HR Pulse - Winter 2007 - (Page 13) [HR LEADER] Ted Goad f ASHHRA gave out attendance awards, it’s very likely that Ted Goad would win top honors. In the last 27 years, he’s only missed three of the organization’s annual conferences. “I love ASHHRA,” says Goad, who has served as vice president of HR at Elder Care Alliance in Oakland, Calif., for the last 10 years. “I thoroughly enjoy getting out and spending time with peers to network and learn from one another. It’s a lot of fun to be with colleagues.” Prior to joining Elder Care, he held positions with Kaiser Permanente, Oakland Medical Center and Highland General Hospital in Oakland. Through the years, Goad has observed monumental changes in the nature of the HR profession. “In the past, healthcare HR people were seen primarily as ‘processors,’ often working out of hospital basements and focused only on administrative tasks,” he says. “It’s been wonderful to see the profession evolve to the point where we’re now involved in the strategic aspects of running healthcare organizations. ASHHRA has helped HR professionals become leaders by guiding them through the increasing complexities we all face.” A Broader Definition of Healthcare HR Goad is currently serving as one of two ASHHRA board members—along with James Frain of the South Bend Medical Foundation in Indiana—who represent healthcare practitioners in facilities outside of hospitals. The positions were added to the board as part of the new governance model adopted earlier this year. “It’s great to see ASHHRA reaching outside of the acute care area to increase its membership,” says Goad. “Being on the board gives me an exciting opportunity to help address the needs of other types of healthcare organizations and support those HR professionals. I’m very excited about being in the position to help ASHHRA grow its membership ranks.” His input at the board level has already made a difference. “Ted has a quiet, yet determined, way of getting across his perspective—he uses his voice when it matters most,” says ASHHRA president Molly Seals. “He serves as a wonderful role model of how to accomplish important things. And his seasoned view will be invaluable in helping us shape ASHHRA products and services that will serve all of our members, regardless of their healthcare settings.” In addition to volunteering his time at the national level, Goad also has been heavily involved with the Healthcare Human Resources Management Association of California (HHRMAC), having served as a state board member, state president and president of the Bay Area Division. While healthcare facilities outside of hospitals face their own unique challenges that differ from those of acute care centers, there are many common hurdles, including recruitment. Given the nation’s aging population, the need for geriatric care is booming, and Goad says organizations like his are constantly scrambling to find talented, caring professionals. “We need compassionate people to provide care over the long haul for our residents and become part of their family,” he says. “We need staff that has the personality and social skills to meet the needs of elderly people.” Goad points to low compensation levels in the long-term and assisted care field as a major recruitment obstacle. “Most of our employees are not licensed, and many of the jobs pay relatively low wages,” he says. “At Elder Care Alliance we have many dedicated employees who love their jobs and the residents, and those are the kind of people we’re constantly looking for. The turnover in this industry is very high because many people are looking for higher wages. If you’re just here for a paycheck, you won’t stay long.” Relatively low pay also makes it especially difficult for these healthcare organizations to recruit licensed professionals, including RNs and LPNs, according to Goad. He says another major staffing challenge is finding and retaining managers with specific geriatric training. I 13 HR Pulse Winter 2007 “He serves as a wonderful role model of how to accomplish important things. And his seasoned view will be invaluable in helping us shape ASHHRA products and services that will serve all of our members, regardless of their healthcare settings.” —ASHHRA President Molly Seals
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