STAFFING CRISIS

In recent months, Field Crest Care Center in Hayfield has reduced its capacity from 45 to 25 residents. And the reason has nothing to do with a shortage of people seeking long-term care.
The home can’t find staff members.
In Hayfield’s case, the situation has pushed it into a staffing crisis, and the home’s administrator is seeking help from the state.
“We’ve had staffing challenges for years, but nothing like this,” said Cheryl Gustason, who has been administrator of Field Crest for 10 years. “This is unprecedented.”
Gustason spent last week communicating with the governor’s office about the problems she is facing at Field Crest. “We’re searching all kinds of possibilities,” she said.
The crisis has also caught the attention of Dodge County Public Health. Amy Caron, who served as public health director until last week, said 100% of Field Crest’s residents are vaccinated while 77% of staff have received the vaccine. The center has had only one COVID case since the pandemic began, Caron said.
“Employees are working extended shifts and they are exhausted,” Caron said of Field Crest. “They are asking for help, and nobody has been able to come in and help them.”
While Gustason is struggling to find new employees, she is equally worried about the workers left. “I have concern of burning out the current staff,” she said. “I have staff working double shifts. COVID has taken its toll on all healthcare.”
What’s perhaps even more alarming is what could come next month. When the federal mandate kicks in requiring all healthcare employees to be vaccinated, Gustason is bracing to lose up to 10 additional workers currently on staff. The center employs 104 workers.
Field Crest is included in 70% of nursing homes across the state limiting the number of new admissions, according to Gustason. She said there are currently 2,300 job openings statewide for long-term care facilities.
Gustason said Field Crest recently put out a mass mailing seeking RNs and CNAs to every residence within 45 miles of Hayfield with very little results.
Residents are also impacted by the worker shortages. In Field Crest’s case, they have closed the doors and limited family visits. “Our staff has had to become an extended family to the residents,” Gustason said.
Gustason doesn’t want to even think about worst-case scenario, but she knows that the center could shut down if they don’t get some help soon. “We are going to do everything in our power to keep Field Crest up and running,” she said, adding she has staff that’s very compassionate and caring for residents.
Field Crest, which is a city-owned facility, has been serving the area for 51 years.
COVID is also taking a toll on people seeking assistance through public health departments in both counties. In Steele County’s case, two to three referrals are being turned away every day, according to Caron.
“We are really worried about that,” Caron said. “It’s an awful feeling to turn people away and having no idea how they are getting assistance.”
Caron said Steele County Public Health is currently in a staffing shortage, though she wouldn’t consider it a crisis, at least not yet. SCPH is currently short three nurses and a director. She said one position has been posted for five weeks and there have been no applicants.
Public Health also falls under the federal mandate for workers to be vaccinated by early December. Caron said 80% of staff in both counties is currently vaccinated. There are 16 staff members in Dodge County and 45 in Steele County.
Caron said that un-vaccinated staff members will not be able to continue employment as federal and state Medicare funding is tied to the new mandate.
“We are very worried about losing more staff,” Caron said. “It’s a scary situation.”
Back at Field Crest, Gustason said no more residents will be allowed in until the situation gets better.
“We stopped taking admissions so we can safely care for the residents with the staff we have available,” she said.