Emphasis on 'values' behind MHS recognition
Volunteerism, appreciation gifts cited
The "ICARE" values integrity, compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence emphasized at Methodist Hospital System in Houston have a great deal to do with the organization's second year in a row in the top 10 of Fortune magazine's list of 100 Best Companies to Work For, says Greg Page, MBA, MHA, director of patient access and scheduling services.
The health system also was included in the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2006.
"Everyone really takes [the ICARE message] to heart," he adds, and an ICARE symbol is behind each employee badge. "We're a faith-based organization, and we're also a values-based organization, from the top executives all the way down."
One of the recent tangible manifestations of that philosophy, Page notes, was the outpouring of support when a longtime access employee died. "The call center where she worked took up a collection to help out the family."
A Methodist Hospital System program called "No One Dies Alone" was cited by Fortune in its selection of the health care organization as No. 10 on the 2008 list. In that initiative, employees volunteer time with terminally ill patients.
As part of his personal to-do list this year, Page says, he is looking into a community service project in which access personnel would participate in the building of a Habitat for Humanity House. "I hope to pull that out at the end of spring or summer and also tie in other revenue cycle departments."
Methodist employees are treated to special meals on occasions such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, and most recently in recognition of the organization's second year in the Fortune Top 10, he notes. "Tables were set up in the main lobby and executives and managers served the meal to front-line staff members."
Appreciation gifts are among the other ways employees are honored, Page says, and have included $200 Kroger grocery cards and $250 Chevron gasoline cards.
"Within patient access," he notes, "we recognize our top performers for scheduling and registration each month through a posting on the bulletin board."
Call center employees, who work behind the scenes and so don't have face-to-face contact with patients, recently were allowed to begin wearing surgical scrubs to work, Page adds. "That was taken positively."
Selection to the Fortune Best Companies to Work For list is based on employees' attitudes and the companies' pay and benefits, hiring practices, internal communications, and training, recognition, and diversity efforts.
Fortune partners with the Great Place to Work Institute a global research and consulting firm in choosing the companies, and a 57-question survey created by GPWI is used to gauge employees' feelings about management credibility, job satisfaction, and camaraderie.
That survey counts for two-thirds of the ranking, and the other third comes from a culture audit completed by management.
Among the factors mentioned in connection with Methodist Hospital System, were its 11% voluntary turnover rate and the addition of 971 new jobs within a year's time. The system, which has 10,480 employees, includes a flagship teaching hospital, three community hospitals, and a research institute.
Ten other hospitals or health systems were included in Fortune's 2008 list, including OhioHealth in Columbus (18th); Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (45th); Griffin Hospital in Derby, CT (49th); ScrippsHealth in San Diego, (56th); Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN (59th); King's Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, KY (63rd); Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth (75th); Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock (76th); Lehigh Valley Hospital & Health Network in Allentown, PA (85th); and Baptist Health South Florida in Coral Gables, FL (94th).
[More information on Methodist Hospital System is available at www.methodisthealth.com]
The "ICARE" values - integrity, compassion, accountability, respect, and excellence - emphasized at Methodist Hospital System in Houston have a great deal to do with the organization's second year in a row in the top 10 of Fortune magazine's list of 100 Best Companies to Work For, says Greg Page, MBA, MHA, director of patient access and scheduling services.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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