Wonders Never Cease…#268A

 .    The reality setting in, with a change of venue, the skilled nursing facility Colony Park, renamed   Country Villa Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, now  a member of the largest purveyor of Nursing facilities in California, the  Country Villa Health Service Corporation.    Brad not hesitating to give the supervisors a heads-up on the new facility administrator starting in June.  The incoming administrator would be Rashmi Birla, with past experience as an administrator for Nexion Health in Bayview Texas,  and a prior administrator for the Country Villa Westwood facility in Los Angeles.   Brad making a point that this lady was an Alpha.   Type,  “A”,    on the Jacob Goldsmith theory of personalities,  aggressive,  ambitious,  business like, a competitive and time conscious person. 

 .  She  was married with two sons,  her husband Rajnish, a physician,  having acquired a position with Kaiser Permanente in Modesto.  Colony Park having been a prior training facility for corporate administrators under the tutoring of Brad, the supervising staff somewhat use to being approached by a designated administrator, but at the same time having developed an aura of independence in decision-making with Brad traveling to fulfilling his corporate duties.  With the new administrators arrival,  the only immediate noticeable change was her time schedule,   Rashmi with two young children to ready in the morning, arriving after 8 for the department supervisors 9:00 morning meeting

. Gary recognizing the difference between  Country Villa Healthcare Service Corporation, and Colony Park’s diminutive, Healthcare Management,    Jokingly associating to the department supervisors, when working for HealthCare Management,  they might be deemed as,  big fish in a Little pond,    but with the prodigious Country Villa,  as little fish, in a much  bigger pond.    The advent of improvements to the facility beginning,   Valley Air contractors parking a large semi-trailer with a  100 ton mobile chiller to be used as they proceeded to disassemble the old  absorption A C units cooling tower,  and co-generation system,  installing a new 120 ton system .

. With the new management came other changes.  once a month,  Brad and the department heads would meet at the Gourmet Buffet in the McHenry village shopping center for lunch,   plus if there was time,  a trip to McHenry Bowl for a brief  lane of bowling, all compliments of Brad and most noticeably what  would be missed,  the monthly grill cookout for the employee’s,  which now was limited to a social services activity for the residence.   With the new changes, Gary finding his job less challenging,  no longer responsible for the bulk of environmental service departments.  The fall of 2 thousand 8,  a new enigma presented itself,  a hard decision in the making,  maybe it was time to retire, Gary visiting with Fran, the two agreeing.  Gary keeping Brad and Rashmi abreast of his and Fran’s conversation, but having no time frame in mind,  offering to remain as long as necessary for them to find and familiarize someone to fill his position.

 .   Gary’s first knowledge that someone had been hired was when summoned to the administrator’s office,  Rashmi introducing Tony as his replacement.   He was somewhat surprised Rashmi hadn’t invited him to sit in on any of the interviews.  but accepted the circumstance.  Tony appeared to be in his late twenties or early thirties,  relating  he had worked as the  maintenance man at an apartment complex,  Gary asking some basic questions about his electrical and plumbing experience, not having been present for the interview.   It was soon discovered this personable clean-cut looking replacement possessed  a pretentious semblance, with little or no experience confronting problem consonant of a healthcare facility, Gary hopeful he was a quick learner,  pointing out the importance documentation, recording plant equipment inspections required by the state and the necessity of  a building morning walk thru to grasp the obvious or potential problems for the day

. Raul, a visiting Country Villa corporate building operations coordinator having completed an inspection of the Modesto facility,  approached Gary with a list of state code requirement that needed immediate updating.  Apparently,  Colony Park was exempt from the updates, able to ‘grandfather in’ these technical violations.  The first being the absence of G F I’s.   ground fault interrupter receptacles in the break room, kitchen and 32 restrooms.  The second,  replacing the nonlatching window screens and other minor breaches.  Gary began to notice Tony’s work related initiative was being redirected toward several of the young CN A’s,  somewhat unsure  how to approach the situation as there was a lack of contention from them .  It wasn’t long before Tony’s extracurricular activities became manifold,  mentioning a separation from his wife, and a discovery of him sleeping in his car.  Rashmi apparently made aware of the situation from the nursing staff,  a reprimand was enhanced.   With all that was going on,  Gary coming to the conclusion it was time to give a retirement date, then the unexpected happened.  Rashmi calling him into her office breaking the news,  Tony had given notice,  having enlisted in the Army,  asking if he would remain until another person could be found .

 .     The process enfolding once again,   Brad and Rashmi interviewing for a maintenance person,  but this time the position of Safety Director  no longer included.   A second new hire selected, Alex.  Like Tony,  Alex  had worked as a maintenance person in an apartment complex.  Gary extending his stay another month,  this time determined without fanfare, he would bid a farewell to Country Villa,  a clock to no longer  dictate the start of his day.  He was less than 90 days into his retirement when he received the phone call.  He recognized the voice,  it was Rashmi, asking if he could return and resume his position,  adding that Alex performance was unacceptable,  and she had just terminated his employment.   What could one say,  they both knew the answer, you never say no to a friend in need,  his 6:30 a.m. morning  alarm reset for the third time,  compliments of Country Villa.

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