The coronavirus pandemic is causing a few hiccups with Allen County Regional Hospital’s switch to a lease under the Saint Luke’s Health System, but the process continues.
Saint Luke’s officials have reduced travel to ACRH amid fears of spreading the virus, as the Kansas City area is the state’s hottest spot for infections. Some of those who have been working on the transition process have been diverted to help with the COVID-19 response.
The transition still is scheduled to take place at the end of May, and it’s too early to know if that timeline may change, the hospital’s board of trustees said.
The hospital’s current management contract with Hospital Corporationof America ends June 30. Interim CEO Larry Peterson said he would be surprised if the transition was delayed past that time, but if it were, the board would need to renegotiate a short-term extension with HCA.
“I don’t see that happening,” he said of the likelihood of such a delay.
Saint Luke’s officials also have been working to convert ACRH employees to its system, with a few surprises when it came to things like paid time off and similar benefits.
Allen County allows employees to accumulate paid time off hours and establish an “extended illness bank,” or time that can be used in the event of extended time off such as for surgery, maternity leave and other situations.
Saint Luke’s doesn’t offer that benefit, and sets a lower threshold for accumulated paid time off. EMployees who have exceeded that amount will be paid for the additional hours, or can take vacation days. Saint Luke’s encourages its employees to take vacation time, Peterson said.
Employees mostly accepted the reduced paid time off provision, but were upset to lose the “extended illness bank,” Peterson said.
“That’s something you do not get reimbursed for,” he said. “A lot of people were very upset with that but that was their decision.”
Employees also went through a screening process that included verification of immunizations and physicals to ensure they are capable of meeting the demands of their positions. Employees were expected to begin receiving offer letters.
The transition process continues, mostly surrounding the credentialing process for medical faculty and internet technology changes.
ATTORNEYS for Saint Luke’s clarified recent discussion about a “transition” of home health and hospice services between ACRH and Saint Luke’s, Peterson reported.
Saint Luke’s is not taking over the Allen County service, Peterson said. Rather, ACRH’s home health and hospice division is ending.
Saint Luke’s will then set up its own home health and hospice service, with the ACRH staff, as a new local option.
