Agency Free! A Cause for Celebration
Baptist Homes & Healthcare Ministries is celebrating being agency-free for the first time since 2019. This achievement ensures residents and neighbors are cared for by Baptist Homes employees, not contract workers.
Since 2020, Baptist Homes spent over $3 million on agency, or “temp worker” staffing. Unlike most industries, healthcare staffing is regulated by state and federal standards. Maintaining staffing standards necessitated agency at most Baptist Homes campuses. During the June 2023 leadership meeting, directors from every department and campus identified agency as the number one threat to Baptist Homes. As a result, “Elimination of Agency and Retention of Quality Staff” became the priority strategic initiative for 2024.
While agency staff hold appropriate credentials, they are not vetted based on our guiding principles as a Christian ministry. Additionally, agency staff costs far more than trustworthy employees. Addressing this priority initiative was a collaborative effort by administrators, nurses, HR directors, and home office leadership.
On March 15, 2024, Baptist Homes became one of a handful of senior care providers that are “Agency Free!” In addition, Baptist Homes has enjoyed a 50% reduction in turnover in the past year and now enjoys a nursing turnover that is half the national average.
In March 2024 Baptist Homes corporate and regional offices were honored with the Best Christian Workplace certification for 2024. Our prayer is for each campus to achieve certification as a Best Christian Workplace. The collaborative effort to become Agency Free is a great launching point toward this goal.
Baptist Homes & Healthcare Ministries Finalized Purchase of Tri-County Care Center
Baptist Homes & Healthcare Ministries is pleased to announce the complete purchase of Tri-County Care Center, Vandalia, MO. Baptist Homes has been providing management services for this home for approximately one year. Today, September 1st, 2023, the campus is the eighth home in the Baptist Homes family of ministries.
Baptist Homes Tri-County now operates as a Skilled Nursing Facility including a remodeled Memory Care Neighborhood and a Residential Care Community. The Home offers in-house therapy, IV Therapy, Palliative Care, Respite Care, and Adult Day Care services. According to Rodney Harrison, BHHM President, “Much of the remodeling and refreshing at the campus was undertaken by volunteers. The campus is blessed with abundant support from area churches and local communities.”
A dedication celebration is being planned for later in September. You can reach Baptist Homes Tri-County at (573) 594-6467, hlunsford@bhhm.org, and the campus is located at 601 N Galloway Rd. Vandalia, MO 63382
