HMH Employee Engagement Ranks Among Best in Country

Hardin Memorial Health employees ranked the healthcare system in the top 25 percent in employee engagement among more than 2,200 hospitals and healthcare systems surveyed nationwide, officials reported at the HMH Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday.

Press Ganey, the industry leader in healthcare advisors, conducted the annual survey of more than 1 million healthcare employees across the country. The survey responses create an understanding of employees’ overall commitment to their jobs and their perception of the healthcare system.

All HMH employees had access to the Press Ganey Employee Engagement Survey. Eighty-five percent of HMH employees chose to participate. Officials said the response rate was exceptionally high.

HMH Vice President of Human Resources Myra Covault called the results positive, especially in a time of uncertainty in the healthcare industry.

“In an ever-changing healthcare landscape, fostering a positive work climate with committed, confident employees takes a deliberate proactive effort,” said Covault. “We take great pride in our highly skilled and caring team and the culture we have cultivated at HMH because we know it has a direct impact on patient care and patient experience.”

Covault said of particular note is that 90 percent of HMH employees would recommend the healthcare system to their family and friends.

“That says a lot of about what our employees think of HMH,” said Covault.

HMH Chief Nursing Officer Sharon Wright called it “the highest seal of approval.”

Wright also applauded Covault and her team’s work to grow the professional development opportunities at HMH, pointing to the HMH Advance program. Through partnerships with local training and education providers, the Advance program provides HMH employees, clinical and non-clinical, with opportunities to advance their skills, advance their education and advance their careers.

Eighty-two percent of employees surveyed responded favorably about the professional development opportunities HMH offers.

Covault said such surveys always indicate opportunities for improvement and HMH will closely evaluate the results and develop ways to further improve collaboration and communication.

“We will not rest on our laurels,” she said.

Press Ganey’s Kristy Gay echoed Covault’s sentiments.

“It is important to keep the momentum going, to build on successes and to address areas where improvements can be made,” said Gay. “These survey results demonstrate HMH’s commitment to their employees and their employees’ commitment to HMH. Research tells us that has a direct correlation on patient care and patient experience.”

In other board news:

Physician Introduction – HMH Chief Medical Officer John Godfrey introduced the board to Navin Kaini, M.D. a pulmonary and critical care specialist who joined the HMH team in 2014. Kaini is one of four physicians at Elizabethtown’s Pulmonary and Critical Care Specialists, caring for patients with respiratory needs and adults with life-threatening illness and injuries.

Hardin Memorial Health Foundation (HMHF) – HMH Foundation Board Chairman Joe Prather and HMH Chief Development and Marketing Officer Tracee Troutt presented an annual update on the Foundation’s work to help strengthen HMH. In 2017, the Foundation received its first estate gift, dramatically increased donations from grateful patients and saw continued growth in support from various community organizations. Since 2015, the Foundation has raised nearly $2 million.

*Financials *– HMH Vice President and CFO Lennis Thompson presented the March financial report. Thompson reported a net profit of $663,000, which is $1.6 million less than projected for the month. Year to date, HMH is realizing a net profit of over $9 million, more than $4.5 million ahead of plan. Thompson attributed the overall fiscal year 2018 positive financial performance to higher than projected outpatient volumes.

*Ambassadors *– Medical assistant Kristy Lyons and respiratory therapist LaDonna Claywell were named HMH Ambassadors of the Month for April. A physician nominated Lyons for her outstanding care to patients. A patient nominated Claywell for the care she provided during the patient’s cardiac rehabilitation.