Medicalodges Eudora is reinventing its image and hopes to bring the community back into the facility following COVID-19.
Administrator Tom Pfeiler’s goal is to change the atmosphere and community engagement at Medicalodges.
Pfeiler started at Medicalodges about a year and a half ago as a social worker and recently became the administrator. Previously, he was a social worker for over 10 years in long-term care at skilled-nursing facilities.
Pfeiler wants to change the community perception of the nursing home. The building was recently updated and renovated with help from staff to create a more comfortable and welcoming environment.
At the start of the pandemic, Pfeiler said the home lost about 25% of its workforce. They were left with a workforce that was not adequate in many ways, he said.
Medicalodges had to rely on agencies to employ nurses and CNAs, which also complicated staffing issues. A main priority is eliminating the need for these agencies.
“We relied on staffing agencies and we also developed some bad habits and stopped holding our employees accountable because we were afraid they would quit,” Pfeiler said. “We were down to just the last essential people it feltlike.”
Medicalodges is still trying to hire 16 nurse aides to help eliminate the use of staffing agencies, which charge expensive fees.
“Because we are not so focused on profit every three months, we can plan for the long run.We can take care of our employees. We pay for them to become CNAs if they need that assistance. We help them become nurses,” Pfieler said. “We are dedicated to a positive work culture.”
Eduardo Renteria started at Medicalodges as a CNA in high school and, after exploring other jobs, he came back in February to work as director of nursing.
“Now I just want to kind of bring this building back up to what it once was back all that time ago. We definitely just want to get the word out because we know how supportive Eudora can be with new businesses and things like that,” Renteria said.
Medicalodges hopes to get the word out to let Eudora residents know it is open to community engagement activities and events.
Pfeiler and Renteria agreedthe facility has not returned to the community involvement it had prior to the pandemic. Pfeiler hopes to bring back events like carnivals and block parties.
Pfieler started a volunteer committee and is looking for community members who would like to get involved in the facility. Those interested can reach out to Pfeiler at [email protected].
Medicalodges activities director Lori Balderston has worked in the building almost five years and has seen the changes taking place with Pfeiler’s new leadership.
Balderston talked about motorcycle and car shows potentially starting over the summer and hopes to bring residents new activities outdoors while engaging the community.
“We’ve tried to change the culture of the building, weed out the bad and bring in the good, and it’s really been working,” Balderston said. “It’s really taken a 360. It’s turned around a lot.”
Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected]
