St. Joseph's partners with Rehab Visions

Effective last week, Rehab Visions is providing rehabilitation services at St. Joseph's Hospital in Dickinson.

The new partnership allowed for some of the 15 Physical Therapy Department employees to remain, while others were let go, some with severance packages.

Carolyn Riley, interim CEO for the hospital, said the decision to go with Rehab Visions was made due to their reputation.

"They are highly thought of by the medical staff and we had preliminary conversations with them and the conversations seemed like their focus on patient care was very much aligned with ours," Riley said. "We thought this was an excellent opportunity for us to partner with them. "

Teri Bleich, a physical therapist who worked for the hospital on an "as needed" basis, said she was informed April 1 during a departmental meeting that Rehab Visions would be taking over the department.

"(He said) we no longer have a job, Rehab Visions has a contract to fulfill, so that was the extent of the explanation and then we had to turn in our keys and badges," Bleich said.

Rehab Visions informed the group there would be interviews the following day for positions. While Bleich did not receive a position, seven others received positions with Rehab Visions and three were moved to positions within the hospital.

"Everyone did have the opportunity to interview in terms of the staff," Riley said. "Most of the employees were hired on by Rehab Visions."

Bleich said the change came as a complete shock to all of the employees, herself included, because there was no advance notice.

"I thought their core values of compassion, respect and integrity were very much violated," Bleich said. "Catholic Health Initiatives had asked the rehab department to improve their proficiency, improve their profitability and their staffing. We had done all those things. So that's why we were really taken by surprise."

Bleich said there are no job opportunities here for her to pursue, so she and her husband plan to look elsewhere, including Bismarck.

"There are no jobs in Dickinson so I'm looking elsewhere along with everyone else," Bleich said. "I think we're all in the process of getting over the shellshock and trying to figure out what to do. If you weren't hired by them, there are no jobs here."

After being in Dickinson two and a half years, Bleich said she feels like she has made a home.

"We don't want to just pick up and move," Bleich said. "I don't want to come off as a disgruntled person, but I do want people to know we're no longer there and it was done abruptly and rudely."

Dennis Cannon, director of marketing for St. Joseph's said the decision wasn't a punitive measure.

"It wasn't about reprimanding staff, it was just a business decision," Cannon said.

Cannon added any of the employees that were not hired by Rehab Visions or the hospital would have the first opportunity to apply for any open positions in the hospital if they qualify.

Rehab Visions has a clinic in Dickinson and clinic operations will not change, said Jean Herauf, area manager for Rehab Visions.

Riley added the same services will be kept with Rehab Visions, with hopes that services may expand in the future.