Big Changes At Valley View Home

Over two decades with only small changes led to a much bigger change taking place locally. Valley View Home saw a little shakeup in September when Health Management Services stepped in to help turn things around for the full time care facility.

Administrator Kandi Svenningson explained that the building had been running on a budget and with some policies that hadn't changed in around 20 years. She explained that Medicaid cuts and a freeze that didn't help pay the full costs to cover each resident. The board met and discussed different ways to help solve some problems and to help keep Valley View up and running.

The home was built in 1969 and has kept up its nonprofit status. The board agreed with Svenningson to bring in a management company to help. Health Management Services (HMS) helped bring resources to the table. Area Coordinator for HMS Karl Rude explained that they're a family owned company that started in 1983. He explained that the six year freeze in the state on medicaid didn't allow room for inflation and gaps needed to be covered in nursing homes.

The idea for HMS to step in was to not only help navigate the healthcare system, but to help some of the gaps that weren't getting addressed. Svenningson said they can also help with legal issues, legislative issues and changes in the market. They are also able to help keep food costs down by buying in bulk. HMS signed on for a two year contract.

Rude said that challenges they faced in the first few months were addressing the costs and looking at fixing the bottom dollars without layoffs and wage changes. He explained that only one person had a wage change when they switched jobs at the facility. The company manages several operations in Montana and North Dakota and they're a Montana based company. While they aren't a big corporation, they are able to bring experience from several smaller facilities.

“We're only big because we help to operate a lot of small places in small towns,” Rude said.

One of the more frustrating changes occurring at Valley View is switching to electronic records. Both Svenningson and Rude joked it was a very slow and trying process, but later the benefits will be worth the extra work.

Rude said that they're looking at the foundation, at investments and making improvements before growing onto what is already there. He also said they hope to focus on the resident needs.

“Often we remodel and expand services,” Rude said. “We're moving into improving care.”

He explained that the community built the foundation of Valley View, it was a community need that many came together to make a reality. He said organizations like Luke's 100 and the board along with some help from the local hospital have helped keep the home going.

Svenningson explained that they're now tackling a capital campaign to help update equipment and services. They've hired a grant writer to help out with finding funding for improvements. Some of those improvements include fixing the fire panels, fixing the call system that is so outdated they can't find parts to replace the existing system and to replace the roof.

“Needs are being prioritized, we've been looking around to see what could be improved and what needs to happen first,” Svenningson said.

While some of these improvements seem to be short term, they're also looking at the long term. When the facility opened in the summer of 1969, it was built for 95 beds. The Glasgow Soroptimists got the community involved and after a decade of planning it was built at its current location for $900,000. Because of different rules and regulations, only 74 residents can be held at a time, with all private bedrooms. Costs have most definitely increased as well, as renovations would probably exceed the costs of building it nearly 50 years ago.