Bayshore takes over health delivery contract

Times Contributor 

 

Bayshore Home Health will be taking over health care delivery for Wheatland Lodge and home care services within Wheatland County as of July 31 this year.

Twyla Lyle, area director for Bayshore, met with staff on June 10 and residents at the Lodge on June 11 to discuss their involvement. Bayshore is one of the four providers selected by the provincial government. Lyle’s office is located in the Calgary area.

“We have been contracted by Alberta Health Services (AHS) to provide home care delivery in Wheatland County and at the Wheatland Lodge. We are hoping to make the transition as seamless as possible,” said Lyle.

Home care services previously provided by Calgary Family Services are now contracted to Bayshore. At Wheatland Lodge, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Shirley Reinhardt said it is business as usual. She will remain as CAO and Vicki Cook stays as resident manager, with Bayshore taking over just the contract for Health Care delivery minutes. 

“Everything remains basically the same,” said Reinhardt, who wants to put community rumours to rest. 

She said the Lodge is not closing, the building still belongs to Wheatland County and they still provide dietary and housekeeping services. 

Staff remain under their CUPE contract, which comes up for renewal on July 31. Lyle offered all jobs at Wheatland Lodge and home care in Wheatland County to current staff first, should they decide to choose working for Bayshore. Lyle said wages and benefits are comparable to other private services. 

Lyle anticipates she will call a community open house, at a later date, to answer questions from any concerned community members. 

Health care service delivery minutes are looked after by Alberta Health Services, falling under Supportive Living Accommodations Licensing Act. (See: www.health.alberta.ca/services/supportive-living-guide.html).

Two AHS nurses have been contracted to work in the Lodge with clients and their families, to develop core plans for their health care needs and level of care. Cook will continue to be responsible for new client intake and resident management. 

“We will be acting as watchdogs for the care and safety of our residents,” said Reinhardt about her and Cook’s continued vigilance over the residents.

Reinhardt anticipates there will be more information about how accountability will be ensured and offered to the community as the transition continues.. Lyle has indicated that the company’s interaction goal with families, clients and the community is for clarity and transparency. Reinhardt said she has been surprised and impressed with the quality of interactions so far.

Bayshore Home Health employs over 10,000 employees all over North America and has been in the Health Care industry for 47 years, 25 of them in Canada. In 2011, the company made annual revenues of just over $452,000,000. Lyle stated Alberta Health Services will be paying for client costs in a manner similar to what was done in the past. 

Internet reviews of the company list positive and negative comments (see www.bayshorehomehealth.com, www.rateyouremployer and www.indeed.com for just a few).

Some of the negative comments revolved around staff complaints and complaints regarding hours limited to casual on-call basis, so benefits did not have to be paid. When asked about the negative comments, Lyle responded that complaints were minimal and with so many staff company-wide, it is reasonable to think there will be a few grievances.

At a recent rally held in Strathmore’s Kinsman Park, Jason Hale, MLA for Strathmore Brooks said he was not necessarily opposed to private care for seniors, as long as excellent care standards were maintained. Hale is advocating for improved regulations for privately run facilities, similar to the ones under the Health Care Act for hospitals, and a stop to health care cuts. He said he will continue to bring the issues up in the legislature. He said if community members have concerns about care, to come and see him at the constituent office.

Community members voiced their concerns at the rally, regarding standards in privately run homes over public care. The preference voiced was to keep the Lodge, Extended Care and home care services publically run. The public are asking for improved regulations for privately run homes in the following areas: 

• improvements to the current staff to patient ratios, 

• hours of care per patient

• better wages and benefits for staff

• more qualified staff and staff training programs

• better nutrition and good variety of fresh, palatable food

• patient safety and protection, 

• advocacy for those who have no family interaction, 

• better emergency response and registered nurses on site 24 hours

• accountability and prosecution for neglect 

• better communication with family members

• improved socialization and recreation opportunities