Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs

PROJECT PURPOSE

The Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) proposes use of ARPA funding business recovery support for the Oklahoma Veterans Centers (OVCs) statewide. The healthcare labor market shifted during COVID-19. Statewide nursing shortages have challenged recruitment and retention of healthcare workers. Low staffing rates limit ODVA?s ability to admit veteran residents in need of long-term care. Resident occupancy rates of Oklahoma?s Veterans Centers are at historic lows. During 2020 and 2021, admissions slowed at times and stopped at times as each Center was challenged with COVID-19 ?outbreaks? (defined by OSDH as a single COVID positive resident or staff member). ODVA requests funding for business recovery for the following initiatives: A. Salary and incentive funding for healthcare providers, including certified nurse aides, certified medication aides, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, advanced registered nurse practitioners, and physician?s assistants and support staff such as recreation therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, veterans service officers, and others; and B. Funding to increase outreach and marketing efforts underway to inform and educate Veterans, families, and service providers regarding long-term care services available through the Oklahoma Veterans Centers and other services in support of veterans? quality of life and quality of opportunity in Oklahoma.

EVIDENCE

Success of staffing initiatives will be measured by growth in numbers for (1) applications received, (2) new hires, (3) retention of new and existing team members and decreases in vacancies and attrition. Similar measures will be utilized for outreach to veterans. ODVA will measure and projects to see (1) increased applications for veterans in need of care immediately, (2) increased applications for veterans planning for future care ahead of an immediate need, (3) increased contact from recurring referral sources, and (4) increased overall awareness statewide of the general and specific services offered by ODVA to servicemembers, veterans, and their families.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Veteran nursing home patients, were physically and emotionally impacted to an extraordinary extent throughout the pandemic. Due to their vulnerable physical and mental health conditions, a number of our resident veterans suffered lengthy illnesses and lost friends and family members to COVID-19. Investment in recruiting and retaining adequate levels of staff to support filling the OVCs to the full capacity authorized by the USDVA will provide meaningful and rewarding employment to the healthcare workers who answer the call to serve those who served their nation in the veterans? hour of greatest need. Statewide shortages have resulted in healthcare workers being over-worked and burned out. Healthcare workers have left both ODVA and in some cases the healthcare industry at large due to fatigue and burnout which was greatly exacerbated by (1) the stress of COVID-19 operations caring for highly vulnerable populations and (2) staffing shortages which has increased the volume of work and responsibility born by each team member. Pair this with the measurable difference, even if it is temporary, between record high compensation of agency nurses and the relatively stable historical wage paid to state staff and it becomes clear that this problem will not improve without financial intervention.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

The Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) proposes use of ARPA funding business recovery support for the Oklahoma Veterans Centers (OVCs) statewide. The healthcare labor market shifted during COVID-19. Statewide nursing shortages have challenged recruitment and retention of healthcare workers. Low staffing rates limit ODVA?s ability to admit veteran residents in need of long-term care. Resident occupancy rates of Oklahoma?s Veterans Centers are at historic lows. During 2020 and 2021, admissions slowed at times and stopped at times as each Center was challenged with COVID-19 ?outbreaks? (defined by OSDH as a single COVID positive resident or staff member). ODVA requests funding for business recovery for the following initiatives: A. Salary and incentive funding for healthcare providers, including certified nurse aides, certified medication aides, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, advanced registered nurse practitioners, and physician?s assistants and support staff such as recreation therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, veterans service officers, and others; and B. Funding to increase outreach and marketing efforts underway to inform and educate Veterans, families, and service providers regarding long-term care services available through the Oklahoma Veterans Centers and other services in support of veterans? quality of life and quality of opportunity in Oklahoma.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

One-time project will not need continued funding