Sioux Center Health’s Crown Pointe Estates received an award recognizing them for their leadership.
Crown Pointe Estates won the Leading Age Excellence in the Workplace award in Iowa this year. The award comes after Crown Pointe implemented major new changes after having to hire many temporary workers during COVID due to staff leaving. Karen Bentsen, Senior Services Officer for Sioux Center Health who recently spoke on Health Care Happenings, describes the biggest changes they implemented.
“We increased the starting wage of a CNA nurse in the Care Center to be higher than it is for assisted living or even the hospital. We had a hiring bonus of 30,000 dollars that went over three years, but you had to stay on full time. We hired a nurse that would focus on education.”
Today the senior center went from 30 contract staff to less than 5 and no longer has contracts with companies for temporary staff. 15 previously temporary staff have decided to stay and become part of the team. There are also two Directors of Nursing, one keeps track of staff and coaching while the other focuses on quality of care.
Bentsen lays out her reaction to receiving the award.
“I’m just so proud of our team, they worked so hard for this. Our nursing leaders have worked extremely hard and they’re doing it for the right reasons, to give the best care that we can to our residents.”
Sioux Center Health recently celebrated its 75th anniversary and hosted US Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley on his 99 county tour.
