What makes one workplace better than another, or builds the type of organizational culture that keeps staff happy year after year? Even in these changing economic times, there are many things that hospitals and health care organizations are doing to pay attention to their employees' needs, keep them engaged and improve their own recruitment and retention efforts. Creating an environment where health care professionals feel appreciated and can collaborate, grow and thrive has helped these providers move up on Modern Healthcare’s annual ranking of Best Places to Work in Healthcare. “Our hospital culture is unique,” said Brad Parsons, the administrator and CEO at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City, in Union City, Tenn., which moved to 9th place from 19th in 2010. “We have a lot of people who are passionate about the hospital. We’re in a small town, and a lot of people have worked here for a long time and are passionate about the kind of care we deliver.” Baptist Union City leaders share with staff stories from patients and family members praising the patient-centered care they have received and the level of compassion and service the team provided. Every meeting begins with three minutes of good news from patients, which sets the tone. “We’re an organization that wants to differentiate ourselves on quality and satisfaction, and we think the Best Places to Work designation helps us do that,” Parsons said. Kootenai Health in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, moved up to 17th from 69th and also snagged the top spot on the magazine’s large companies’ ranking. It offers amenities such as on-site day care and fitness facilities and chef-prepared dinners to go, but, more than that, Dan Klocko, vice president of human resources, credits the leadership with understanding the value of employees as the health system’s most important asset and treating everyone fairly. “You have to have the type of people that create the culture of being a friendly and likeable place to be,” Klocko said. “You can put all kinds of great things in place, but you are not going to be successful unless you have that culture.” Karen Fraser, director of leadership excellence at Roper St. Francis Healthcare in Charleston, S.C., also attributes the culture at her hospital for helping it move up to 27th from 52nd in the 2010 Modern Healthcare rankings. “We believe our people make all the difference,” Fraser said. “It is the commitment to our mission of healing all people with compassion, faith and excellence that defines our culture. We are a values-driven organization that focuses on our people first, understanding that they drive organizational performance, which leads to excellent patient care.” Recognizing that people are the health system’s most important asset, Roper has focused its leadership development efforts this year on employee engagement, providing people with the tools to build trust, respect, pride and joy throughout the organization. It celebrates successes and recognizes and rewards its people, and the CEO shares strategic vision, data and examples of excellent patient care with employees. Jacci Sterling, RN, director of perinatal services at Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center in Santa Cruz, Calif., which moved up to 28th from 81st, said in a written statement that the recognition was not a surprise to the people who work at the center. “What makes this a great place to work is the excellent morale and fabulous team work, and as we know, a happy staff makes for happy patients,” Sterling said. Sutter Maternity managers and physicians focus on patient and employee satisfaction, and create a family-centered atmosphere and a work environment, which welcomes everyone’s opinions. The center holds an annual staff appreciation brunch, cooked by the kitchen staff but served by management. “The management regularly acknowledges employee involvement and the fact that it takes a true team to make the hospital function to the satisfaction of the patients, from the kitchen staff to the surgical and birthing teams,” said Sutter Maternity spokesman Mark Riley. “Everyone knows that their work is valued, their voices listened to and their good work appreciated.” Source : Best Places to Work in Healthcare - NurseZone By : Debra Wood
What makes a great place to work is the excellent morale and fabulous team work, and as we know, a happy staff makes for happy patients,” Sterling
in my country " the occupied palestain " health care is so sophisticated and this make work funny and easy in addition to good team working together wink)
