|
Mtcarmelregister - News
If you would like to search one of the papers individually, please visit our "Advanced Search" page.
Oakview Heights introduces new administrator
Posted: Friday, Feb 09, 2007 - 03:05:18 pm EST
By Tom Dunn - Register Staff Writer
 | | Meet Oakview’s new administrator
On Thursday, Oakview Continuous Care and Rehab Administrator Scott Cole introduced his replacement, Roy J. Biggerstaff, who will assume duties Monday, Feb. 12. On left are Biggerstaff and Cole. (Staff photo by Tom Dunn)
|
|
Oakview Heights Continuous Care and Rehab Center announces that, as of Monday, Feb. 12, Roy J. Biggerstaff will be its new administrator.
He’s replacing Scott Cole, who worked in numerous positions for the facility since 1994 (when it was General Baptist Nursing Home Inc.) before assuming administrator responsibilities in May 2001.
“This has been a change in the making for the past few months,” Cole said in a news conference Thursday afternoon.
Biggerstaff said he is excited about taking over the leadership of “one of the best, if not the best” facilities of its kind in southern Illinois, pointing out the good history reports from the State. If Biggerstaff has a motto, it’s this: “Resident care centered.” Oakview is about caring for not only residents’ physical well-being, but their spiritual and mental well-being as well.
“It’s a ministry,” Biggerstaff said. He’s been an ordained General Baptist minister for 37 years, tending to congregations in Illinois, Indiana and Missouri. He believes he has a “compassionate, caring personality” suitable for the administrator position.
Biggerstaff served on the General Baptist Nursing Home Board of Directors for seven years — four of these as Secretary of the Board — and was integrally involved in the recently completed Home and Urban Development (HUD) project that built Oakview Villa Assisted Living and remodeled Oakview Heights. The project cost $9 million. Biggerstaff noted that Oakview was the first facility of its kind to be approved by HUD in Illinois.
“It (being on the board) gave pretty good insight,” Biggerstaff said, “with a view of the back and a view of the front.” He attributes Oakview’s success — in the face of downsizing and doors closing — to God and the strength of the organization.
Biggerstaff thinks Oakview is “on the right track.” He’s not out to make sweeping changes, but instead, “Moving forward with it to make it even better,” he maintained.
No reductions or changes in staff are planned.
“(Oakview) has one of the most caring staffs,” Biggerstaff said. Oakview is also one of the largest employers in Wabash County with a staff of 105. Despite the “revolving door” problem of employee turnover in the nursing home industry, he sees employees who want to grow with Oakview and will promote programs to further educate them.
Biggerstaff’s dream is seeing more senior apartments and duplexes close to facilities, which goes with the national trend toward supported assisted living and away from long-term facilities. The change of 160 beds before remodeling down to 90 afterwards simply goes with the national trend. The government is promoting more home health. A nurse commented recently, Biggerstaff noted, that one of the most exciting things about the industry is seeing people coming and going back home quickly.
Biggerstaff and his wife, Debbie, of 39 years, have three children: Andy (Cindy) Biggerstaff, Pfc. Amy (SSGT William) Redwine II and Josh (Andrea) Biggerstaff. They have five grandchildren: Kallie Redwine (12), William Redwine III (10), Kassey Redwine (2), Gracie Biggerstaff (7) and Genna Biggerstaff (3).
Biggerstaff has been a resident of Omaha, Ill., for the last five years. He will be commuting to Mt. Carmel because he cares for his elderly aunt in Omaha. Originally from Eldorado, Ill., he’s lived the past 40 years around Norris City, Ill., except for 6 years in Princeton, Ind., and Winslow, Ind.
He has an associate of arts degree from Southeastern Illinois Junior College in Harrisburg (1995), a Bachelor of Arts in religious studies from Oakland City University (1998) and a Bachelor of Science in business education from OCU (1998). He’s had a wide variety of business experience, from laborer to management.
Biggerstaff received an Illinois Nursing Home Administrator Temporary License on Jan. 25. He will take his State and Federal License Test in April for a permanent license.
Scott Cole, who formally introduced his replacement on Thursday, talked about Oakview’s “Pioneer Program,” which get nursing home care away from institutionalization. Cole said he’ll be in Mt. Carmel on a monthly basis to train the staff on the “Pioneer Program.”
Cole will assume the responsibilities of administrator from his father, Jack Cole, at General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell, Mo., soon. In the next few months, during the transition, Cole will remain at Oakview, consulting in the administrative area and helping with anything else that arises.
Cole noted that in a rural area, it is crucial to staff families. “If not for family working together at every level,” Cole said, “we wouldn’t survive.” He also thanked all the staff and volunteers who’ve helped their elders.
As a sum total of the facility, Cole gave two Henry Ford quotes: “A business that makes nothing but money is a poor kind of business,” and “I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn’t need any advice from me. With God in charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So what is there to worry about.”
|
|
 |
Advertisers
Search Site
Enter a keyword:
Tri-State Media Weather
|
|
