CoxHealth working to add to its workforce by adding students

LAMAR, Mo. – CoxHealth is beefing up its workforce by opening positions for college and high school students.

Lamar Senior Jillian Humes is a student in the health occupations class at the Lamar Career and Technical Center. She’s got big plans for her future. “I plan to either pursue trauma, like in an ER, or orthopedics.”

Now, a new program from CoxHealth, could help her reach her dream. CoxHealth Vice President of Human Resources Andy Hedgepeth says “This is an incredible opportunity for a student to apply their learning, not just what they’re learning in a classroom but to see it first hand and to do it firsthand.”

CoxHealth is supplementing it’s workforce with college and high school students who are interested in a career in healthcare by allowing them to apply for various support positions in the hospitals, including, Cox Barton County Hospital. Hedgepeth says “This role gives perspective students, or individuals who want to go into healthcare for a career, kind of a jump start, if you will, to what that career can look like, it gives them some extra experience in a clinical setting.”

They need the help due to rising COVID cases in Southwest Missouri. For Humes, the pandemic doesn’t scare her, it encourages her. “I definitely think it would give that more ‘in your face’ type of experience, only because, a pandemic is not something that we go through all the time, obviously, and I think it just shows what healthcare really is.”

Safety is a top priority for the students, and they’ll be required to go through the same orientation and safety training as any other employee. Humes is looking forward to the opportunity to serve her community now, and grow her future. “When someone’s in need, they’re really in need, and it takes a very special person to work in trauma, and I hope that I can fill the shoes of someone who works in trauma now.”

If you’re interested in joining CoxHealth – we’ve got some information below.

College students can text “student” to 417-269-5627 or apply to these new temporary roles here: https://careers-coxhealth.hctsportals.com/jobs/1093808-health-care-student-support-role?q=20222536

High school students can text “unit” to 417-269-5627 or apply here: https://careers-coxhealth.hctsportals.com/jobs/936868-unit-assistant?q=unit%20assistant

Existing RNs who want flexible hours and to support during the surge can apply for our Support RN role by texting “support” to 417-269-5627 or clicking here: Support RN – All Locations in Springfield, MO – CoxHealth (hctsportals.com)

New Oklahoma law allows for self-pour drinks

GROVE, Okla.–Jason Evans has been in the restaurant industry for a long time and says in all his experience, he’s never seen a workforce shortage this bad.

“I started out over in Joplin at red hot and blue with mitch Allen, was there for a few years, going to Witchita, and ran some places old Chicago, fox, and hounds…I’ve been doing this a long time and never seen a situation like we’re in right now.”

But, some newly passed Oklahoma legislation is aimed at fixing this, while also giving customers a more enjoyable experience.

The new law allows patrons to serve themselves beer and wine, from an automated machine.

Patrick Lively, from the Craft Brewers Association of Oklahoma, says he believes this is a step in the right direction, after seeing the industry struggle for over eighteen months, and believes the new law could help with that.

“We’re seeing people reduce their hours because they can’t staff them, or keep portions of their restaurants of ours closed because they’re unstaffed, so I definitely think there’s a huge motivation there,” Lively said.

Although the law is so new, Evans says he won’t rule out bringing it to his own businesses, and he’s already seen it used in some parts of the state.

“They’ve got them at baseball stadiums and different things where you just put your cup on the thing, that little deal and it fills up your beer and then just go on down the road…there’s definitely some potential for us to do something like that here,” he said.

Lively adds that this new law gives restaurants more flexibility to do more with less, while they struggle to hire more people.

“There are new struggles to deal with staffing, and so the ability for them to adjust and adapt have had some flexibility and maybe get some more people in their doors with less staff I think has to be seen as a positive thing.”

And this new device won’t just be limited to larger cities either.

“Growth and innovation in the food and beverage scene and rural Oklahoma in ways that we’ve never seen before, we’re seeing breweries open up in places we didn’t think we would see for years, and so I think you know if someone has the vision and they think it’s good for their community yo know the legislature has now cleared the path for them to be able to pursue that dream”

Especially as says he and other area businesses struggle due to low staffing,

“Because everybody’s so short-staffed I mean I literally have cooks in the back that are fielding calls from other restaurants saying hey can you come work for me?”

The self-serve alcohol machines will only serve people up to thirty-two ounces of beer and ten ounces of wine, employees will be able to keep track of the exact amount and make sure the customer is served and charged properly.

DESE makes changes to substitute teacher certification requirements

CARL JUNCTION/NEOSHO, Mo. – There’s a severe shortage of substitute teachers in the State of Missouri and nationwide. Now, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, or “DESE”, has removed a barrier for substitute certification.

Makayla Donham is a substitute teacher. Right now, she’s helping out at the Carl Junction Primary Center. She began subbing last year and has completed at least 60 college credit hours, which, up until now, has been the requirement to get certified as a substitute in Missouri. But, there’s a severe substitute shortage, that even Makayla, has noticed. “We are really needing substitutes in our building, I have seen other schools that I have worked at that they will replace specials teachers and put them in real classrooms if needed, which kind of takes away from our students.”

DESE recently added a new pathway to becoming a certified substitute in Missouri. Those interested in being subs can now take a 20 hour online course from DESE to receive their certification. Carl Junction Superintendent Dr. Phil Cook is hopeful that will bring in more candidates. “That’ll help a little bit, it’s still up to us, when people come in to apply to be a sub, it’s important that we’re putting good people in the classroom with our kids.”

Carl Junction isn’t the only district seeing the shortage, Neosho is another on that long list. Neosho’s Superintendent, Dr. Jim Cummins, sees the change as opening a door to other qualified candidates that may not have completed the 60 college credit hours. “To me, what DESE has done is allowed us to do that, to go out and train the people that we need to come in and be subs without going through some of old standards.”

Makayla says the change is a good thing, as the need for subs is causing other issues in the schools. “Personally I think it’s helpful because our kids are in such a spot where we’re really in a bind that if they aren’t getting someone in that classroom to watch over them, to care for them, then they might get their resources taken away from them.”

She’s hopeful more people will sign up to get their substitute certification. “I 10 out of 10 recommend being a substitute.”

Carl Junction approved a pay raise for substitutes just last week, bringing their daily pay up to $100 in an effort to attract more qualified candidates.

Many 4-State grocery stores say shelves are stocked

Supply, shipping, and trucking issues have led to higher prices and empty shelves at stores across the country, and it’s got many shoppers concerned.

A new survey from Oracle says that 52% of Americans have responded by getting a head start on their holiday shopping.

But when it comes to keeping the pantry stocked, 4-Staters may be in luck. The owner of Ron’s Supermarket in Pittsburg says that planning ahead has his grocery store ready for the holidays.

“We have not experienced the supply chain issues that we were experiencing a year ago. There are a few things here and there but we work very closely with our suppliers to make sure that when we see something coming, we prepare for it and order in advance,” said Tim Rhodes, owner and manager of Ron’s Supermarket.

And it’s not just Ron’s Supermarket that says shoppers can find what they need. KOAM also reached out to Apple Market in Columbus, King Cash Saver in Carthage, Harps in Joplin, and Food 4 Less in Joplin, and only Food 4 Less said they’re having issues keeping items in stock.

The other grocery stores say shoppers don’t have to take any extra steps to get what they need for a holiday feast.

“We are looking at our turkey supply chain in regards to our meat shop, and right now we’re in good shape. So we haven’t started any preordering for customers on that just yet because we know we’re getting everything we’re supposed to,” said Rhodes.

You can find more holiday shopping tips here.

Grove businesses struggling due to worker shortages

GROVE, Okla.– Worker shortages are affecting businesses all over, but Grove Oklahoma has been hit hard in the past few months.

“Most all businesses here in Grove, it’s been very difficult for all businesses I think you can drive through town and there’s a help wanted sign on almost every business here in town,” said restaurant owner Terry Eskew.

Eskew owns the Honey Creek barbecue in Grove, it’s one of two restaurants he owns. But it’s the only one he can currently use. His other restaurant, the Parrot Steakhouse had to close.

“It’s called the parrot steakhouse and grill…Went from being closed for 45 days due to the shutdown, we’ve been running on a very minimal short-staffed  crew, year and a half we’ve run on that short staff crew, you know it’s just no applications, people just aren’t coming and applying,”

Now he says he’s had to combine his two restaurants after The Parrot Steakhouse had to close due to low staffing.

“We had 2-3 members of our staff come down with Covid…and so we were unable to open through the labor day weekend, and of course with short staff 1 or 2 people are out then it just makes it impossible to operate, so we had to be closed for a minimum of two weeks…we’re just unable to hire any staff, so my wife and I just decided that instead of running the restaurant on a partial staff, not operating the way it should run, we just temporarily closed the doors for now,” Eskew said.

Their situation isn’t unique for Grove either, Donnie Crain, president of Grove’s Chamber of Commerce says he’s been seeing plenty of businesses shutting their doors.

“With Covid and some of the impacts from that, it’s been an increasing problem here in Grove and grand lake, finding employees and particularly those employees that are employers can depend on to be at work every day like you need to run a business,” Crain said.

Even after combining the two restaurants, Eskew says he still struggles with staffing but can keep his restaurant operational for the time being.

According to Crain, the job market is in a position that’s easier on employees, harder on employers.

“It’s an employees market at this time because so many people need good workers, and for those that may be looking for more stable income, year-round employment, and stuff, sometimes that will be a factor in when they’re deciding where they want to work versus other places,” Crain said.

Joplin School District approves incentives to improve bus driver shortage

JOPLIN, Mo. –The Joplin School District is facing a bus driver shortage, and is currently working to address the problem.

“If we don’t have backups, which is where our real shortage is, we need about ten to twelve, substitute drivers, with the routes that we have,” said Michael Bevis, Joplin Schools transportation director.

And this shortage is directly impacting students in Joplin Schools.

“We combine our routes this year, which made some of them kind of at the limit…so some of those routes now are right at an hour,” Bevis said.

Now, the Joplin school board is stepping in to deal with the shortage. 

They proposed two incentives as a way to gain more employees.

“One is for us to provide an immediate wage increase for the bus drivers. that’s the first thing. A dollar fifty to a dollar ninety an hour depending upon what step of the salary schedule the drivers are on,” said Dr. Kerry Sachetta, Assistant Superintendent of Operations for the Joplin School District. 

That would mean drivers could be paid up to seventeen ninety-three an hour.

“Part of the proposal is also to recommend to the board that we also provide some incentives for drivers,” Sachetta said. 

So if a current driver were to recruit a new driver that stays with the district, they could both receive a five hundred dollar bonus.

Getting these new drivers could ultimately add to the safety of the students, something their transportation director warns about.

“When you don’t have enough drivers and you’re trying to get things done short handedly it’s not as safe as it should be,” Bevis said. 

This is why the district says action needs to be taken to give students the education they deserve.

“Joplin is in the same situation as every other school district around, every school district in the state, every school district in the country…so we’re hoping that this will help get things back to normal,” said Sachetta. 

At Tuesday’s school board meeting, the board decided to approve these incentives, and they will go into effect as soon as October 2nd.

Unvaccinated Medicalodges employees suspended

SOUTHEAST KANSAS–Nursing home shortages are impacting a local facility.

The American Health Care Association says it’s a problem for almost half of nursing homes in the country due to vaccine requirements.

On August 18th, President Biden announced that his administration will require all nursing home staff to vaccinate against Covid-19.

Following this announcement, Medicalodges announced almost a week later that employees providing services directly to residents must be fully vaccinated.

For employees who aren’t like Michael Kloer, they’re now being suspended.

“It’s a two-week suspension, without pay. due to the fact that I did not get that vaccine by the required date of September seventeenth,” Kloer said.

And Kloer isn’t the only employee who’s been suspended, those unvaccinated can no longer enter the building, meaning less staff to take care of residents.

Medicalodges was already facing a workforce shortage, due to the conditions workers faced during the pandemic.

 In a statement from the nursing home, they tell us that they did establish a timeline for employees to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.  

“On August 18, 2021, President Biden announced that nursing homes must vaccinate their staff against COVID-19. In an announcement on August 24, 2021, Medicalodges did establish a timeline for employees, contractors, and vendors who provide services directly to residents/clients to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. While a few employees decided to leave their employment, Medicalodges Girard was challenged to attract and hire employees well before the vaccination requirement. The ongoing experience of individuals who work in nursing homes, and in healthcare in general, throughout this COVID pandemic has had its impact on a workforce willing to continue working in these settings. We are especially grateful for our employees at Medicalodges Girard and Medicalodges Frontenac, as well as at all our locations. They have demonstrated our mission to serve and enhance the lives of others with caring hands and our duty as health care providers to protect as much as possible those in our care. Being vaccinated is the best weapon we have against COVID. While a few employees decided to leave their employment, Medicalodges Girard was challenged to attract and hire employees well before the vaccination requirement.”

-Shannon Lager, Medialodges Vice President & Chief Operations Officer

But unvaccinated employees on leave say they believe the requirement has an impact on the shortage, and ultimately the care of their residents.

“It will not only have an effect on the residents that are being cared for, it also is the stress of the people that have had the covid shot that are still working there because they’re going to have to work longer hours, they’re going to work with a shortage of nurses,  CNA’s, even housekeeping,” said Teresa Andrews, another former employee.

Kloer said he was fine with wearing extra protection as an option to remain unvaccinated,

“There was a big push for the vaccine to begin with…you get the vaccine, you don’t have to wear full PPE, if you don’t get the vaccine, we’re gonna make you wear the full PPE.”

But now that option is gone. and with nursing homes across the country already facing staffing shortages, this requirement could make things harder.

Medicalodges Girard residents move to Frontenac location due to worker shortages

GIRARD, Ks. & FRONTENAC, Ks.–Medicalodges in Girard, Kansas is moving nineteen residents to their Frontenac location. 

Medicalodges says it’s due to the company dealing with a worker shortage.

In a statement that Medicalodges sent to KOAM, we were informed that an ongoing worker shortage was the reason for the move and that this will ensure residents will continue to receive the necessary care and services. 

“The ongoing workforce shortage forced the move to ensure residents continued to receive
necessary care and services. Residents and their family members were notified personally and by phone
and were agreeable and understanding of the necessity of the move. The Kansas Department of Aging
and Disability Services, as well as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, were also informed in advance
of the emergency move as the result of a workforce crisis.” said Medicalodges Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, Shannon Lager.

Medicalodges responded that the move went smoothly and that all Medicalodges Girard residents who were moved arrived at the Frontenac location on Wednesday afternoon. 

“Medicalodge’s first priority is to care for our residents. Our experience is not unlike that of many
employers in the area and across the country in that we have been unable to attract and hire sufficient
personnel to care for our residents at our Girard location. Healthcare, and long term care settings
especially, have been significantly affected by the workforce shortage” Lager said.

Due to the proximity of the two locations, remaining employees from the Girard location were able to transfer to Girard.

“We are thankful to have another location in close proximity so resident
family members and visitors are still close by. The close proximity has also allowed the remaining
Medicalodges Girard employees to transfer to Medicalodges Frontenac along with the residents. It is
expected the move for residents and employees will be temporary but is dependent upon an improved
workforce.”

We reached out to see if a vaccine mandate had anything to do with the worker shortage, and have not yet heard back.