DMVA Announces Restructuring of Veterans Home Workforce

HARRISBURG, Feb. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs today announced that it will begin restructuring its workforce at its veterans homes as part of an efficiency initiative, while maintaining quality care for its residents.

"As a result of several efficiency initiatives, including best management practices, overtime reduction, and procurement efficiencies, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is able to reduce veterans homes costs by $6.2 million while providing the same level of care at all of its facilities," said Major General Wesley E. Craig, the state's Adjutant General. "These changes will result in elimination of 67 positions – out of more than 1,800 – at DMVA's six veterans homes." 

The quality of DMVA's state veterans homes is measured by the surveys of satisfaction taken by residents and their families. In those surveys, the veterans homes' overall satisfaction rate is 94 percent, compared to an 82 percent national average for long-term care. DMVA's commitment to maintaining that same high level of care is unwavering. 

"No nursing positions will be eliminated as part of these furloughs. In fact, we added 20 nursing positions to the veterans homes two years ago, and we have no plans to reduce that number," said Craig.

The elimination of positions will result in some furloughs, which will take place in five phases over the next few months.

A key element of this initiative is to standardize the program so that all six veterans homes are providing the same high-level of care in the most cost-effective manner possible. The DMVA has adopted system-wide the best practices of one or two of the homes, and integrated sound, efficient business practices into all of its homes.

The DMVA's proposed 2012-13 budget continues to provide top-quality care for nearly 1,600 veterans in the state's veterans homes.

"We have already implemented many of these initiatives and we are confident that we will maintain an outstanding level of care for our veterans even as we make these adjustments," Craig said.

Media contact: Joan Nissley, 717-861-8720  

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs