Trade Publication Names Best Places to Work
Staff in Saint Francis Medical Center's information technology (IT) department have one of the best employers in the nation, according to Healthcare IT News. Saint Francis earned the top honor for medium-sized hospitals (101 to 350 beds) and was profiled in the publication's first ever “Where to Work: BEST Hospital IT Departments,” special report released November 28, 2011.
“It is truly a privilege to work with a team that supports each other for the common good of the organization,” says Diane Smith, director of Information Services at Saint Francis. “In addition to providing normal support to the rest of the Medical Center this past year, the IT staff were able to support the IT needs of six acquired physician practices and the new Heart Hospital Cancer Institute. While their accomplishments are to be recognized, of equal importance is their ability to maintain a positive attitude under the added workload.”
The four-month award process began with 179 nominations and included a confidential employee survey and in-depth data-analysis. To qualify, half of a department's staff had to complete the online survey. The survey asked employees to grade their IT departments across seven categories: day-to-day work, IT team, management, hospital leadership, workplace culture, training and development and compensation. The IT departments that scored the highest in the areas that mattered most to employees were the top finishers. Saint Francis was rated against 27 other medium category hospitals that met the nomination requirements.
“The core of Saint Francis' mission is to meet community health needs and create and maintain a strategic plan to achieve specific goals,” says Steven C. Bjelich, FACHE-D, Saint Francis President and Chief Executive Officer. “The IT department helps us achieve this mission in their willingness to serve others and their constant dedication to quality. The people truly are what makes Saint Francis one of the best places to work in healthcare.”
Saint Francis Medical Center earned the top honor for medium-sized hospitals from Healthcare IT News in the publication’s first ever “Where to Work: BEST Hospital IT Departments” special report. Back row, from left: Kevin Probst, Gene Magnus, Dave Wehner, Tom Hughey, Pat Elfrink, Lonnie Chapman, Brad Seidenstricker, Kevin McCarty, James Unterreiner, Derik Stevens and Dan Williams. Front row, from left: Seth Lyon, JoAnn Tatum, Diane Smith, Ryan Smith and Kevin Essner. Additional staff not shown: Matt Antill, Phillip Colyer, Doug Essner, Travis Farrar, Dianna Johnson, Barbara Mueller, Adam Rigdon, Andrew Welker and Phillip Yarbro.