Berkshire Place is a bustling 195-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in the heart of Providence, Rhode Island. Owner Angelo Rotella has always been proactive in looking for the most cost-effective best practices to help better serve the residents and families under his care. While efficiency and effectiveness are crucial, Angelo’s family is very active in running the home on a day-to-day basis, and it has always been an important part of Berkshire’s mission that the family-like atmosphere of the home is considered when making any sort of operational change.
In early 2003, Mr. Rotella found himself thinking that Berkshire may be able to become better in terms of housekeeping and laundry operations. While the home by and large was clean, he knew that it could become better and he was convinced that he was paying too much for what he was getting from his in-house program. After researching options, he chose to outsource his programs to Heritage Healthcare Services and has not regretted a day since. “It has been a great decision for us.” Angelo says, “We get compliments on the level of cleanliness at Berkshire all the time. Families and residents remark on it, employees appreciate it and even state inspectors have commented on how great we look. It has improved greatly, no doubt.” The decision worked out well for Berkshire financially as well. Heritage was able to reduce the annual cost for Berkshire’s programs by tens of thousands of dollars annually. “It is less expensive and now I am dealing with a fixed cost. It really has been a win all around.”
In 2006, Heritage moved to the first of its kind, a green health-centered cleaning program. As a customer, Mr. Rotella and Berkshire Place were upgraded to the new system at no additional charge. It was just the type of thing that in the past he would have investigated on his own. “It was great to see that kind of change to their program. They are staying up to date and making the changes necessary to keep up with the latest technology and science. As a result, my staff can focus on other important areas.”
It has been more than seven years since Berkshire Place made the change to Heritage Healthcare Services from their in-house program. “I have a one-year contract with Heritage so I have made the decision to stay with them every year. That is always the truest test.”