First,
I want to say thank you to all PI staff and employees
for a very successful Fiscal Year 2006. WE DID IT!!!
We made it through a year of transition, enrollments,
accreditations, reviews, licenses and inspections.
WHAT A YEAR TO REMEMBER!
It began July 1, 2005 with
Person Industries transitioning to Person County Local
Government. Person County welcomed us with open arms
but it was just the beginning of a year full of adjustments
and challenges. How would our employee payroll work?
Did all the staff get their new benefits correct?
How will we handle the transfer of vehicles, new policies,
fixed assets, new paperwork? How difficult will it
be for staff to adjust to new paydays and timesheets?
While we are pondering these things, we realize we
have an OSHA inspection in July and must also begin
direct enrollment with Medicaid. Then comes the notice
that we must be Division of Facilities Services (DFS)
licensed by August 31, 2006 in order to continue to
provide our CAP services. But wait, our National Accreditation
(CARF) expires March 2006 and we have to get the application
in by mid-September. We have our new Medicaid number
to bill CAP but we have to learn how to directly bill.
Then a VR
Program Review is scheduled for October. Meanwhile,
fuel prices are soaring due to Katrina and we have
to adjust the budget.
More questions-How do we
now interface with the LMEs? They are faced with change
and challenges as well. We have new e-mail addresses,
new software. Program Management Team is busy forming
new committees-Client Rights, Incident Review, etc.
We have to review and develop new policies and procedures
to be approved by our new Board-Person County Commissioners.
There are new service definitions. What are enhanced
benefits?
Finally, we made it through
January and we are preparing for our CARF review in
February but there is so much production demand that
we must add a 2nd shift for PI Manufacturing. This
means hiring more employees to cover the 2nd shift.
It is now February and we need to start that application
process for our DFS license, which means getting zoning
permits, fire and building inspections, square footage,
pictures, etc, for the application to be mailed in
May. But wait, how did the CARF review go?
Of the two surveyors sent
by CARF to review our program, one operated a program
in North Carolina and therefore fully understood system
reform and why PI had come under the umbrella of Person
County Government. What a big help! Our review went
well despite all the transition and change. Our survey
summary stated, "Person Industries demonstrates
a strong commitment to improving accessibility and
quality of life for individuals served."
It is not over. After CARF,
we must immediately begin to develop more policies
for DFS as we are scheduled to go to Raleigh in June
to present them to state officials. But only after
an LME monitoring in May. Are you tired?
I want to say we did all
of this with no interruption to our services. We met
nearly all of our productivity goals and had a very
successful year. As quoted in our CARF review, "The
management and staff members of Person Industries
have done an exceptional job during the transition
from our affiliation with Orange, Person, and Chatham
counties (OPC) Area Program to Person County auspices."
Person Industries is a great place with dedicated
staff and committed employees. It was a tough year
and one we will always remember. Thanks to all of
you for your support through this tumultuous year.
Our customers, in particular Implus Corporation, our
employees and families are wonderful people and make
for a great community.
What will FY 2007 bring?
What challenges are we yet to face? We are willing
and ready. But first, the details on 2006.
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