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After much discussion, the hospital board approved a $1.5 million levy for 2023 at the board’s September 15 meeting. This is up from the $1.3 million levy of 2022.
When asked what triggered the levy increase North Shore Health CEO/Director Kimber Wraalstad said two significant factors were, “Our revenue over the last year has been flat, even decreasing, and the two percent sequestration has not gone back into effect, which means we have essentially been given a two percent pay cut.”
Wraalstad was calling from Brainerd, where she was attending a meeting about the crisis in staffing at care centers and hospitals across the state. Because of the mask mandates and testing, hospital/care center employees must wear masks and get tested for COVID-19. However, this isn’t the case in other lines of work, and recruiting to fill or keep people has been a significant struggle, Wraalstad said.
The workforce crisis collapse in the industry is beyond scary, added Wraalstad. “It may come down to it where we have to tell people that we can’t take care of their aging parents, that they have to take care of them in their homes. This workforce shortage is a statewide problem with no easy solutions.”
In her hospital board report, Kimber noted, “During the last eight months, North Shore Health has experienced an acute workforce shortage. While this is not unique to Cook County, it requires that all of our employees work differently; less co-workers, more hours, greater responsibility.”
To reward employees, Kimber said the hospital would provide an additional $3 per hour for each hour the employee works over the next six months starting August 28. The additional payment will be put in regular paychecks in “recognition of the care, support and dedication each North Shore Health team member has given to our patients, residents, community members and each other,” said Wraalstad.
In other hospital/care center news:
Hospital Director of Nursing Troy Bachelor has announced his resignation effective October 28, 2022. Troy has been the Director of Nursing since September 13, 2021. Wraalstad lauded Bachelor’s service to the hospital, noting that Troy “jumped in as we went through the peak of COVID-19 and coordinated our responses. Troy will return to UCHealth at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus to serve as a Registered Nurse First Assistant in the Operating Room.
The Medical Director Agreement between North Shore Health and the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic was updated. Dr. Kurt Farchmin has taken over the Medical Director for the Emergency Department in the wake of Dr. Milan Schmidt’s retirement and Dr. Paul Terrill continues as the Ambulance Medical Director.
CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker transmission rates have remained in the high to substantial category, which means routine testing occurs on a twice-weekly basis for those employees who are not vaccinated or up to date on their vaccinations.
Cook County has one thousand three hundred, and thirty-six (1,336) confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.
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