Polk County Health Department

Monika was awesome, highly recommended for your travel nurse.

Health dept and sheriff's dept, you did a fantastic job today at the covid vaccination site. Organized, professional, very quick. In line about 40 min, it moved along almost constantly, got our shot and were on our way. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

They have been very pleasant the lady that gives the shots to the children was very nice to my child explained everything in detail... would recommend them...

Very friendly staff fast and courteous paperwork done in and out clean place.

Great experience I can’t complain!

Very helpful

These are statements, facts, and claims regarding the work experience within the Florida Department of Health located in Bartow, Florida. Specifically, working in case investigations and contract tracing under the direction of section chief Scott Sjoblom and Jane Nelson.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, spikes in case counts, hospitalizations, and deaths during June, 2020 and November 2020, it was the responsibility of case investigators, like myself, to conduct thorough, comprehensive, and quality interviews with persons under investigation (PUI’s).
In short, case investigators were tasked with completing phone calls and interviews throughout the day.

A.) Management

Managers / section chiefs Scott Sjoblom and Jane Nelson, were responsible for distributing cases to all investigators. On a daily basis the section chiefs were instructing investigators and tracers to complete a certain amount of PUI’s a day. Depending on the cases being distributed to us(investigators), the workday would be made up of busy days and slow days (depending on cases being distributed to us).
Performance evaluations were issued to me in an attempt to complete more cases daily. When asked about how to improve PUI interview processes or systems, section chiefs Scott and Jane were incapable of offering support or guidance without escalating my Emails to human resources.

Daily evaluation reports were to be completed by investigators. These reports are currently one sided, biased, and unfair. They offer protection and cover for the mismanagement, misappropriation, and irresponsibility being implemented by the section chiefs.
I experienced a “surprise attack” or what I consider to be a form of harassment around 10/1/20. In my evaluation report, I was blamed for mistakes and errors performed by both Scott and Jane. The fact that I started asking questions to the section chiefs is what prompted Scott to arrange a meeting with Human Resources. When asked about the reason for termination, Scott replied “combative”. In reality, they were just questions which were incapable of being answered by the section chiefs.
It’s peculiar how when questions started being asked, the decision to terminate a temporary employee arose.

Working in case investigations in Bartow, is full of impractical and unrealistic expectations with productivity measures designed to hurt the investigators and protect the section chiefs from liability.

C.) Work Environment

Working within case investigation under the direction of Scott Sjoblom, the environment for conducting thorough, comprehensive, and quality PUI’s did not exist. Investigators are rushed in a manner similar to a McDonald’s production line making chicken nuggets as fast as possible. Regards for developing quality rapport, offering sound medical guidance, and abiding by cultural sensitivities were ignored by section chiefs. CDC guidelines and training recommendations for improving case investigations and contact tracing were ignored. Weekly meetings between section chiefs and investigators were often canceled.

Any questions by email were escalated and classified as “insubordinate” by both Scott and Jane. Contact tracer and investigator burnout is high in Polk County with many employees just leaving the position. I have never experienced this form of management in larger, structured, and professional organizations throughout the country.
Summary and Closing

On 11/17/20, I agreed to attend a meeting with Scott Sjoblom, Patricia Mayid, and Deborah Hughes. In the meeting, I was instructed not to argue, debate, or ask questions. As expected, I received a termination document/ letter. The document does not state the reason for termination. The reason for termination was provided verbally by Scott Sjoblom as “performance” and “combative.” There is no evidence of me being “combative” as all my communication is in written form and offers clear and concise language. They also include questions, and feedback.

Dental clinic plays fast and loose and does not practice radiation safety. Rarely do they put on the lead apron and much less use the thyroid collar.

DENTAL CLINIC- I've no experience with any other department, other than the dental clinic. We called to schedule appointments for our 3 children, but they only allowed us to schedule 2. Now, I've encountered this before because, with multiple siblings, they are concerned about that if you don't show, that's a waste of multiple appointments. However, we weren't allowed to SCHEDULE more than 2 in a day. I don't mean 2 for the same day and 1 for another day. No, after scheduling 2 appointments, we were directed to call back the next day to schedule our 3rd child. Having policies in place is a great thing. Hiring people who can actually comprehend those policies- priceless. We arrived for the first 2 appointments and were allowed in the back but only to sign a form, then asked to return to the lobby to wait on our children. Yes, leave our underage children at a new place where we knew none of the adults present and allow them to simply do whatever they'd like. Um, no! I have never in my life encountered a doctor or dentist office that REQUIRES parents to not be present and give only general, not specific informed, consent to treat their children. Needless to say, we took our kids and left. Why do they have this policy? Because they are misunderstanding HIPAA. Again, having policies is a wonderful. Being able to understand those policies is priceless. I can't speak to the character, ability, or bedside manner of the dentist as we didn't get far enough in the process to even meet him. If you're an adult, this may be a great place for you. If you are a parent who doesn't mind their child receiving treatment without you, this may be a great place for you. However, it wasn't for us. I could have saved myself a 2-hour wait (yes, the first child was finally taken back 2 hours after his scheduled appointment time) if I'd seen the sign on the door, shaped like a stop sign, that says 'No Parents Allowed'. For me, BIG red flag. And creepy.

I called Tuesday around 1 pm on the 4th of October and it matched me with the operator. The line then began to ring and a lady picked up and said "Administration" I started smiling because I was slow enough to not be able to hit the extension. I started to tell her "Im sorry! I missed the----" She hung up on me. I heard her struggle to put the phone down and then hung up. It's ridiculous......

The health dept called me a little before 4 pm and left a message for me to call them back. At 4 pm I called back and literally sat on hold for over an hour, finally hung up and called back and then got the answering service telling me they were closed. So they literally let me sit on hold and then left with me still on hold. Get more professional people in there!!!!

We've been calling for a week trying to get an appointment. We're always sent to voicemail and no one ever returns our calls. Why do government agencies have to be so inefficient?

RUDE PEOPLE! I ordered a birth certificate through them, it never arrived, they took $22 for it, and are now refusing to do anything about it. They told me to call the post office, like that is going to help when they sent it regular mail with no tracking. Thieves!

Very rude receptionist can't even imagine how she got the job with the attitude she has.