New long-term care director sets course for county

Donna Beedle, Pinal County’s new long-term care director, likes a challenge. So, it’s not surprising that the former director of Maricopa County’s Tobacco-Use Prevention Program jumped at the opportunity to oversee one of Pinal County’s largest programs.

“We have a lot of challenges facing us,” Beedle said. “From health-care reform efforts at the national level to state budget issues at the local level, it’s an interesting time for everyone in the health-care field.”

The Pinal-Gila Long-Term Care Program (PGLTC) is part of the Arizona Long-Term Care Program, which administers long term managed care in both Pinal and Gila counties. It also has a Community Programs Department that strives to deliver more services to people at home, rather than in an institutional setting such as an assisted living home.

“It was difficult to find someone with Beedle’s skills to lead the organization,” said Lisa Garcia, assistant county manager for Health & Human Services. “Between the county’s hiring freeze and multiple attempts to recruit someone, we finally found the right person for the position. We had a very capable interim director but she already had a full plate of duties before the resignation of the previous director. After almost a full year, Long Term Care has a director again.”

“This program is very successful at keeping the elderly and disabled people in their own homes, which is better for them,” Beedle said. “We have almost 75 percent of our clients being treated at home. This is an amazing number, probably the highest of any county in Arizona.”

Beedle gives credit to the staff at PGLTC for the program’s success. She said caregivers have to be good listeners with a high degree of dedication and commitment to the families. Beedle feels the staff gives families more options and control over their health care decisions.

“The opportunity to heal at home is important to our clients,” Beedle said. “Not only is it better for our clients, it’s also cost-effective in the long run. Ultimately, we want what is best for our members.”

With home-based care, PGLTC members can receive services such as home-delivered meals, behavioral healthcare, physical therapy and home-health nursing.

The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System funds long-term care under the state Medicaid program. Throughout the year, state leaders have been wrestling with Arizona’s budget. There has been talk of legislators coming back into session later in the year to deal with another shortfall in state revenues.

Looking warily on what the state legislature is going to do, Beedle is aware that the program may face another round of budget cuts. She is keeping a close eye on what is happening in Phoenix.

“I’m concerned about how the state is going to balance their budget now that we are half way through the fiscal year,” she said. “I hope legislators keep the elderly and disabled in mind as they make decisions. In the meantime, we will continue working to provide the best care possible for those we serve.”

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