Nationwide, the COVID-19 pandemic has seen retention rates with employees in the healthcare system in a state of fluctuation. Yet, the Southern Ute Health Center (SUHC) is reporting high staff retention rates in recent years with only two staff members having left their positions. According to Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Richard Keller, the pandemic helped the retention rate at the Southern Ute Health Center due to no one wanting to constantly move from place to place and having to start over with new co-workers and bosses during a high-risk time.
“More importantly it is also huge for patient outcome,” Keller said. “If you go see a doctor and it’s someone new every time, they have no idea what your history is, what works and what doesn’t work. More people die more often in places with higher turnover rates, and they do best in places with less turnover rates”
Prior to the pandemic, a larger trend of permanent staff positions was filled with most employees only remaining for short periods of time. A higher turnover of medical staff, especially employees in higher managerial positions, can be a point of concern within Ignacio and surrounding communities. With medical providers remaining as long-term staff members, the patients are more likely to return and receive their yearly medical checkups.
“It takes people more than three or four years to say, ‘I know and trust this person.’” Keller said. “Not just here but other places.” In a health care system where doctors and nurses have consistently high turnover rates, even pre-pandemic, it also begs the question of — how much does it take to replace employees from an economic standpoint. “When a doctor leaves Mercy Medical Center, it costs them about $150,000 dollars to replace that person,” Keller said.
Recently, with the help from Southern Ute Department Health Director, David Tonemah, the SUHC is keeping the community informed with the innerworkings of the health center. “David’s focus is trying to let people know we’ve got a pretty good facility here, turn over being one of those things.” Dr. Keller expressed. “He’s trying to make us more presentable at events, but it’s an uphill battle for sure.”
The Southern Ute Health Center has recently acquired a full time Pediatric Physician, Dr. Sandra Beirne, to see patients and help the Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy staff and students through the school year. Beirne writes a monthly column, published in the Southern Ute Drum, on the topic of children’s health, titled — Tùuchupikivi Sùumuguavi “Good Brain, Strong Heart” — which addresses new topics every few weeks to benefit parents and children in the community.