One year later

WOW! It’s hard to believe that a year has passed since the passing of the torch at Hi-Line Retirement Center. Looking back over the past year I have so much to be thankful for. Walking through the doors on October 3, 2016, I had no idea if the facility was going to survive. I did know that I was in way over my head. I had not worked in a nursing home for over 20 years, and the rules and regulations have changed dramatically since then. My nursing home administrator license had been expired for 20 years. I did know that the community needs Hi-Line Retirement Center. I also knew that the facility had to learn to fly on its own without a community bailout every few years.

When I was first approached about managing the HLRC I wasn’t interested. Then someone made the mistake of telling me the place was bankrupted, and there was no hope of surviving. Well, that’s like giving a schoolboy a “double dog dare ya!”. Now, for those of you who don’t know what a double dog dare is, it is the ultimate dare that usually has a high probability of bodily harm or great embarrassment. No matter how crazy the dare, no matter how difficult the task any schoolboy given a “double dog dare ya!” has an obligation to prove it can be done, or die trying.

There were so many people in the community who stepped up to the plate and worked hard to turn the facility around. I would like to thank; the board of directors, Iris Robinson, Bob Ziegler, Susy Johnson, Carol Kienenberger, Logan Lund, Howie Hammond, and Michelle Smith. I could not ask for a better group of people to work with.

Barbara Dunbar the Director of Nursing, I will never be able to express my gratitude for your unselfish dedication. We have learned a lot together over the past year. Without you, we would have never made the progress we have enjoyed.

My wife Sonia, who left the comfort of her job at the hospital, where she had worked for 26 years to follow me into the fire. Long-term care billing is totally different than hospital or clinic billing, but you came through! I never doubted you could do it. Your hard work makes me look good! I couldn’t have done it without you. By the way happy 40th anniversary October 1st.

All the department heads both new and old who rallied behind me to make HLRC succeed.

The entire staff new and old who pulled together and endured the changes needed to turn the facility around.

The residents and families who stayed with us even after being told the facility was doomed and closing.

The community members who donate their time and resources, Phillips County Health Care Association, Hi-Line Fund Raising Committee.

Ward, Steph, and Beu from the hospital who are always there to help out when needed.

I am proud to say that the facility has made great progress over the past year. Yes, there are still challenges ahead, but with the continued support of the community, Hi-Line Retirement Center is here to stay.

I would encourage all community members to attend the Hi-Line Retirement Center’s annual meeting October 24th upstairs at First State Banks meeting room at 7 pm. This is not only a time to share the success and failures of the past year, but a time of celebration; we (the whole community) succeeded when others said it couldn’t be done.

Duane Murray

Administrator

Hi-Line Retirement Center