% >> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
% PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
% PRODUCTION.
% >> BABY BOOMERS ARE LEAVING
% VACANCIES IN CRITICAL HEALTHCARE
% ROLES, LIKE E.M.S., NURSING, AND
% AIDES.% SERVICES THAT, AS BO
OMERS AGE,
% WILL REQUIRE MORE OF, LEADING
% SYSTEMS TO A BREAKING POINT.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," HOW
% STAFFING SHORTAGES IMPACTS THE
% DAILY LIVES OF NURSING HOME
% RESIDENTS.
% THE WISCONSIN HOSPITAL
% ASSOCIATION SPEAKS TO THE
% GROWING GAP OF CARE.
% STEVEN POTTER REPORTS ON THE
% STATE E.M.S. SYSTEM REACHING ITS
% BREAKING POINT, AND RESEARCHER,
% MIKE WAGNER, ON POLITICAL
% DIVIDES CREATING SOCIAL DIVIDES.
% IT'S "HERE'S AND NOW" FOR APRIL
% 14th.
% >> FUNDING FOR HERE AND NOW IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.
% >> WISCONSIN LOST 42 SKILLED
% NURSING FACILITIES FROM 2016 TO
% 2021, A REALITY SEEN NATIONALLY
% DUE TO A SHORTAGE OF NURSES,
% IDENTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANTS,
% OR CNAs, AND OTHER STAFF.
% A NEW REPORT FROM THE WISCONSIN
% HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION SHOWS
% CNAs HAVE THE HIGHEST TURNOVER
% IN THE HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE, ALL
% OF WHICH HAS MEANINGFUL IMPACTS
% ON THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE.
% MARISA WOJCIK HAS ONE COUPLE'S
% STORY OF THEIR CARE.
% WE ARE NOT NAMING THE FACILITY.
% >> WE'RE SO SHORT STAFFED.
% >> YEAH, VERY SHORT STAFFED.
% >> DICK AND LANEA HAVE BEEN IN
% THE SAME ASSISTED LIVING
% FACILITY FOR THE LAST SEVEN
% YEARS.
% SINCE THEN, THE FACILITY'S
% OWNERSHIP HAS CHANGED HANDS
% MULTIPLE TIMES, AND THE STAFF,
% MANY MORE TIMES OVER.
% WE FIRST SPOKE WITH THEM IN
% OCTOBER 2021.
% >> I HAVE SPINOCEREBELLAR ATA .
% ATAXIA, WHICH IS, ATAXIA MEANS
% UNCOORDINATED, AND, YOU KNOW, IT
% GOES INTO ALL YOUR NERVES.
% BUT I COULDN'T GET OUT OF BED
% AND PUT TOOTHPASTE ON MY BRUSH,
% WHICH SOUNDS VERY SILLY.
% >> 2021, AROUND THE TIME DICK
% FIRST BEGAN FILING GRIEVANCES TO
% THE STATE FOR WHAT THEY WERE
% EXPERIENCING IN THE FACILITY.
% >> WE HAD A COOK, A MED-PASSER,
% AND ONE OR TWO AIDES DURING THE
% DAY.
% >> FOR HOW MANY RESIDENTS?
% >> I WOULD SAY ABOUT 50 TO 55 AT
% THE TIME.
% >> SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
% DOES THAT MEAN SOME PEOPLE NEED
% HELP AND THEY CAN'T GET IT?
% >> RIGHT.
% IT MEANT --
% >> THEY WAIT.
% >> SOME PEOPLE CAN'T GET --
% >> THEY MIGHT BE STUCK ON THE
% TOILET FOR AN HOUR.
% >> YOU MIGHT LIE IN BED FOR TWO
% HOURS WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO
% HELP YOU OUT OF BED.
% ALSO, WE HAD AN INCIDENT THAT
% HAD QUITE A MAJOR IMPACT, I
% THOUGHT, WHEN A MED-PASSER COULD
% NOT FIND CHILDCARE.
% AGAIN, I THINK IT WAS A WEEKEND
% MORNING.
% THERE WAS NO BACK-UP PLAN, EVEN
% THOUGH A MANAGEMENT PERSON WAS
% IN THE OFFICE THAT DAY AND IT'S
% SOMEONE WHO HAD PASSED
% MEDICATIONS BEFORE BUT CHOSE NOT
% TO GET INVOLVED.
% DID FIND -- EXCEPT, OF COURSE,
% TO FIND A SUBSTITUTE EVENTUALLY,
% BUT WHEN 8:00 MEDS COME AT 12:30
% OR 1:00 OR 1:15, THAT IS REALLY
% A DELAY.
% WE'VE HEARD ALSO OF CASES OF
% PEOPLE HEARING THEIR NEXTDOOR
% NEIGHBORS IN THEIR APARTMENTS
% CALLING FOR HELP AND SEEMING TO
% BE IGNORED FOR A LONG TIME.
% >> DO YOU FEEL SAFE LIVING HERE?
% >> ONE BIG FEAR IS FIRE, BECAUSE
% SO MANY WHEELCHAIRS AND
% OTHERWISE INCAPACITATED OR
% PEOPLE WITH REDUCED CAPABILITIES
% ON THE UPPER FLOOR, WITH JUST
% ELEVATORS AND STAIRS.
% >> HOW DOES IT ALL MAKE YOU
% FEEL?
% >> I AM VERY STRESSED.
% >> STRESS LEVEL IS TERRIBLE.
% >> THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T
% COME TO THE DINING ROOM ANYMORE
% BECAUSE OF THE STRESS LEVEL, AND
% A COUPLE OF PEOPLE HAVE MOVED
% OUT.
% >> FAST FORWARD TO PRESENT DAY,
% NEW CONCERNS HAVE APPEARED.
% >> NURSE IN JANUARY CAME AND
% IMMEDIATELY SAID ABOUT GATHERING
% VIOLATIVITALS AND SHE LEFT -- ST
% GATHERING VITALS AND SHE LEFT,
% SO NO MORE VITALS SINCE THEN, WE
% WENT FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS,
% MAYBE WITHOUT A YEAR, WITHOUT
% HAVING THEM DONE FOR EVERYONE.
% BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO END TO
% THE NUMBER OF STAFF WHO ARE
% WILLING TO WALK OFF THEIR SHIFT
% AFTER AN HOUR OR TWO AND JUST GO
% HOME AND LEAVE ONE PERSON IN
% CHARGE TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYBODY
% ALL NIGHT.
% >> WELL, ONE THING, THEY DON'T
% PAY THEM ENOUGH.
% WHEN YOU GET JUST POVERTY WAGES,
% YOU'RE NOT VERY INTERESTED IN
% COMING TO WORK.
% >> AND STILL, SOME OF THE SAME
% ISSUES PERSIST.
% >> ONE REAL CONCERN IS THE LACK
% OF FIRE DRILLS.
% >> YES.
% BUT BASICALLY, WE'VE BEEN TOLD,
% WELL, JUST WAIT THERE IN YOUR
% ROOM AND THE FIREMEN WILL COME.
% WE'VE FILED GRIEVANCES WITH THE
% STATE AS WELL.
% NOT LATELY, WE BURNED OUT ON
% THAT.
% OFTENTIMES, THEY JUST CAN'T
% SUBSTANTIATE WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO
% HAVE HAPPENED.
% >> HOW DOES ALL OF THAT MAKE YOU
% FEEL AS YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO
% LIVE YOUR LIFE?
% >> DEPRESSED.
% I FEEL OUR NEEDS, THAT MANY OF
% OUR NEEDS ARE IGNORED AND THAT
% ESPECIALLY THE EMOTIONAL AND
% PSYCHOLOGICAL, I GUESS YOU'D S .
% SAY.
% >> CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANTS
% OFTEN PERFORM MUCH OF THE WORK
% IN PLACES LIKE ASSISTED LIVING
% FACILITIES OR NURSING HOMES, AND
% THE HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE REPORT
% SHOWS ADDITIONAL CRITICAL
% SHORTAGES OF OTHER FRONTLINE
% HEALTH WORKERS ACROSS THE STATE.
% FOR MORE ON THE RAMIFICATIONS OF
% THIS FOR PATIENTS, STAFF AND
% HOSPITALS, WE TURN TO ANN ZENK,
% VICE PRESIDENT OF WORKFORCE AND
% CLINICAL PRACTICE AT THE
% WISCONSIN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION.
% THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
% >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
% >> SO HOW MANY VACANCIES ARE
% THERE RIGHT NOW FOR CERTIFIED IS
% NOW UNDER INVESTIGATION%ASSI
STANTS IN WISCONSIN?
% >> NEARLY 1,800 ACROSS THE
% STATE, AND ADDED TO THAT, NEARLY
% 4,000 RN OPEN POSITIONS.
% >> HAS IT EVER BEEN VACANCY
% RATES THAT HIGH?
% >> YOU KNOW, I THINK BECAUSE OUR
% HEALTHCARE, HOSPITAL AND HEALTH
% SYSTEM WORKFORCE IS LARGER THAN
% IT'S EVER BEEN AND THESE ARE
% HISTORIC HIGHS, I THINK THOSE
% LEVELS ARE UNPRECEDENTED ALSO.
% >> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE ARE
% NOT ENOUGH CNAs OR RNs IN A
% HEALTHCARE FACILITY OF ANY KIND?
% >> SO, YOU KNOW, HOSPITALS RIGHT
% NOW ARE EXPERIENCING A REALLY
% BIG BOTTLENECK IN THE
% AVAILABILITY OF LONG-TERM CARE
% BEDS.
% LIKE NURSING HOME BEDS.
% THE IMPACT OF THAT IS THAT
% PATIENTS STAY IN THE HOSPITAL
% LONGER THAN THEY NEED TO, WHICH
% STRETCHES STAFFING THINNER AND
% ALSO CREATES LONGER WAIT TIMES
% IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AS
% PATIENTS WHO NEED THAT ACUTE
% CARE BED HAVE TO WAIT FOR
% ANOTHER BED TO OPEN UP.
% >> BECAUSE YOUR REPORT TALKS
% ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED THE
% SILVER TSUNAMI, AND AGAIN, THESE
% NURSING HOME BOTTLENECKS.
% DESCRIBE WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.
% >> WE'VE BEEN TALKING AT W.H.A.
% AND THINKING ABOUT THE IMPACT OF
% THE RETIREMENTS OF THE LARGE
% BABY BOOM POPULATION --
% GENERATION, EXCUSE ME, BECAUSE
% THE BABY BOOM GENERATION IS SO
% LARGE AND SPANS A COUPLE OF
% DECADES, WE'RE NOW SEEING THE
% SILVER TSUNAMI IN WISCONSIN,
% 10,000 U.S. CITIZENS TURN 65
% EVERY DAY AND THAT'S RETIREMENT
% AGE.
% RIGHT?
% IN WISCONSIN, ABOUT ONE IN FOUR
% INDIVIDUALS IS AT RETIREMENT A .
% AGE.
% THAT'S EVEN AHEAD OF THE U.S.
% POPULATION WHERE IT'S ABOUT ONE
% IN FIVE.
% THAT MEANS OUR HEALTHCARE
% WORKFORCE IS SHRINKING.
% THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE
% FOR HOSPITALS AND HEALTH
% SYSTEMS, BECAUSE AS WE AGE, OUR
% NEED FOR HEALTHCARE INCREASES.
% SO JUST AT THE TIME OUR
% WORKFORCE IS SHRINKING,
% HEALTHCARE DEMAND IS GROWING.
% >> SO WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN
% FOR PATIENTS AND HEALTHCARE
% PROVIDERS THEMSELVES?
% >> WE NEED TO FOCUS ON GROWING
% OUR WORKFORCE FASTER IF WE'RE
% GOING TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND,
% BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A
% WAY TO INCREASE CAPACITY WITH
% THE WORKFORCE THAT WE HAVE.
% SO THAT MEANS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE
% HAVE TO GROW FAST, WE HAVE TO
% MAKE BETTER USE OF TECHNOLOGY,
% WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE OUR TEAMS
% ARE OPERATING AT THE TOP OF
% THEIR SKILL LEVEL.
% IF WE DON'T DO THOSE THINGS VERY
% EFFECTIVELY, WE'RE GOING TO SEE
% LONGER WAITS IN THE EMERGENCY
% DEPARTMENT.%WE'RE GOING TO S
EE PEOPLE MAYBE
% HAVING TO LEAVE THEIR OWN
% COMMUNITY AND GO TO ANOTHER
% COMMUNITY WHERE THERE ISN'T AN
% OPEN HOSPITAL BED.
% >> HOW BADLY IS THIS PUTTING
% PATIENTS AT RISK?
% >> I THINK THAT TOO, RIGHT NOW,
% IMPACTING PEOPLE'S TIME AND
% ENERGY.%I THINK ULTIMATELY T
HEY GET THE
% CARE THEY NEED, BUT IT MIGHT BE
% FARTHER AWAY THAN THEY WOULD
% LIKE OR THAN THEIR FAMILIES CAN
% VISIT.
% IT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, WE FOCUS
% A LOT ON THE RIGHT CARE IN THE
% RIGHT SETTING AT THE RIGHT TIME,
% SO THEIR REHAB MIGHT BE DELAYED
% IF THEY CAN'T FIND THAT
% LONG-TERM CARE THEY NEED.
% >> YOU TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE
% KINDS OF SOLUTIONS THAT ARE
% UNDER CONSIDERATION, BUT WHAT
% ABOUT THE PAY FOR SOME OF THESE
% LOWER PAID FRONTLINE WORKERS,
% LIKE CNAs.
% IS THERE A WAY TO ADEQUATELY TO
% INCREASE THAT AND RETAIN THEM?
% >> WE ARE HEARING FROM OUR
% THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AND HEALTH
% SYSTEMS THAT C.N.A. WAGES ARE
% INCREASING AS DEMAND INCREASES.
% A FEW YEARS AGO, C.N.A. PAY
% STARTED AT MAYBE 13 OR $14 AN
% HOUR.%IN OUR LATEST SALARY S
URVEY, THE
% AVERAGE STARTING SALARY IS
% AROUND 17 TO 17.50 AN HOUR AND
% THE MEDIAN SALARY IS AROUND
% 19.50 AN HOUR, SO THOSE WAGES
% ARE COMING UP.
% >> WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT,
% BUT I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN
% STATE INVESTMENTS AND KIND OF
% C.N.A. TRAINING PROGRAMS AND
% GOVERNOR EVERS IS CALLING FOR
% $100 MILLION IN HIS STATE BUDGET
% TO ADDRESS THE HEALTHCARE
% WORKFORCE SHORTAGE.
% ARE POLICY MAKERS, THOUGH,
% ACROSS THE BOARD HEARING AND
% UNDERSTANDING THIS PROBLEM?
% >> I THINK AS THE WORD GETS OUT,
% AS OUR REPORT IS PUBLISHED AND
% SHOWS DOUBLING OF VACANCY RATES
% IN JUST ONE YEAR, THAT MESSAGE
% IS STARTING TO GET ACROSS.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% WELL, ANN ZENK, THANKS VERY
% MUCH.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> THE STATE'S NETWORK OF
% EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IS
% CRUMBLING AND DANGEROUSLY
% UNRELIABLE.%THAT'S ACCORDING
TO A NEW REPORT
% FROM THE OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH.
% "HERE AND NOW" REPORTER STEVE
% POTTER LOOKS AT THE GROWING
% PROBLEMS AND PROPOSED SOLUTIONS.
% >> THIS IS A HEARTBREAK.
% THIS IS A TRAGEDY.
% >> BECAUSE WHEN YOU CALL 9-1-1,
% YOU EXPECT AN AMBULANCE TO SHOW
% UP AND SHOW UP SOON.
% (Siren).
% >> BUT FOR SOME COMMUNITIES
% AROUND THE STATE, PARTICULARLY
% RURAL ONES, THERE'S A GROWING
% CONCERN THAT EMERGENCY MEDICAL
% SERVICES WON'T BE THERE TO
% ANSWER CALLS.
% THE PROBLEM, A STAFFING
% SHORTAGE.% >> WE HAVE A CRI
SIS NOT UNLIKE
% OTHER INDUSTRIES, LIKE RETAIL
% AND OTHERWISE, BUT STAFFING FOR
% E.M.S. MEANS LIFE AND DEATH.
% IT MEANS SOMEBODY NOT SHOWING UP
% TO A CALL, AN AMBULANCE NOT
% ARRIVING.%WHAT WE STARTED TO
SEE IN THE
% LAST COUPLE OF YEARS,
% DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN CLOSING,
% AND SOMETIMES THERE'S A MUTUAL
% AID AGREEMENT FOR ANOTHER
% DEPARTMENT TO COME IN AND HELP
% OUT, BUT MANY TIMES, TOWNS,
% CITIES, VILLAGES ARE WITHOUT
% E.M.S.%THEY HAVE NOBODY.
% >> A NEW SUPPER FROM THE UW
% MADISON OF RURAL HEALTH SHOWS
% THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEMS.
% MORE THAN 40% OF STATE E.M.S.
% AGENCIES HAD STAFFING GAPS WHERE
% NO AMBULANCE WAS AVAILABLE FOR
% EMERGENCY CALLS.
% AND ALMOST 80% OF E.M.S.
% AGENCIES WERE CALLED TO COVER AN
% EMERGENCY IN A NEIGHBORING
% COMMUNITY.
% >> WE SAW THAT IN 10
% COMMUNITIES, THERE WERE SERVICES
% THAT REPORTED THAT AN AMBULANCE
% NEVER GOT TO A CALL AT ALL, THAT
% THERE WAS 9-1-1 CALLS REQUESTING
% AMBULANCES.
% THEY DIDN'T HAVE STAFFING
% AVAILABLE AND THEY NEVER HAD AN
% AMBULANCE MAKE IT TO A CALL.
% >> AT THE HEART OF THE CURRENT
% STAFFING STRUGGLES IS THE FACT
% THAT, FOR DECADES, WISCONSIN'S
% E.M.S. OPERATIONS HAVE BEEN
% BUILT UPON AND ALMOST
% EXCLUSIVELY BEEN SUPPORTED BY
% VOLUNTEERS.
% >> RIGHT NOW, 79% OF OUR STATE
% ACTUALLY RELIES ON VOLUNTEERS TO
% STAFF THEIR 9/11 CALLS, WHICH IS
% A HUGE AMOUNT IF YOU'RE TALKING
% ABOUT MAJORITY OF THE STATE
% RELIES ON VOLUNTEERS, SOME THAT
% MIGHT GET PAID A STIPEND, MIGHT
% NOT GET PAID AT ALL, A LOT OF
% TIMES HAVING TO PAY OUT OF THEIR
% OWN POCKET, SO WE HAVE MANY
% RURAL AREAS THAT ARE USING
% VOLUNTEERS TO KIND OF SUBSIDIZE
% THE COST OF E.M.S.
% >> PAUL BLOUNT IS THE CHIEF OF
% THE E.M.S. OPERATIONS FOR THE
% CAMBRIDGE AREA.
% THE COMBINATION MODEL HAS BECOME
% A POPULAR SOLUTION.
% WE HAVE SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS THAT
% WORK HERE FULL TIME, THIS IS
% THEIR FULL-TIME JOB, AND THEN
% SOME PART-TIME MEMBERS AND THEN
% COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER PAID ON-CALL
% MEMBERS, AND THAT IS A PRETTY
% POPULAR STAFFING STRATEGY AND
% WHAT IT DOES IS HELP ADDRESS THE
% NEED FOR 24/7/365 AMBULANCE
% COVERAGE.
% >> CHIEF BLOUNT STARTED AS AN
% E.M.S. VOLUNTEER HIMSELF YEARS
% AGO.
% HE UNDERSTANDS WHY IT'S HARD TO
% KEEP ENOUGH VOLUNTEERS TO STAFF
% AMBULANCES.
% >> FAMILY DEMANDS, WORK DEMANDS,
% AND THEN JUST A STRUGGLE TO JUST
% FIND PEOPLE TO DO THE JOB AND TO
% VOLUNTEER ESPECIALLY TO DO THE
% JOB.
% >> THE PRIME EXAMPLE OF THE
% E.M.S. STAFFING SHORTAGE IS
% HAPPENING THEIR IN LAKE MILLS IN
% JEFFERSON COUNTY.
% >> UNFORTUNATELY, A BIT OVER A
% YEAR AGO, WE REALIZED THAT WE
% WERE NOT BEING SUCCESSFUL AT
% RECRUITING AND RETAINING PEOPLE.
% WE WERE ALSO HAVING SOME
% FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES WITH ALL
% OF THAT GOING ON BASICALLY, WE
% HAVE HAD TO MAKE THE DECISION
% THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE CLOSING
% OUR DOORS HERE ON JUNE 30th.
% BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN SERVING
% THIS COMMUNITY, OUR FRIENDS, OUR
% NEIGHBORS FOR CLOSE TO 50 YEARS,
% THAT IN ITSELF IS THE -- CLOSING
% THE DOORS IS JUST TRAGIC.
% >> WHETHER YOU'RE A PAID
% EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN OR
% EVEN AN E.M.S. VOLUNTEER,
% EXTENSIVE TRAINING, EDUCATION
% AND CERTIFICATION FROM THE STATE
% IS REQUIRED.
% AND ON TOP OF THAT, JIM
% COLEGROVE NOTES, THE WORK ISN'T
% FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.
% >> THIS IS A DIRTY JOB.
% THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT.
% YOU ARE DEALING WITH HUMAN
% BEINGS IN SOME OF THEIR WORST
% POSSIBLE TIMES AND YOU HAVE TO
% HAVE A LOT OF EMPATHY FOR THOSE
% PEOPLE AND YOU HAVE TO BE
% WILLING BE WORKING IN AN
% ENVIRONMENT WHERE SOMEBODY IS
% THROWING UP ON YOU.
% YOU ARE WORKING A CODE AND YOU
% ARE DOING C.P.R. ON SOMEBODY
% THAT YOU KNOW WHO LIVES JUST
% DOWN THE STREET, THAT TYPE OF
% THING, AND SO IT IS VERY
% EMOTIONALLY CHARGED, BUT IT IS
% GENERALLY VERY MUCH A SENSE OF
% WANTING TO GIVE BACK TO A
% COMMUNITY.%>> LAKE MILLS IS N
OW IN THE
% PROCESS OF JOINING THE CAMBRIDGE
% AREA E.M.S. GROUP.
% A NUMBER OF E.M.S. AGENCIES
% AROUND THE STATE HAVE ENTERED
% INTO SIMILAR CONSOLIDATION
% AGREEMENTS WITH NEIGHBORHOODS
% COMMUNITIES.
% A TEMPORARILY SOLUTION IS ASKING
% RESIDENTS, THROUGH BALLOT
% REFERENDUMS, FOR MORE MONEY, BUT
% FOR A LONG-TERM SOLUTION, E.M.S.
% OFFICIALS ARE SEEKING MORE
% STABLE FUNDING FROM THE STATE.
% >> THE STATE REALLY, RIGHT NOW,
% NEEDS TO STEP N-NEEDS TO PROVIDE
% PERMANENT FUNDING.
% >> DEYOUNG SAYS SUCH FUNDING
% WILL NEED TO BE SUBSTANTIAL AND
% SUSTAINABLE.%>> WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT $500
% MILLION IN A BUDGET EMERGENCY
% MANAHOPEFULLYFOR A TWO-YEAR BUDE
% EVERY DEPARTMENT ABOUT WHAT THEY
% NEED.
% SOME WILL GET LESS, SOME MORE,
% BASED ON ON HOW RURAL THEY ARE.
% >> TO MAKE THAT FUNDING DREAM A
% REALITY, E.M.S. OPERATORS HAVE
% BEGAN KNOCKING ON LAWMAKERS'
% DOORS AT THE CAPITOL.
% >> AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED,
% POLICE, FIRE EXPEMS, E.M.S. IS
% THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
% >> OH EAU CLAIRE AREA STATE
% SENATOR JESSE JAMES HAS WORKED
% HAND IN HAND ON EMERGENCY CALLS
% AS A FORMER POLICE AND FIRE
% CHEER IN ALTONA.
% HE SAYS HE KNOWS HOW NECESSARY
% THESE SERVICES ARE.
% >> IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR ALL OF US,
% WHETHER YOU'RE IN THE URBAN AREA
% OR RURAL AREA, WE NEED TO HAVE
% THESE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO
% SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES.
% >> SENATOR JAMES SAYS HE WANTS
% TO EXPLORE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
% FOR SMALLER COMMUNITIES TO
% CONSOLIDATE THEIR E.M.S.
% OPERATIONS, BUT HE'S UNSURE HOW
% MUCH REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS ARE
% WILLING TO GIVE TO E.M.S.
% AGENCIES IN THEIR STATE BUDGET.
% >> THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME MONEY
% PUT INTO IT.
% I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WOULD REACH
% THAT $500 MILLION MARK, THOUGH.
% >> E.M.S. OFFICIALS SAY THEY
% ALSO NEED MORE MONEY FOR
% RECRUITMENTS EFFORTS TO HELP
% ATTRACT MORE POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES
% TO THE FIELD.
% ACCORDING TO THE STATE
% DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES,
% OVER THE LAST DECADE, AMBULANCE
% PATIENT NUMBERS HAVE NEARLY
% DOUBLED FROM ABOUT 500,000
% PATIENTS PER YEAR TO MORE THAN
% 900,000.%OVER THAT SAME 10 YE
ARS,
% HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF E.M.S.
% PROVIDERS HAS GONE FROM 20,000
% TO JUST 21,000, AN INCREASE OF
% ONLY 5%.
% AND, DEYOUNG SAYS, THOSE FIGURES
% ARE ABOUT TO GET MUCH WORSE.
% >> WE ARE ACTUALLY ESTIMATING
% ABOUT 25, 26% OF ALL LICENSED
% E.M.S. PROVIDERS ARE PROBABLY
% GOING TO LET THEIR LICENSE LAPSE
% THIS RENEWAL YEAR.
% YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A WORKFORCE
% CUTTING IT DOWN BY A QUARTER.
% >> E.M.S. LEADERS HOLD OUT HOPE
% THAT STATE LAWMAKERS WILL
% RESPOND TO THE NEED.
% >> I THINK THAT THERAPIES --
% THAT THERE IS INTENT IN THE
% LEGISLATURE TO TRY TO ADDRESS
% THIS ISSUE.
% IT SEEMS TO BE VERY HIGH
% PRIORITY.
% I'M GETTING CONTACTED BY
% LEGISLATORS NUMEROUS TIMES A
% WEEK WANTING INFORMATION ON THE
% SYSTEM, WANTING TO KNOW SOME OF
% THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY AND SO
% ON.%I DON'T KNOW WHAT E.M.S.
2.0 IS
% GOING TO LOOK LIKE, BUT WE KNOW
% THAT E.M.S. 1.0 HAS RUN ITS
% COURSE.
% >> FOR HERE AND NOW, I'M STEVEN
% POTTER IN LAKE MILLS.
% >> MOST OF CENTRAL AND WEST
% CENTRAL WISCONSIN REMAIN UNDER A
% RED FLAG EXTREME FIRE DANGER
% WARNING FRIDAY EVENING.
% WARM TEMPERATURES AND GUSTY
% WINDS DRASTICALLY INCREASE THE
% CHANCE OF WILDFIRES THIS WEEK,
% PROMPTING GOVERNOR TONY EVERS TO
% DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY.
% WISCONSIN D.N.R. HAS RESPONDED
% TO NEARLY 100 WILDFIRES SINCE
% LAST FRIDAY, INCLUDING A
% 3,000-ACRE FIRE IN MUNROE COUNTY
% THAT CREWS INCLUDING FROM THE
% WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD WORKED
% TO CONTAIN.
% OFFICIALS ARE URGING EXTREME
% CAUTION UNTIL CONDITIONS SO
% FAVOR TO WILDFIRES IMPROVE.
% >>> DEMOCRATIC WISCONSIN SENATOR
% TAMMY BALDWIN ANNOUNCED SHE IS
% RUNNING FOR A THIRD TERM.
% AN ANOTHER SCORCHED EARTH
% CAMPAIGN, POLITICAL VITRIOL AN
% STEROIDS.% THAT SEEMS TO BE
THE WISCONSIN
% WAY.% IN FACT, A NEW REPORT
FROM THE
% CENTER FOR COMMUNICATION AND
% CIVIC RENEWAL AT UW MADISON
% SHOWS WISCONSIN'S POLITICAL
% DIVIDES ARE BREAKING CITIZENS
% APART.% CENTER DIRECTOR AND
JOURNALISM
% PROFESSOR, MICHAEL WAGNER, JOINS
% US WITH DETAILS, AND THANKS VERY
% MUCH FOR BEING HERE AGAIN.
% >> IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU.
% >> SO WHAT ARE THE MOST
% PROMINENT SYMPTOMS OF
% WISCONSIN'S POLITICAL DIVIDE?
% YOUR SURVEY CALLS THEM CIVIC
% FRACTURES.%>> YES.
% SOME OF THE EXAMPLES WE SEE OF
% THAT ARE IN HOW POLITICS AND
% YOUR DEEP COMMITMENT TO OUR
% POLITICAL IDENTITIES IS IS NOW
% SHAPING HOW WE ENGAGE EVERY DAY
% WITH PEOPLE.
% WE'VE STOPPED TALKING POLICIES.
% WE MIGHT TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER
% OR THE BADGERS, BUT WE WON'T
% TALK POLITICS.
% ONE IN FIVE HAVE CUT A FAMILY
% FEBRUARY OR FRIEND OUT OF OUR
% LIVES BECAUSE OF DISAGREEMENTS.
% THAT MIGHT BE BECAUSE WE DON'T
% WANT TO HAVE TO ENGAGE THEIR
% IDEAS OR MAYBE THE OTHER SIDE IS
% TELLING US WHO WE ARE IS INVALID
% OR MAYBE WE FEEL DANGEROUS IN
% SOME CONVERSATIONS OR WE MIGHT
% BE IN DANGER, AND SO IT'S HARD
% TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S DRIVING
% THESE THINGS, BUT PEOPLE ARE
% RETREATING FROM THE KIND OF
% DELIBERATION THAT IS FUNDAMENTAL
% TO DEMOCRACY.
% >> THOUSAND AND WHY DID THIS
% HAPPEN?
% >> IT'S GOTTEN WORSE SINCE ACT
% 10.%OVER THE LAST DECADE PLU
S, WE'VE
% SEEN A GROWING FRACTURE IN THESE
% KINDS OF MEASURES OF OUR CIVIC
% HEALTH, AND SO 11 YEARS AGO,
% ABOUT 33% OF WISCONSINITES SAID
% THEY'D STOP TALKING POLITICS
% WITH A FRIEND.
% NOW IT'S 60%.
% IT'S REALLY INCREASED THE WAY
% THAT OUR LEGISLATURE AND
% GOVERNOR DEAL WITH EACH OTHER
% HAS GOTTEN MORE ACRIMONIOUS, OUR
% POLITICAL ADS HAVE GOTTEN MORE
% ACRIMONIOUS, NATIONAL POLITICS
% IS MORE COARSE AND FRAUGHT WITH
% ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE
% BOTH UNCIVIL OR OUTRIGHT
% DANGEROUS AND DISTURBING ON THE
% OTHER, AND SO ALL OF THESE
% THINGS ARE HAPPENING AT ONCE.
% >> WHY IS THE MESSAGING THAT
% MAKES PEOPLE ANGRY, DISTRUSTFUL
% AND EVEN FEARFUL TO RESONANT?
% >> WELL, PEOPLE ARE OFTEN DRIVEN
% PARTIALLY BY EMOTIONS AND THEIR
% DECISION-MAKING AND IT'S EASIER
% I THINK TO TAP INTO PEOPLE'S
% FEAR AND IT'S EASIER TO SAY TO
% PEOPLE, YOU'RE NOT THE REASON
% FOR YOUR PROBLEMS AND IT'S NOT
% BROAD STRUCTURAL THINGS THAT ARE
% REALLY HARD TO FIX; IT'S THOSE
% PEOPLE, THAT GROUP THAT WE DON'T
% LIKE IS WHY YOUR LIFE IS HARDER,
% AND SO IT BECOMES EASIER TO
% DISLIKE THAT GROUP AND SUPPORT
% THE PEOPLE THAT WERE TELLING YOU
% THAT THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
% >> HOW SURPRISING IS YOUR
% FINDING THAT 60% OF STRONG TRUMP
% SUPPORTERS SAY THEY COULD HAVE
% TO USE FORCE TO SAVE THE
% TRADITIONAL AMERICAN WAY OF
% LIFE.
% 60%.
% >> YEAH.
% WE ARE INTERESTED IN HOW THESE
% CIVIC FRACTURES MIGHT LEAD TO
% ANTI-DEMOCRATIC OUTCOMES LIKE
% USING VIOLENCE TO ACHIEVE YOUR
% POLITICAL MEANS, AND FOR MOST
% REPUBLICANS, THEY SAY, NO, WE
% DON'T LIKE THIS IDEA, BUT AMONG
% THE ONE-THIRD OF REPUBLICANS WHO
% ARE SUPPORTERS OF TRUMP, 60% OF
% THOSE FOLKS SAY THEY MIGHT
% ENDORSE THAT DEAL.
% SAYING YOU ENDORSE FORCE RATHER
% THAN ACTUALLY DOING IT IS
% DIFFERENT, BUT THIS IS AN
% ALARMING AND DISTURBING RESULT,
% SO WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON
% THIS AS A ASSOCIATED THAT THERE
% ARE OTHER WAYS TO SOLVE OUR
% PROBLEMS OTHER THAN USING
% VIOLENCE.
% >> THIS REPORT SAYS THAT THIS
% DIAGNOSIS IS GRIM BUT THERE IS
% REASON FOR HOPE.
% LIKE WHAT?
% >> LOTS OF THINGS.
% >> FIRST, PEOPLE FAVOR POLITICAL
% COMPROMISE EVEN OVER STICKING TO
% YOUR PRINCIPLES EVEN IF NOTHING
% GETS DONE.
% MORE PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THEIR
% VOTE WAS COUNTED.
% STRONG CONFIDENCE IN THAT.
% THERE'S STRONG SUPPORT FOR
% NON-PART SAT REDISTRICTING,
% WHICH IS A FAIRER WAY TO ENGAGE
% IN REPRESENTATION.
% AND THERE'S STRONG SUPPORT FOR
% THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND
% STATE ACROSS POLITICAL PARTIES.
% AND SO THERE ARE FOUNDATIONS WE
% CAN BUILD ON TO IMPROVE
% DEMOCRACY IN OUR STATE.
% >> IT SEEMS HARD TO UNDERSTAND
% HOW THERE IS 80% OF SURVEY
% RESPONDENTS BELIEVE THAT THEIR
% VOTE WAS COUNTED, WILL BE
% COUNTED.%HOW DOES THAT SQUARE
WITH
% ELECTION DENIAL AND ALL OF THIS
% MISINFORMATION THAT WE'VE BEEN
% LISTENING TO FOR 2-1/2 YEARS?
% >> WELL, WE'VE HEARD IT COMING
% REALLY FROM ONE CORNER OF
% POLITICAL DISCOURSE AND WE'VE
% SEEN MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
% OPEN TO THAT IDEA ARE THESE TEND
% TO BE STRONG SUPPORTERS OF
% FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.
% HE'S NOT RELENTED ON THAT MANY
% REPUBLICANS IN GOVERNMENT WILL
% EITHER AGREE WITH HIM OR WON'T
% DIRECTLY DISAGREE AND SO THERE'S
% THIS AMBIGUITY IS THERE THAT
% LETS PEOPLE FEEL LIKE MAYBE
% SEEMS LIKE THE ELECTION WAS
% REASONABLY CONDUCTED BUT MAYBE
% IT WASN'T OR MAYBE THERE WERE
% SOME PROBLEMS EVEN THOUGH ALL OF
% THE AUDITS, ALL OF THE LAWSUITS,
% ALL POINT TO THE SAME STORY,
% WHICH IS THAT WE DO THAT REALLY
% WELL IN WISCONSIN.
% >> WHY DID YOUR CENTER EMBARK ON
% THIS STUDY?
% >> WE REALLY CARE ABOUT WAYS WE
% CAN REKNIT TOGETHER THE CIVIC
% FABRIC.%THIS IS A STATE THAT
HAS ELECTED
% PEOPLE IN STATEWIDE ELECTIONS
% FROM BOTH PARTIES.
% IT'S A STATE THAT HAS HAD VERY
% TIBIAL AND VERY CONSERVATIVE
% LAWMAKERS REPRESENT US AND WE'VE
% BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT IN WAYS
% WHERE WE COULD TALK TOGETHER,
% WORK TOGETHER, TRY TO SOLVE
% PROBLEMS TOGETHER, AND AS THOSE
% THINGS FRACTURE, BECOMES HARDER
% TO DO THAT.
% WEPT TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM
% SO WEB HEM ARTICULATE A
% SOLUTION.%>> MIKE WAGNER, TH
ANKS VERY
% MUCH.%>> MY PLEASURE.
% >> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
% ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
% OUR WEBSITE AT PBS WISCONSIN
% DOT-ORG AND THEN CLICK ON THE
% NEWS TAB.
% THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
% (CLOSED CAPTIONING BY RIVERSIDE
% CAPTIONING COMPANY)