VITRIOL ...TEST...
...TEST...
CAPTION TEST 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 CRISIS 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'VE STARTED TO SEE IN THE
LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS
DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN CLOSING
AND SOMETIMES THERE'S
BUT MANY TIMES, ARE WITHOUT
E.M.S.
THEY HAVE NOBODY.
A NEW SURVEY FROM THE UW MADISON
OF RURAL HEALTH SHOWS THE EXTENT
OF THE PROBLEM.
..TEST...
...TEST...
TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST
TEST TEST TEST
TEST
SHOWS CNAs HAVE THE HIGHEST
TURNOVER IN THE HEALTHCARE
WORKFORCE, ALL OF WHICH HAS
MEANINGFUL IMPACTS ON THE PEOPLE
WHICH THEY SERVE.
MARISA WOJCIK HAS A STORY OF ONE
COUPLE'S CARE.
WE ARE NOT NAMING THE FACILITY.
>> 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 ATAXIA
ATAXIA, WHICH, ATAXIA MEANS
UNCOORDINATED.
>> 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 BOOMERS 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 ATAXIA
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
VIOLATIONSVITALS AND SHE LEFT -- SET ABOUT
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 SAY
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
ASSISTANTS 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 AGE
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 SEE 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 THEY 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 SURVEY, 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 CRISIS 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 NOW 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
MANAGEMENTHOPEFULLYFOR A TWO-YEAR BUDGET TO PROVIDE
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 YEARS,
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 PLUS, 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, THANKS 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.
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CAPTIONING COMPANY)