Trio of Personnel Changes at Valley View

In response to mounting challenges in resident care at Glasgow’s Valley View Home, Health Management Services, the management company hired to run the facility in 2014, has fired at least one long-term employee in recent days. With as many as three local individuals falling victim to what HMS’s Karly Kruckenberg described as “personnel changes,” questions abound regarding VVH’s staffing capacity and HMS’s longterm plans for the much-loved local institution.

Following a troubling quality assurance review by state inspectors (see “Valley View Reels from DPHHS Inspection” in the June 1 edition of the Courier), Daria Brenna has confirmed that her employment was terminated with little to no explanation. She worked for VVH for eight years as a specialist in restorative care (physical therapy) and described shock. but not surprise, at the unexpected move by management:

“They do such strange things with people leaving all time. When they let me go, I wasn’t that surprised.”

Brenna told the Courier that many staffing concerns predate the takeover by HMS.

Social media accounts dated June 14 indicate that Angie Frost, former dietary manager, was also among the employees terminated. She could not be reached for comment.

On June 17, HMS Vice President Karl Rude declined to comment about specifics regarding the alleged firings, citing privacy concerns. Asked to discuss the firings more generally, Rude stated, “I could comment, but I choose not to.”

A call to VVH on June 21 confirmed that Lisa Baxter, former social service director, is among the recent departures. Baxter declined to speak to the Courier for this story.

At press time, sources confirm that state inspectors were at the facility for a follow-up inspection on June 22. See full story next week.