a blog and in a clandestine mode? I guess the blog is a needed impliment if we are to stay even somewhat employeed at The Mad House.
Maybe what we need is a union here at old Ft. Logan. I was skeptical at first but now see it's benefits. Hopefully they would be able to help us keep the old guard in check and help us little folk have a say in how our work environment is handed to us. I've never been a union person, but there's a first time for everything. As they say. Go to coloradowins.org to get info on the union.
Orpheus
NEW BLOGMASTER ARRIVES!!!
Well, it's true....once one leaves the Madhouse, it's issues begin to fade. The Enchanted Castle becomes wreathed in mist. Distant. It disappears into the horizon, behind the oh! so vivid Present Day.
Which, no doubt, is as it should be.
The very good people who work there, however, still have reasons to blog! There, inside the mist-wreathed enchantment, battles are still fought...and the conversation must go on!! There's a new opportunity to make a union a real voice, for example. And other stuff....I'm sure.....lot's of other stuff that I know almost nothing about.....being preoccupied, as I am, with trying to help our disabled clients access their benefits....which takes a lot of attention, I'm telling you!
I do still love it, by the way. I am so tickled every time someone who had nothing is provided, because of my intervention, with a hundred dollars in food stamps and a couple of hundred in cash....It doesn't sound like much, does it. But it makes a real, tangible, visible positive difference for each person...How gratifying!! I can go home at the end of the day feeling satisfied - like I did some good....like I actually helped someone. THAT feeling was pretty darned elusive out there, as I recall.
Feeling good about your work is, perhaps the single best thing you can do for your health. Eating medicinal chocolate is the second. Did you know that if you can get ahold of the good stuff - the real dark parts of the "dark chocolate" (the part that all that research has been about), it lowers your cholesterol, lowers your blood pressure, and provides a complete daily requirement of anti-oxidants. Listen to this!: You can loose weight by eating three doses of it per day! Diabetics can stabilize their blood sugars by eating this chocolate. This chocolate is medicine! Delicious, indulgent Medicine!! Check it out.
Love your job, eat lots of chocolate - that's my motto!
And so, without further ado, I'd like to introduce a new BlogMaster, Orpheus. Orpheus has been situated in the thick of the mist, right inside the Enchanted Castle, and is in a much better position than I to advance the conversation that needs to be held in there. I will, of course, be a faithful reader, and an occasional commentor.
Blog about it, people!!! It's a surprisingly powerful medium...change happens when you write, when you exchange ideas with others in dialogue. Blog!....and visualize the way it could be!
Go Orpheus!!!
Hello bloggers. I hope you're still out there and still want to contribute to the blog. I feel it's about the only safe way that OUR opinions can be made known without some kind of retribution . I'm happy to be the next torch bearer and hopefully will be as proficient at writing as the last Blogmaster!
Orpheus
Which, no doubt, is as it should be.
The very good people who work there, however, still have reasons to blog! There, inside the mist-wreathed enchantment, battles are still fought...and the conversation must go on!! There's a new opportunity to make a union a real voice, for example. And other stuff....I'm sure.....lot's of other stuff that I know almost nothing about.....being preoccupied, as I am, with trying to help our disabled clients access their benefits....which takes a lot of attention, I'm telling you!
I do still love it, by the way. I am so tickled every time someone who had nothing is provided, because of my intervention, with a hundred dollars in food stamps and a couple of hundred in cash....It doesn't sound like much, does it. But it makes a real, tangible, visible positive difference for each person...How gratifying!! I can go home at the end of the day feeling satisfied - like I did some good....like I actually helped someone. THAT feeling was pretty darned elusive out there, as I recall.
Feeling good about your work is, perhaps the single best thing you can do for your health. Eating medicinal chocolate is the second. Did you know that if you can get ahold of the good stuff - the real dark parts of the "dark chocolate" (the part that all that research has been about), it lowers your cholesterol, lowers your blood pressure, and provides a complete daily requirement of anti-oxidants. Listen to this!: You can loose weight by eating three doses of it per day! Diabetics can stabilize their blood sugars by eating this chocolate. This chocolate is medicine! Delicious, indulgent Medicine!! Check it out.
Love your job, eat lots of chocolate - that's my motto!
And so, without further ado, I'd like to introduce a new BlogMaster, Orpheus. Orpheus has been situated in the thick of the mist, right inside the Enchanted Castle, and is in a much better position than I to advance the conversation that needs to be held in there. I will, of course, be a faithful reader, and an occasional commentor.
Blog about it, people!!! It's a surprisingly powerful medium...change happens when you write, when you exchange ideas with others in dialogue. Blog!....and visualize the way it could be!
Go Orpheus!!!
Hello bloggers. I hope you're still out there and still want to contribute to the blog. I feel it's about the only safe way that OUR opinions can be made known without some kind of retribution . I'm happy to be the next torch bearer and hopefully will be as proficient at writing as the last Blogmaster!
Orpheus
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