(Juneau) The Dodge County Board’s Executive Committee heard an update this week on staffing challenges for two key departments. Clearview Administrator Ed Somers says pre-pandemic, they had around 350 employees. Now that number is roughly 300. He says inpatient levels are balanced with their current available staff, which did require some redistribution of residents.
Somers told the Executive Committee that $6,000 sign-on bonuses approved by the Health Facilities Committee helped in their hiring efforts. He notes that those bonuses brought in seven full-time second or third shift certified nursing assistants. Somers adds that an eighth hire started last week.
Somers says the bonus was extended to open registered nursing positions, but no hires have been made yet. He was asked by the Executive Committee if there was anything they could do to help maintain staffing levels. Somers said if the Executive Committee could (quote) “wave their magic wand” and increase the labor force participation rate in the 16-to-19-year-old range it would be a big benefit.
He says the last two decades have seen a big drop in that category. Somers adds that the age group, especially for second and third shift in their industry, is where they draw upon to recruit a lot of their workforce.
Dodge County Public Health has also struggled to fill open positions. The department’s public health officer has been vacant since December, while attempts to hire a full-time and a part-time registered nurse have been met with difficulties.
Human Services and Health Director Becky Bell says there has been some positive developments. She says there has been some recent interested in the registered nursing positions but none yet for the public health officer role. Bell says they hope to fill the full-time nursing job sometime soon.
Bell says they are currently recruiting for several mental health and alcohol and other drug abuse therapists. She adds that there has been little to no interest in those positions.
