Staffing vacancy rates at Kansas state hospitals are improving, but still too high

The vacancy rates for some positions at Kansas’ state hospitals have improved over the past year while others remain high after efforts to improve morale and pay.

The hospitals have fewer openings for mental health technicians — the staffing backbone for the facilities — than they did in January, when Tim Keck took over the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services. But he acknowledged the vacancy rate continues to be too high.

The psychiatric facilities have suffered from chronic staffing shortages, and Osawatomie State Hospital lost its federal Medicare certification a year ago, costing thousands in federal funds each day. The state’s attempts to address problems appear to be having an effect, but uncertainty remains over potential future efforts.

Keck addressed the Special Committee on Larned and Osawatomie state hospitals, created after problems at the facilities drew public attention and legislative outrage. KDADS provided a deluge of staffing data to the panel.

Read more: http://cjonline.com/news/state-government/2016-12-19/staffing-vacancy-rates-kansas-state-hospitals-are-improving-still