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Carson City Hospital (Carson City, Mich.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Carson City Hospital is a 77-bed, acute-care facility affiliated with Sparrow Health System. Employees say that the hospital's tight-knit community is evident when colleagues join together for special occasions. Administrators and managers served a special Christmas meal on Dec. 21, 2010 to over 300 associates on all three shifts, and the hospital's "brown bag" lunchtime series allows hospital associates to watch audio-visual presentations of their colleagues' recent projects. In January, Bruce Murray, MD, of the ER staff showed a slide presentation of his mission trip to serve disaster victims in Haiti. The hospital's human resources department and executive team regularly monitor the market to maintain a comparable benefit program. An annual benefits fair brings benefit vendors to the hospital to increase awareness of available services. Gary Sweet, accreditation manager for special projects at Carson City Hospital, says, "Associates are regularly engaged in the development of healthy living and competitive compensation and employee benefits through independent professionals surveys, customer satisfaction and open, two-way communication."
Catholic Healthcare West (San Francisco, Calif.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Catholic Healthcare West links 60,000 caregivers across Arizona, California and Nevada. Recognizing that compensation is an important aspect of a great job, Catholic Healthcare West strives to offer competitive base salaries as well as performance-based cash awards. The system also conducts an annual review of pay and offers professional growth and development opportunities to employees looking to move up the career ladder. Employees can take advantage of the CHW Learning Institute and benefit from tuition reimbursement for various degrees. The system's wellness program includes healthy eating options in the cafeteria and healthy lifestyles programs that focus on exercise and nutrition. Employees living in Catholic Healthcare West communities benefit too: In 2008 alone, the system provided $967 million in charity care, unreimbursed care and community benefits. Several of Catholic Healthcare West's hospitals have been honored as "best places to work" in Arizona and the country; in 2010, CHW's Mercy Gilbert Medical Center was given "AZ's Most Admired Award" by Best Companies AZ for its student nurse extern program, in-depth new graduate RN orientation and state-of-the-art technology.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center offers employees a competitive compensation and benefits program that allows employees to choose between a defined contribution plan and defined benefit plan retirement programs. Employees have the opportunity to participate in a 403(b) plan. Healthcare benefits for CSMC employees include medical and vision coverage, pet insurance and life insurance benefits. The hospital also offers vacation, sick day and other time off for personal leave. The hospital's "Work 'n' Life Matters Program" provides employees with additional support, resources and education as needed. Childcare resource services, including referrals to public or private schools and access to parenting specialists, are available for hospital employees. Finally, the hospital provides tuition reimbursement for employees wishing to pursue additional training in healthcare careers. CSMC also participates in the environmentally-friendly Rideshare Incentives program that incentivizes employees to ride to work with coworkers.
Centegra Health System (Crystal Lake, Ill.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Centegra Health System was formed in 1995, when Memorial Medical Center in Woodstock, Ill., and North Illinois Medical Center in McHenry, Ill., combined their facilities and staff. Today, Centegra is the community's largest employer, with nearly 4,000 associates and 500 volunteers. Discounts at Centegra abound: 25 percent off in the cafeteria, 10 percent off in the gift shop, discounts to the Health Bridge fitness center and discounts to the hospital for staff and their families. The system's wellness program has introduced a $20 incentive for health risk assessments, as well as complimentary mammograms, colonoscopies and PSA screenings, a weight management program and a smoking cessation program. Employees can take advantage of nutrition lectures, meditation exercises and activity classes on campus too, all in the name of Centegra's mission "to make healthy options easy, enjoyable and affordable. To build ties between administration and lower-level employees, the system hosts open forums to discuss policies, procedures and any system-wide changes. Centegra also distributes a president's report and an employee newsletter.
Centennial Surgery Center (Voorhees, N.J.)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Centennial Surgery Center houses four surgical suites, two endoscopy suites, two short procedures rooms and features state-of-the-art surgical equipment and technology to help deliver excellent patient care. The 100 percent physician-owned center maintains a high level of employee satisfaction. This is achieved by top-to-bottom prioritization of employee satisfaction. "I find it truly amazing that the physician board routinely evaluates decisions based on the potential impact to the employees," says Steve Barainyak, MBA, CASC, executive director of Centennial Surgery Center. "They have a keen understanding of the value each employee brings to the center, and I think this is why the organization is so successful." Mr. Barainyak says 2 percent of the center's annual bottom line is allocated to the staff and paid out twice a year as part of an employee profit sharing plan established several years ago. The physician-owners also express their appreciation of employees by dedicating a week every year in September as the "Centennial Employee Appreciation Week." During this time, employees enjoy food, annual gifts and a "blow-out" catered lunch at the end of the week.
Central DuPage Hospital (Winfield, Ill.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: This 313-bed hospital's incentive plan promotes employee engagement by rewarding collective achievement: Goals are established at the beginning of each fiscal year and are funded through improved financial performance. Based on their success in meeting the pre-determined goals, employees are eligible for a payout that equals a percentage of their salary. Central DuPage Hospital offers childcare assistance that includes discounts and resource referrals for busy parents, as well as a concierge service that takes care of employee errands — from dry-cleaning to taking care of pets. CDH's fitness challenge program offers a cash incentive to employees for regular attendance at select centers, and five area health centers offer discounts to employees who join the facilities. For employees joining the hospital from a graduate program, CDH's loan forgiveness program offers reimbursement for tuition paid during the last year of nursing school.
Central Park ENT & Surgery Center (Arlington, Texas)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Central Park ENT & Surgery Center's seven board-certified physicians provide adult ear, nose, throat, head, neck and allergy care to the Arlington community. The center aims to treat its employees as a family, hosting regular events that encourage employee unity and build a family-friendly environment. Last year, the ASC held a picnic at a local park, where the organization's CEO grilled burgers, brats and chicken to celebrate the Texas Rangers reaching the World Series. Over the Christmas holidays, the employees took part in a toy drive for a local family shelter. "Not only did employees contribute, but Central Park ENT & Surgery Center stepped up to make sure that the children were accounted for," says Steve Blake, CEO. In 2011, the ASC plans to hold a family picnic to recognize the families that stand behind staff members in their work. The center features an on-site gym and frequently provides lunch to enable a more efficient focus on patient care. The center pays 100 percent of employees' major medical health insurance premiums and offers a generous 401(k) plan that matches dollar-for-dollar up to the first 5 percent of employee compensation.
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (Atlanta, Ga.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Children's Healthcare operates three hospitals and 17 neighborhood locations across the state of Georgia. The health system is deeply committed to the health of patients and families, meaning that staff must lead by example to promote a healthy population. Children's hospital campuses are 100 percent tobacco-free inside and out, and the system provides smoking cessation assistance, physical activity programs and stress management help for employees. Every other month, Children's hosts a baby shower where employees who are expectant parents can receive gifts, prizes and information about childcare, Family Medical Leave Act and benefits. The hospital also offers up to $5,000 in reimbursement every year for expenses related to adoption or infertility, and various wellness initiatives — including onsite Weight Watchers meetings, memberships at various fitness facilities and onsite massage therapy — keep employees happy and healthy. The hospital distributes various awards for outstanding work, including The DAISY award for exceptional nurses and Hope and Will awards, given to winners who are nominated by their fellow employees.
Children's Medical Center Dallas (Dallas, Texas)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: The only pediatric academic healthcare facility in North Texas, Children's Medical Center is a 559-bed, non-profit hospital that serves as a major pediatric kidney, liver, intestine, heart and bone marrow transplant center. In its 2010 employee survey, employees listed most improved areas as employees' perception of work unit staff levels, communication between different levels of the organization and perception of fairness of pay. On a scale from 1-5, Children's employee commitment score sits at a healthy 4.27, above the National Healthcare average of 4.14. In 2010, Children's launched the "A Better Way" campaign with the goal of improving process improvement at the hospital. The campaign aimed to spread understanding of process improvement, demonstrate how PI can benefit patients, employees and the hospital and encourage employees to take notice of PI opportunities. An "A Better Way" website was published on the hospital's Intranet site, and employees were encouraged to share success stories through the hospital's online employee newspaper.
Children's Memorial Hospital (Chicago)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Along with competitive salaries, health insurance and tuition reimbursement, Children's offers new employees 29 days of paid time off accrued per year as well as concierge services to improve employees' work/life balance. In 2010, Children's was named one of the top 20 employers with more than 1,000 employees by the Chicago Tribune and it also received recognition as an outstanding workplace for mothers by Working Mother Magazine. Employees also receive 50 percent off hospital charges after insurance has been applied and are eligible for adoption assistance reimbursement of $5,000 per child. Shuttle service is available to the hospital from all major train stations for a discounted fee, and the hospital offers a payroll loan deduction option for the purchase of computer products. An independent resource provides education, counseling and assistance in personal financial matters from Certified Financial Partners, and all employees can take advantage of a "college coach" to help families assist in the selection, application and financial processes of college education.
Christiana Care Health System (Wilmington, Del.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Christiana Care Health System, headquartered in Delaware, is one of the country's largest healthcare providers and serves as a major teaching hospital, with two campuses and more than 240 medical-dental residents and fellows. In 2009, the system was ranked among the top 100 places to work in a 2009 Nursing Professionals survey, based on a job satisfaction survey sent to 25,000 randomly selected hospital nurses. The system is deeply committed to its nursing population, offering paid nurse internship programs and nursing scholarships to eligible employees. Christiana Care partners with Bright Horizons Family Solutions for operational management of an on-site child care center and also hosts a fitness center on-site. The system campus also features fitness trails and a therapeutic message service, as well as lactation rooms for breast-feeding mothers.
CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System (Texarkana, Texas)
Type of company: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System includes a 312-bed acute-care hospital, 50-bed rehabilitation hospital, an outpatient rehabilitation center and an outpatient imaging center. The campus also includes a health and fitness center with an outdoor lap pool. The system's commitment to employee growth led to high levels of satisfaction, with the health system receiving campus-wide associate satisfaction scores in the 90th percentile as measured by Press Ganey. CHRISTUS St. Michael's rehabilitation hospital also received Press Ganey's 2009 Associate Satisfaction Distinctive Award for having scores over the 95th percentile for two years in a row. CHRISTUS St. Michael encourages staff members to develop leadership skills through a mentorship program that pairs administrators or CHRISTUS Academy graduates with associates to provide them with tools and support. The health system also has a School at Work program that allows entry-level staff to advance and continue their careers in healthcare by continuing their education through their jobs.
Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland, Ohio)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: With 2,000 physicians and scientists and over 4.2 million patient visits a year, Cleveland Clinic is one of the country's most prominent hospitals. Aside from exceptional medical, vision and dental coverage that pays for nearly 100 percent of all costs, the Cleveland Clinic offers free membership to Weight Watchers, Curves and other local workout facilities, employee discounts to sporting events, theaters and restaurants, free courses at the Cleveland Clinic Academy and an employer-contributed pension plan. Cleveland Clinic CEO Delos "Toby" Cosgrove, MD, has long been a proponent of employee health, speaking out against smoking and the spread of obesity. Inside his own hospital walls, employees benefit from programs designed to improve nutrition, stress management and exercise habits, as well as a Tobacco Treatment Center that specializes in smoking cessation services. Since Dr. Cosgrove developed a partnership with Weight Watchers in an effort to improve employee health, Cleveland Clinic's employees have lost over 110,000 pounds.
Deaconess Health System (Evansville, Ind.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Deaconess Health System is a system of five hospitals in southwestern Indiana. Deaconess' nursing services division aims to be a regional leader among community hospitals in the area; as such, the system practices 'shared-governance' in nursing, meaning a practice council or nurses takes ownership of the nursing profession by reviewing, revising and recommending nursing practice standards. In combination with other councils, the practice council ensures that real nurses have an impact on the policy and procedural decisions made at Deaconess. Employees can also take advantage of Deaconess RN OnCall, which staffs a registered nurse 24 hours a day to answer questions regarding acute illness or injury. The system provides incentives to employees for working straight evening or night shifts in designated areas, as well as incentives for working straight weekends in certain areas. Staff can enjoy a plethora of information at three on-site libraries: the health science library, the holistic resources library and the lighter side library — the latter of which provides books and videos on non-healthcare topics. If staff come to Deaconess from a Voluntary Hospitals of America facility, their benefits will transfer upon employment.
Ephrata Community Hospital (Ephrata, Pa.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to work: Ephrata Community Hospital has been serving the community of north Lancaster County, Pa., for over 65 years. In addition to health, dental and life insurance, the hospital offers educational assistance programs that include tuition reimbursement, professional certification fee reimbursement and educational scholarships. Reduced-cost health, wellness and educational programs are available to all employees through the ECH Wellness Center and Center for Women's Health, including CPR training, diabetes programs, smoking cessation assistance, nutrition consults, yoga, pilates, self-defense and massage therapy. Employees also have free use of exercise equipment at any ECH rehab center location across Lancaster County. The hospital will absorb 70 percent of inpatient and outpatient hospital charges not covered by insurance up to a $300 discount per bill, for which employees, spouses and dependents are eligible upon the employee's hire date. Staff members can also receive discounts on cell phones, car rentals, relocation and computer equipment. The hospital was previously earned recognition from Central Penn Business Journal for employee satisfaction.
The Everett Clinic (Everett, Wash.)
Type of facility: Physician practice
What makes it a Best Place to Work: The Everett Clinic is the largest medical group in Washington state, with 315 physicians and 40 specialty services. The company is very invested in maintaining an excellent staff. "Even in the current economic condition, the company implemented a hiring freeze, instead of laying anyone off," one staff member says. "It shows how the Clinic values its employees." Staff at Everett can take advantage of tuition reimbursement up to $2,000 per calendar year, starting on their date of hire, and the clinic also pays all costs associated with approved continuing education programs. Each quarter, the clinic updates its wellness program with new goals; for each goal an employee meets, he or she is entered into a drawing for prizes. Every five years of service with the clinic, employees are rewarded with cash bonuses and company pins. To support work/life balance and encourage staff to take advantage of the Puget Sound area, Everett offers discounts on cultural arts and sporting events, as well as discounts at amusement parks through Magic Kingdom Club/Great America Club. Employees and their dependents can also apply discounts to certain Everett Clinic services not covered by the benefits on their health plans. "People in the community recognize us for our company's longevity and good reputation," one employee said in response to a Fortune magazine satisfaction survey. "I am proud to say I work here."
The Eye Surgery Center of Michigan (Troy, Mich.)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Best Place to Work: The Eye Surgery Center of Michigan was developed by local physicians in partnership with St. John Providence Health System. The center features 10 physicians specializing in eye surgery and ophthalmology. According to employee Rachel Blaszyk, administrator, The Eye Surgery Center is intently focused on quality patient care, distributing surveys to every patient upon discharge. This dedication to patient satisfaction applies to staff happiness too: When employees mentioned that the lunch room was too small for everyone to gather, administration conducted a vote and started construction to expand the lunch room the following week. When employees notice a staff member going above and beyond in their work, they can write the person a "star" to be placed in the "star employee reward box." Every month, administration holds a drawing and the chosen employee receives a gift card. "That is just one way they show the staff their appreciation for a job well done," she says. The Eye Surgery Center is also focused on wellness. Every few months, the center holds a weight loss competition to promote healthy habits. The facility also recycles every bottle to promote going green. "We are all veterans in the healthcare industry and recognize The Eye Surgery Center of Michigan's work ethic is hard to come by," Ms. Blaszyk says. "The continuous dedication of the administration and staff make it the best place to work in the healthcare field."
Fleming Island Surgery Center (Orange Park, Fla.)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Fleming Island Surgery Center is keenly aware that the only way to achieve success is to build a strong core of employees. Lindsay Allen, operations assistant for managing partner Borland-Groover Clinic, says FISC is driven to involve employees in the work that affects them and empowers them to take ownership. One recent project employees spearheaded was updating all preference cards to ensure each physician's satisfaction during their tenure at FISC. "This was a very tedious and time-consuming project that required a lot of teamwork and effort from our staff," says Cindy Holden, RN, administrator at FISC. "Our physicians and leadership team helped educate the staff on the importance of preference cards and served as a constant resource. Some of the employees really stepped up with ideas on how to streamline the process and how to ensure that all future corrections and preferences were being recorded." When BGC took over managing FISC in 2008, new employee benefits were introduced that were previously unavailable, such as an employee incentive program to reward employees for working above and beyond their expectations. "This is a great program that really goes a long way towards making the staff feel appreciated," says John Gol, executive director of finance for BGC and executive administrator for FISC.
Fremont Surgical Center (Fremont, Neb.)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Fremont Surgical Center sees an average of 3,800 cases annually with specialties including gastroenterology, pulmonology, orthopedics, pain management, ophthalmology and dental. The center includes two operating rooms. Steve Henry, FSC administrator, ensures that each physician and staff member has clearly outlined duties and responsibilities to make the surgery center run efficiently. "Staff members realize cost-savings, such as supplies; in turn, FSC provides a bonus incentive plan based on cost-saving indicators," says Mr. Henry. The ASC also incorporates clinical staff on the center's quality team to make recommendations to the staff and board of managers for improvements. The culture of teamwork at FSC is apparent in the results of the center's 2010 patient satisfaction survey: The patient satisfaction rating is 95 percent. The center's employees are also able to enjoy good benefits, including health, dental and life insurance and 401(k).
Geisinger Health System (Danville, Pa.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Founded in 1915, Geisinger is a physician-led health system, providing service spanning 43 counties of 20,000 square miles and serving 2.6 million people. Geisinger partners with 20 organizations and institutions, including Thomas Jefferson University, Penn State University and King's College, to provide educational opportunities for its employees. Staff members can apply for educational loans from the system. The Geisinger MyHealth Rewards Program is designed to encourage employees to better their health. The program includes a confidential health risk assessment, free medications for hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes, a wellness program to help employees lose weight, stop smoking and eat better and an enrollment incentive payment of $200. Geisinger full-time employees have the option of taking four personal holidays as time off with pay during the year; if employees choose not to use their holidays, they can sell them back to the system for cash or flex credits. "Geisinger hires visionaries who help employees cultivate their potential," says Megan King, RN, Perinatal Education, Geisinger Health System. "I have been able to pursue my dreams and grow personally and professionally. Nursing was always my dream and only through their financial and management support, I became an RN. Today, I use my passion for women's health to promote excellence and leadership in the next generation of Geisinger nurses."
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Carson City Hospital (Carson City, Mich.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Carson City Hospital is a 77-bed, acute-care facility affiliated with Sparrow Health System. Employees say that the hospital's tight-knit community is evident when colleagues join together for special occasions. Administrators and managers served a special Christmas meal on Dec. 21, 2010 to over 300 associates on all three shifts, and the hospital's "brown bag" lunchtime series allows hospital associates to watch audio-visual presentations of their colleagues' recent projects. In January, Bruce Murray, MD, of the ER staff showed a slide presentation of his mission trip to serve disaster victims in Haiti. The hospital's human resources department and executive team regularly monitor the market to maintain a comparable benefit program. An annual benefits fair brings benefit vendors to the hospital to increase awareness of available services. Gary Sweet, accreditation manager for special projects at Carson City Hospital, says, "Associates are regularly engaged in the development of healthy living and competitive compensation and employee benefits through independent professionals surveys, customer satisfaction and open, two-way communication."
Catholic Healthcare West (San Francisco, Calif.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Catholic Healthcare West links 60,000 caregivers across Arizona, California and Nevada. Recognizing that compensation is an important aspect of a great job, Catholic Healthcare West strives to offer competitive base salaries as well as performance-based cash awards. The system also conducts an annual review of pay and offers professional growth and development opportunities to employees looking to move up the career ladder. Employees can take advantage of the CHW Learning Institute and benefit from tuition reimbursement for various degrees. The system's wellness program includes healthy eating options in the cafeteria and healthy lifestyles programs that focus on exercise and nutrition. Employees living in Catholic Healthcare West communities benefit too: In 2008 alone, the system provided $967 million in charity care, unreimbursed care and community benefits. Several of Catholic Healthcare West's hospitals have been honored as "best places to work" in Arizona and the country; in 2010, CHW's Mercy Gilbert Medical Center was given "AZ's Most Admired Award" by Best Companies AZ for its student nurse extern program, in-depth new graduate RN orientation and state-of-the-art technology.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center offers employees a competitive compensation and benefits program that allows employees to choose between a defined contribution plan and defined benefit plan retirement programs. Employees have the opportunity to participate in a 403(b) plan. Healthcare benefits for CSMC employees include medical and vision coverage, pet insurance and life insurance benefits. The hospital also offers vacation, sick day and other time off for personal leave. The hospital's "Work 'n' Life Matters Program" provides employees with additional support, resources and education as needed. Childcare resource services, including referrals to public or private schools and access to parenting specialists, are available for hospital employees. Finally, the hospital provides tuition reimbursement for employees wishing to pursue additional training in healthcare careers. CSMC also participates in the environmentally-friendly Rideshare Incentives program that incentivizes employees to ride to work with coworkers.
Centegra Health System (Crystal Lake, Ill.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Centegra Health System was formed in 1995, when Memorial Medical Center in Woodstock, Ill., and North Illinois Medical Center in McHenry, Ill., combined their facilities and staff. Today, Centegra is the community's largest employer, with nearly 4,000 associates and 500 volunteers. Discounts at Centegra abound: 25 percent off in the cafeteria, 10 percent off in the gift shop, discounts to the Health Bridge fitness center and discounts to the hospital for staff and their families. The system's wellness program has introduced a $20 incentive for health risk assessments, as well as complimentary mammograms, colonoscopies and PSA screenings, a weight management program and a smoking cessation program. Employees can take advantage of nutrition lectures, meditation exercises and activity classes on campus too, all in the name of Centegra's mission "to make healthy options easy, enjoyable and affordable. To build ties between administration and lower-level employees, the system hosts open forums to discuss policies, procedures and any system-wide changes. Centegra also distributes a president's report and an employee newsletter.
Centennial Surgery Center (Voorhees, N.J.)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Centennial Surgery Center houses four surgical suites, two endoscopy suites, two short procedures rooms and features state-of-the-art surgical equipment and technology to help deliver excellent patient care. The 100 percent physician-owned center maintains a high level of employee satisfaction. This is achieved by top-to-bottom prioritization of employee satisfaction. "I find it truly amazing that the physician board routinely evaluates decisions based on the potential impact to the employees," says Steve Barainyak, MBA, CASC, executive director of Centennial Surgery Center. "They have a keen understanding of the value each employee brings to the center, and I think this is why the organization is so successful." Mr. Barainyak says 2 percent of the center's annual bottom line is allocated to the staff and paid out twice a year as part of an employee profit sharing plan established several years ago. The physician-owners also express their appreciation of employees by dedicating a week every year in September as the "Centennial Employee Appreciation Week." During this time, employees enjoy food, annual gifts and a "blow-out" catered lunch at the end of the week.
Central DuPage Hospital (Winfield, Ill.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: This 313-bed hospital's incentive plan promotes employee engagement by rewarding collective achievement: Goals are established at the beginning of each fiscal year and are funded through improved financial performance. Based on their success in meeting the pre-determined goals, employees are eligible for a payout that equals a percentage of their salary. Central DuPage Hospital offers childcare assistance that includes discounts and resource referrals for busy parents, as well as a concierge service that takes care of employee errands — from dry-cleaning to taking care of pets. CDH's fitness challenge program offers a cash incentive to employees for regular attendance at select centers, and five area health centers offer discounts to employees who join the facilities. For employees joining the hospital from a graduate program, CDH's loan forgiveness program offers reimbursement for tuition paid during the last year of nursing school.
Central Park ENT & Surgery Center (Arlington, Texas)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Central Park ENT & Surgery Center's seven board-certified physicians provide adult ear, nose, throat, head, neck and allergy care to the Arlington community. The center aims to treat its employees as a family, hosting regular events that encourage employee unity and build a family-friendly environment. Last year, the ASC held a picnic at a local park, where the organization's CEO grilled burgers, brats and chicken to celebrate the Texas Rangers reaching the World Series. Over the Christmas holidays, the employees took part in a toy drive for a local family shelter. "Not only did employees contribute, but Central Park ENT & Surgery Center stepped up to make sure that the children were accounted for," says Steve Blake, CEO. In 2011, the ASC plans to hold a family picnic to recognize the families that stand behind staff members in their work. The center features an on-site gym and frequently provides lunch to enable a more efficient focus on patient care. The center pays 100 percent of employees' major medical health insurance premiums and offers a generous 401(k) plan that matches dollar-for-dollar up to the first 5 percent of employee compensation.
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (Atlanta, Ga.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Children's Healthcare operates three hospitals and 17 neighborhood locations across the state of Georgia. The health system is deeply committed to the health of patients and families, meaning that staff must lead by example to promote a healthy population. Children's hospital campuses are 100 percent tobacco-free inside and out, and the system provides smoking cessation assistance, physical activity programs and stress management help for employees. Every other month, Children's hosts a baby shower where employees who are expectant parents can receive gifts, prizes and information about childcare, Family Medical Leave Act and benefits. The hospital also offers up to $5,000 in reimbursement every year for expenses related to adoption or infertility, and various wellness initiatives — including onsite Weight Watchers meetings, memberships at various fitness facilities and onsite massage therapy — keep employees happy and healthy. The hospital distributes various awards for outstanding work, including The DAISY award for exceptional nurses and Hope and Will awards, given to winners who are nominated by their fellow employees.
Children's Medical Center Dallas (Dallas, Texas)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: The only pediatric academic healthcare facility in North Texas, Children's Medical Center is a 559-bed, non-profit hospital that serves as a major pediatric kidney, liver, intestine, heart and bone marrow transplant center. In its 2010 employee survey, employees listed most improved areas as employees' perception of work unit staff levels, communication between different levels of the organization and perception of fairness of pay. On a scale from 1-5, Children's employee commitment score sits at a healthy 4.27, above the National Healthcare average of 4.14. In 2010, Children's launched the "A Better Way" campaign with the goal of improving process improvement at the hospital. The campaign aimed to spread understanding of process improvement, demonstrate how PI can benefit patients, employees and the hospital and encourage employees to take notice of PI opportunities. An "A Better Way" website was published on the hospital's Intranet site, and employees were encouraged to share success stories through the hospital's online employee newspaper.
Children's Memorial Hospital (Chicago)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Along with competitive salaries, health insurance and tuition reimbursement, Children's offers new employees 29 days of paid time off accrued per year as well as concierge services to improve employees' work/life balance. In 2010, Children's was named one of the top 20 employers with more than 1,000 employees by the Chicago Tribune and it also received recognition as an outstanding workplace for mothers by Working Mother Magazine. Employees also receive 50 percent off hospital charges after insurance has been applied and are eligible for adoption assistance reimbursement of $5,000 per child. Shuttle service is available to the hospital from all major train stations for a discounted fee, and the hospital offers a payroll loan deduction option for the purchase of computer products. An independent resource provides education, counseling and assistance in personal financial matters from Certified Financial Partners, and all employees can take advantage of a "college coach" to help families assist in the selection, application and financial processes of college education.
Christiana Care Health System (Wilmington, Del.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Christiana Care Health System, headquartered in Delaware, is one of the country's largest healthcare providers and serves as a major teaching hospital, with two campuses and more than 240 medical-dental residents and fellows. In 2009, the system was ranked among the top 100 places to work in a 2009 Nursing Professionals survey, based on a job satisfaction survey sent to 25,000 randomly selected hospital nurses. The system is deeply committed to its nursing population, offering paid nurse internship programs and nursing scholarships to eligible employees. Christiana Care partners with Bright Horizons Family Solutions for operational management of an on-site child care center and also hosts a fitness center on-site. The system campus also features fitness trails and a therapeutic message service, as well as lactation rooms for breast-feeding mothers.
CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System (Texarkana, Texas)
Type of company: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System includes a 312-bed acute-care hospital, 50-bed rehabilitation hospital, an outpatient rehabilitation center and an outpatient imaging center. The campus also includes a health and fitness center with an outdoor lap pool. The system's commitment to employee growth led to high levels of satisfaction, with the health system receiving campus-wide associate satisfaction scores in the 90th percentile as measured by Press Ganey. CHRISTUS St. Michael's rehabilitation hospital also received Press Ganey's 2009 Associate Satisfaction Distinctive Award for having scores over the 95th percentile for two years in a row. CHRISTUS St. Michael encourages staff members to develop leadership skills through a mentorship program that pairs administrators or CHRISTUS Academy graduates with associates to provide them with tools and support. The health system also has a School at Work program that allows entry-level staff to advance and continue their careers in healthcare by continuing their education through their jobs.
Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland, Ohio)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: With 2,000 physicians and scientists and over 4.2 million patient visits a year, Cleveland Clinic is one of the country's most prominent hospitals. Aside from exceptional medical, vision and dental coverage that pays for nearly 100 percent of all costs, the Cleveland Clinic offers free membership to Weight Watchers, Curves and other local workout facilities, employee discounts to sporting events, theaters and restaurants, free courses at the Cleveland Clinic Academy and an employer-contributed pension plan. Cleveland Clinic CEO Delos "Toby" Cosgrove, MD, has long been a proponent of employee health, speaking out against smoking and the spread of obesity. Inside his own hospital walls, employees benefit from programs designed to improve nutrition, stress management and exercise habits, as well as a Tobacco Treatment Center that specializes in smoking cessation services. Since Dr. Cosgrove developed a partnership with Weight Watchers in an effort to improve employee health, Cleveland Clinic's employees have lost over 110,000 pounds.
Deaconess Health System (Evansville, Ind.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Deaconess Health System is a system of five hospitals in southwestern Indiana. Deaconess' nursing services division aims to be a regional leader among community hospitals in the area; as such, the system practices 'shared-governance' in nursing, meaning a practice council or nurses takes ownership of the nursing profession by reviewing, revising and recommending nursing practice standards. In combination with other councils, the practice council ensures that real nurses have an impact on the policy and procedural decisions made at Deaconess. Employees can also take advantage of Deaconess RN OnCall, which staffs a registered nurse 24 hours a day to answer questions regarding acute illness or injury. The system provides incentives to employees for working straight evening or night shifts in designated areas, as well as incentives for working straight weekends in certain areas. Staff can enjoy a plethora of information at three on-site libraries: the health science library, the holistic resources library and the lighter side library — the latter of which provides books and videos on non-healthcare topics. If staff come to Deaconess from a Voluntary Hospitals of America facility, their benefits will transfer upon employment.
Ephrata Community Hospital (Ephrata, Pa.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to work: Ephrata Community Hospital has been serving the community of north Lancaster County, Pa., for over 65 years. In addition to health, dental and life insurance, the hospital offers educational assistance programs that include tuition reimbursement, professional certification fee reimbursement and educational scholarships. Reduced-cost health, wellness and educational programs are available to all employees through the ECH Wellness Center and Center for Women's Health, including CPR training, diabetes programs, smoking cessation assistance, nutrition consults, yoga, pilates, self-defense and massage therapy. Employees also have free use of exercise equipment at any ECH rehab center location across Lancaster County. The hospital will absorb 70 percent of inpatient and outpatient hospital charges not covered by insurance up to a $300 discount per bill, for which employees, spouses and dependents are eligible upon the employee's hire date. Staff members can also receive discounts on cell phones, car rentals, relocation and computer equipment. The hospital was previously earned recognition from Central Penn Business Journal for employee satisfaction.
The Everett Clinic (Everett, Wash.)
Type of facility: Physician practice
What makes it a Best Place to Work: The Everett Clinic is the largest medical group in Washington state, with 315 physicians and 40 specialty services. The company is very invested in maintaining an excellent staff. "Even in the current economic condition, the company implemented a hiring freeze, instead of laying anyone off," one staff member says. "It shows how the Clinic values its employees." Staff at Everett can take advantage of tuition reimbursement up to $2,000 per calendar year, starting on their date of hire, and the clinic also pays all costs associated with approved continuing education programs. Each quarter, the clinic updates its wellness program with new goals; for each goal an employee meets, he or she is entered into a drawing for prizes. Every five years of service with the clinic, employees are rewarded with cash bonuses and company pins. To support work/life balance and encourage staff to take advantage of the Puget Sound area, Everett offers discounts on cultural arts and sporting events, as well as discounts at amusement parks through Magic Kingdom Club/Great America Club. Employees and their dependents can also apply discounts to certain Everett Clinic services not covered by the benefits on their health plans. "People in the community recognize us for our company's longevity and good reputation," one employee said in response to a Fortune magazine satisfaction survey. "I am proud to say I work here."
The Eye Surgery Center of Michigan (Troy, Mich.)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Best Place to Work: The Eye Surgery Center of Michigan was developed by local physicians in partnership with St. John Providence Health System. The center features 10 physicians specializing in eye surgery and ophthalmology. According to employee Rachel Blaszyk, administrator, The Eye Surgery Center is intently focused on quality patient care, distributing surveys to every patient upon discharge. This dedication to patient satisfaction applies to staff happiness too: When employees mentioned that the lunch room was too small for everyone to gather, administration conducted a vote and started construction to expand the lunch room the following week. When employees notice a staff member going above and beyond in their work, they can write the person a "star" to be placed in the "star employee reward box." Every month, administration holds a drawing and the chosen employee receives a gift card. "That is just one way they show the staff their appreciation for a job well done," she says. The Eye Surgery Center is also focused on wellness. Every few months, the center holds a weight loss competition to promote healthy habits. The facility also recycles every bottle to promote going green. "We are all veterans in the healthcare industry and recognize The Eye Surgery Center of Michigan's work ethic is hard to come by," Ms. Blaszyk says. "The continuous dedication of the administration and staff make it the best place to work in the healthcare field."
Fleming Island Surgery Center (Orange Park, Fla.)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Fleming Island Surgery Center is keenly aware that the only way to achieve success is to build a strong core of employees. Lindsay Allen, operations assistant for managing partner Borland-Groover Clinic, says FISC is driven to involve employees in the work that affects them and empowers them to take ownership. One recent project employees spearheaded was updating all preference cards to ensure each physician's satisfaction during their tenure at FISC. "This was a very tedious and time-consuming project that required a lot of teamwork and effort from our staff," says Cindy Holden, RN, administrator at FISC. "Our physicians and leadership team helped educate the staff on the importance of preference cards and served as a constant resource. Some of the employees really stepped up with ideas on how to streamline the process and how to ensure that all future corrections and preferences were being recorded." When BGC took over managing FISC in 2008, new employee benefits were introduced that were previously unavailable, such as an employee incentive program to reward employees for working above and beyond their expectations. "This is a great program that really goes a long way towards making the staff feel appreciated," says John Gol, executive director of finance for BGC and executive administrator for FISC.
Fremont Surgical Center (Fremont, Neb.)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Fremont Surgical Center sees an average of 3,800 cases annually with specialties including gastroenterology, pulmonology, orthopedics, pain management, ophthalmology and dental. The center includes two operating rooms. Steve Henry, FSC administrator, ensures that each physician and staff member has clearly outlined duties and responsibilities to make the surgery center run efficiently. "Staff members realize cost-savings, such as supplies; in turn, FSC provides a bonus incentive plan based on cost-saving indicators," says Mr. Henry. The ASC also incorporates clinical staff on the center's quality team to make recommendations to the staff and board of managers for improvements. The culture of teamwork at FSC is apparent in the results of the center's 2010 patient satisfaction survey: The patient satisfaction rating is 95 percent. The center's employees are also able to enjoy good benefits, including health, dental and life insurance and 401(k).
Geisinger Health System (Danville, Pa.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Best Place to Work: Founded in 1915, Geisinger is a physician-led health system, providing service spanning 43 counties of 20,000 square miles and serving 2.6 million people. Geisinger partners with 20 organizations and institutions, including Thomas Jefferson University, Penn State University and King's College, to provide educational opportunities for its employees. Staff members can apply for educational loans from the system. The Geisinger MyHealth Rewards Program is designed to encourage employees to better their health. The program includes a confidential health risk assessment, free medications for hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes, a wellness program to help employees lose weight, stop smoking and eat better and an enrollment incentive payment of $200. Geisinger full-time employees have the option of taking four personal holidays as time off with pay during the year; if employees choose not to use their holidays, they can sell them back to the system for cash or flex credits. "Geisinger hires visionaries who help employees cultivate their potential," says Megan King, RN, Perinatal Education, Geisinger Health System. "I have been able to pursue my dreams and grow personally and professionally. Nursing was always my dream and only through their financial and management support, I became an RN. Today, I use my passion for women's health to promote excellence and leadership in the next generation of Geisinger nurses."