Commitment + Clinical Leadership = Better Outcomes

Photo, from left to right: Brock Bakos, Tammy Wise, and Fran Dwyer

Administrators play a huge role in the success of long-term care communities. They set an example in the healthcare field as dedicated and driven professionals that put their staff and residents first.

This week is Long Term Care Administrator’s Week, and we wanted to highlight a few Administrators who work hard to keep their communities operating as smoothly as possible.

Fran Dwyer is the Administrator at Elkins Crest Health & Rehabilitation Center, and he has been working as an Administrator for about 14 years.

“Becoming an Administrator is probably the best decision I’ve ever made,” Dwyer told us.

Tammy Wise is the Administrator at Autumn Care of Marion. Wise started working at this community in 1995 as a Director of Nursing, and has now been the Administrator for about 12 years.

“The most special and constant in my world is being there for the residents,” Wise said.

Brock Bakos is the Administrator at Autumn Care of Chesapeake and has been working as an Administrator for about 6 years.

“We give everything in our life for what we do,” Bakos shared. “The job of an Administrator never ends – It’s a 24/7 role.”

How Did You Get to Where You Are Today?

Dwyer, Wise, and Bakos shared a little bit about their background and experience. They each have a unique journey on how they landed their role as an Administrator.

Bakos explained that after college, he worked for the cruise line industry for almost 10 years. Then he accepted a position as an Admissions Director at a nursing home. He then had experience working at Autumn Care of Mechanicsville, Portsmouth, and Suffolk before he moved to Autumn Care of Chesapeake.

Wise began in the nursing field, and worked as a Director of Nursing in long-term care. She took the NHA classes and transitioned into the role of Administrator at Autumn Care of Marion.

Dwyer discussed that he always liked working with people, which is what helped him decide to major in Healthcare Administration. He’s had experience working with sales prior to healthcare and has now been an Administrator for many years.

What Is the Importance of an Administrator?

“I think the biggest part of my job is building and facilitating my team. It’s important to give them what they need to do their job,” Dwyer said. “We’re accountable 100% of the time.”

Dwyer explained that a normal day includes meetings, spending time with the managers, and calls from residents and family members. He added that managing partnerships is another huge part of his role, and he works to maintain Elkins Crest Health & Rehabilitation’s relationships with the physicians, home-care companies, hospice providers, and hospitals in the community.

“I have the unique ability to put together the department managers who will make a difference and be there when it’s a crucial time in the lives of our residents and family members,” Wise shared.

Wise mentioned that every day is different, and many factors play into what each day will hold. She said her responsibility is to put together a team that will be there for the residents and provide quality care, which involves many different aspects, from finance to nursing.

“Everyone needs help and that’s what we do,” Bakos explained. “It’s a vital role in our community and in healthcare in general. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by people who want to do it and love to do it.”

Bakos discussed that his day is a balancing act of his time between the staff and residents. He said he makes sure that all the needs of the residents are met first. Then he takes care of all the extra “wants” that arise.

What is Your Favorite Part About Your Role?

“I love who I work for. I could be an Administrator anywhere or work with residents in a different setting, but I love working for Saber Healthcare,” Bakos shared. “I believe in what Saber is doing and what their mission is. We’re taking care of seniors, while also believing in the same mission, and that helps me to communicate better and make the decisions I need to make.”

“My favorite part about my role would be the residents,” Wise stated. “Being able to make a difference in someone’s life and be there for them when it’s the most crucial period is so special.”

“I enjoy changing the culture at a community when it’s struggling,” Dwyer discussed. “People have to see physical change in order to start changing mentally. That’s something I enjoy – creating a culture of change.”

What is a Challenge You’ve Recently Overcome?

“The second round of COVID-19 was tough for us,” Dwyer said. “I think that we have a good foundation at the community, and the support from the leaders of Saber Healthcare really got us through it. I think Saber creates a supportive culture and it trickles down.”

“COVID-19 has been the biggest challenge for all of us,” Wise shared. “I think that’s when you feel the most defeated because you try to protect your residents every single day. But you have to put one foot back in front of the other, take care of the situation, and improve upon it.”

“I think the biggest challenge we’re still overcoming is the pandemic and the perception of the nursing home setting,” Bakos discussed. “People may lose patience, especially with the staff in healthcare, but we are truly doing the best we can.”

Saber Healthcare Appreciates Our Administrators

Saber Healthcare truly appreciates the hard work and dedication from all administrators across all communities. The work they do does not go unnoticed.

If you want to learn more about Saber Healthcare and what we do, click here. If you’d like to join a team at one of our communities, click here to view open positions near you.

Saber Healthcare is an organization dedicated to providing consultant services to long term care providers. This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to be seen as professional advice. Please consult with a medical expert before relying on the information provided.