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Denton living center staff share claims of burnout, concerns over new overtime policy as pandemic continues
“It’s a powder keg and it’s not good for this vulnerable population,” one staff member told WFAA said. Author: Tanya Eiserer Updated: 10:28 PM CST January 8, 2021
DENTON, Texas The Denton State Supported Living Center was the site of one of the earliest and largest outbreaks of COVID-19 in North Texas, but now it’s plagued with a new problem.
Employees who work there say there are simply not enough people to do the job.
“All the staff are working incredible amounts of overtime,” said a staff member, who spoke to WFAA on the condition that his identity be concealed. “Nobody at the end of their shift knows if they re going home or not. It’s burning a lot of good staff out.”
In accordance with Texasâ COVID-19 vaccination timeline, Denton County health providers receiving vaccine shipments are now beginning to vaccinate the at-risk public, although stock remains limited.
Outlined in Phase 1B of its vaccine plan, the state defines at-risk people as anyone over 65, or anyone over 16 who has a chronic medical condition, such as cancer or heart disease, or who is pregnant. Denton County Public Health spokesperson Jennifer Rainey said that going forward, all of the countyâs health providers who receive vaccines will include that 1B group.
After receiving an initial shipment of 1,000 doses of Modernaâs vaccine, DCPH held its first vaccine clinic Monday for emergency medical service providers and home health care workers, part of the stateâs 1A group. It received another 100 vaccines Tuesday and now has about 450, which Rainey said will be used at another clinic Monday for both the 1A and 1B group.
“The letter that I got the other day from the director said that I would be hearing from them soon to find out if Amber’s a candidate for the vaccine,” she said.
Like many family members of residents of long-term facilities, Biggs has been concerned about the overall impact COVID-19 has had on her daughter.
“If Amber got COVID she would be moved out of her familiar settings and put in a different unit with different staff and those kinds of things,” said Biggs. “For me, not being able to come in there and come alongside the team and care for her. That is a big concern.”
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