Becker's Hospital Review and Becker's ASC Review have announced their annual list of "100 Great Places to Work in Healthcare." The 2013 list was developed through nominations and editorial research, and the following organizations were chosen for their robust benefits, wellness initiatives, professional development opportunities and work environments that promote employee collaboration and satisfaction.
Advocate Health Care (Oak Brook, Ill.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Advocate Health Care is one of the largest employers in the Chicago metropolitan area. The 10-hospital system includes more than 30,000 employees, or "associates." In addition to comprehensive medical benefits, a 401(k) plan, and life, auto and homeowners insurance, Advocate offers commuter benefits to cut associates' travel expenses by up to 40 percent. Associates can also earn credits, if involved in certain Advocate medical plans, that convert to a dollar amount ranging from $200 to $600. Those credits can then be used to pay for health services throughout the year. The system provides $4,000 annually toward tuition reimbursement for approved college courses, and its Advancing Careers Through Education program provides 100-percent tuition reimbursement for programs in high-demand specialties, such as nursing, respiratory care or health information technology.
Andrews Institute Ambulatory Surgery Center (Gulf Breeze, Fla.)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Andrews Institute Ambulatory Surgery Center, an independent ASC on the Gulf Coast, is a joint venture with local surgeons, James Andrews, MD, and Baptist Health Care of Pensacola (Fla.). Exceptional employees are rewarded through "Blue Nation Pins," which signify the employee's dedication to excellence. Many benefits are available, including an employer-matched 401(k) plan, professional development services, tuition reimbursement and an employee bonus plan. Volunteering in the community is a pillar of the ASC's culture, and the staff frequently participates in fundraisers for worthy causes. Through the tuition reimbursement plan, several nurses and support staff have returned to school and earned associate's degrees, bachelor degrees in nursing and master's degrees.
Bailey Medical Center (Owasso, Okla.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Bailey Medical Center is committed to providing quality patient care and does so with its staff of 178 employees. It supports employees through an extensive benefits package that includes tuition reimbursement, paid extended illness leave and flexible spending accounts. The hospital offers on- and off-site educational opportunities, such as skill fairs, leadership retreats and development workshops. An Employee Action Committee at the hospital creates and distributes a newsletter each month that includes news articles and ideas submitted by employees. Each quarter, Bailey hosts a picnic or a barbeque for employees, patients and their families. The hospital has high employee satisfaction scores, according to bi-annual surveys developed and administered by HealthStream, a provider of talent management and performance assessment solutions. The scores have been above 90 percent for five of the six years Bailey has been in operation.
Baptist Health South Florida (Coral Gables, Fla.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Baptist Health South Florida supports its more than 13,000 employees through extensive training programs, tuition assistance and comprehensive benefits. The health system's "Grow Our Own" initiative promotes internal talent and succession planning, and Baptist Health South Florida offers tuition reimbursement to regular part- and full-time employees for accredited technical/trade school and undergraduate programs. The system's continuing education arm, coined Baptist Health University, offers more than 1,000 online courses and more than 500 classroom courses, many of which are complimentary. The health system has a diverse workforce, with 50 percent being Hispanic and 20 percent being African-American, and it has been repeatedly recognized by Fortune magazine as one of its "100 Best Companies to Work For."
Barnabas Health (West Orange, N.J.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Barnabas Health is the second-largest private employer in New Jersey with 18,200 employees, 4,600 physicians and 445 residents and interns. Of those employees, a remarkable number of them — 55 percent — have been with the system for more than 10 years. Employees have say in the system's recruiting process, as 25 percent of new employees are hired directly from employee referrals, and Barnabas pays out more than $350,000 in bonuses to current employees for those referrals. Barnabas rewards and recognizes employees in several ways, including annual awards ceremonies and excellence in caring ceremonies at each facility. Additionally, the system has a Terrific Day program, in which employees recognize their co-workers for exceptional service.
Baylor Health Care System (Dallas)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a great place to work: Baylor Health Care includes more than 21,000 employees across more than 300 sites of care, including 30 hospitals. In addition to comprehensive health benefits, a 401(k) plan and life insurance, full-time Baylor employees have the opportunity to earn $5,250 toward tuition reimbursement. Named one of the healthiest employers in North Texas by the Dallas Business Journal in 2012, Baylor also offers employees the chance to earn $300 each year through its wellness program, which offers fitness center discounts and complimentary health coaching.
Bridgeport (Conn.) Hospital
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Bridgeport Hospital, part of the Yale-New Haven (Conn.) Health System, includes more than 2,600 employees. The 425-bed urban teaching hospital supports employees with a benefits package that includes tuition reimbursement plans and plenty of work-life balance resources. The hospital system offers tuition assistance to full- and part-time employees, and employees who have worked at the hospital for a year can claim a tuition loan of up to $2,500 a year for up to four academic years for an eligible dependent. Bridgeport's wellness reimbursement program provides $200 annually if employees visit a fitness center for one year or participate in scheduled fitness classes.
The Callahan Eye Hospital Health Care Authority (Birmingham, Ala.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: The Callahan Eye Hospital Health Care, the only eye hospital in Alabama, has roughly 200 employees. The hospital is committed to employee development and has a tuition reimbursement program for employees who wish to seek higher education or certifications. There is no annual limit to the tuition reimbursement provided to each employee, and if the employee earns an A, tuition and books are reimbursed 100 percent. Many employees make the most of this benefit, including the hospital's CFO, who earned her bachelor's and master's degrees and CPA with Callahan's tuition reimbursement. When new employees join the team, the hospital pairs them with experienced employees through a mentor program that focuses on on-boarding.
Carolinas Medical Center (Charlotte, N.C.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Carolinas Medical Center offers employees a competitive benefits package, including health, dental and life insurance. The 874-bed hospital is tobacco-free and supports employees' work-life balance through flexible scheduling options and flexible spending accounts for child and dependent adult day care expenses. Nursing and allied health professionals can receive up to $2,000 in relocation assistance funds when they move to the Charlotte area at their own expense. Carolinas Medical Center has been named one of the Top 40 Family-Friendly Employers by Charlotte Parent Magazine.
Casa Grande (Ariz.) Regional Medical Center
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Casa Grande Regional Medical Center is 177-bed hospital about 50 miles southeast of Phoenix. The hospital employs roughly 843 people and has an employee retention rate of 85 percent. Fifty-one of the employees have been with the hospital for more than 20 years and many more have worked there for at least 10 years. To recognize employee excellence, Casa Grande holds a recognition breakfast for nurses and physicians and annual recognition events for employee milestones and awards. Beyond basic health and insurance benefits, Casa Grande offers a $200 "Better Health Incentive" to each employee and dependent annually, which can be used toward a gym membership, massage therapy, stress management or chiropractor visits. In 2012, Casa Grande was named one of Arizona's Most Admired Companies by the Arizona Business Magazine and BestCompaniesAZ.
Central Park ENT & Surgery Center (Arlington, Texas)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Central Park ENT & Surgery Center is employee-focused when it comes to health and financial benefit packages. The center pays 100 percent of its employees' medical and vision insurance policies. Central Park ENT also contributes to employee health savings accounts and provides an on-site gym, dubbed "The Sweat Box," for employees to use free of charge. To promote employee development, the center provides certification training in basic life support, pediatric advanced life support and other courses, and it regularly sends individuals to various healthcare seminars and conferences. Central Park employees and management believe hard work and fun are not mutually exclusive. The center reinforces this through team spirit days, a Halloween costume contest and plenty of holiday, birthday and potluck events.
Chesterfield General Hospital (Cheraw, S.C.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Chesterfield General Hospital is a small rural community hospital in northeastern South Carolina. The hospital promotes employee camaraderie off-campus by providing discount tickets for various theme parks and other attractions, as well as hosting a family picnic at a nearby state park each summer. On campus, employees get together for birthday and holiday parties. Employees are recognized through monthly awards, and excellent managers can receive recognition every quarter. Chesterfield General Hospital also encourages employee education through a $5,000 reimbursement in exchange for two years of work at the facility. Additionally, the hospital has a web-based learning center that features a range of courses on anything from time management skills to how to prepare for bioterrorism.
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta comprises three hospitals and 17 neighborhood locations. Children's offers a range of employee benefits, as well as training and educational opportunities for professional growth. Benefits include backup care options for employees seeking care for loved ones from infancy to old age. The system provides employees with access to an online database of 3,000 sitters, nannies, pet sitters and house sitters in metro Atlanta. The employee assistance program offers confidential counseling for personal issues and it provides a trained response team to support those coping with traumatic incidents. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta has been named to Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" for seven consecutive years.
Children's Medical Center (Dallas)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Children's Medical Center is the fifth largest pediatric provider in the nation and is licensed for 559 beds on its two campuses in Dallas and Plano, Texas. Along with basic health benefits, Children's employees receive a discount on inpatient and outpatient services when their children receive care at the hospital. Employees also receive discounts at area daycare centers. Additionally, Children's pays for its employees to get to work: the hospital heavily subsidizes annual passes for buses and trains on the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system. The hospital promotes continuing education for its employees by reimbursing up to $3,000 of undergraduate or graduate tuition per employee each year. In 2012, Children's Medical Center was named one the top 100 places to work in Dallas/Ft. Worth by The Dallas Morning News and was recognized as a 2012 National Top Workplace. To choose the National Top Workplaces, 30 major regional newspapers selected the best workplaces in their region, and those organizations were then evaluated for the award.
Cleveland Clinic
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Cleveland Clinic's workforce exceeds 40,000 people around the globe. Staff physicians are salaried with one-year contracts, meaning patient volume yields no influence on their pay. This approach to compensation has earned Cleveland Clinic widespread recognition. Even president and CEO Toby Cosgrove, MD, works under a one-year contract. Throughout his career with the system, he's undergone 37 annual professional reviews and renewals. The system offers comprehensive healthcare coverage, pension and savings plans, life insurance and tuition reimbursement. On-site childcare is provided and the system encourages continued education with up to $7,500 in tuition reimbursement each year for eligible full-time employees, depending on the level of degree pursued. Cleveland Clinic has established partnerships with local, state and national groups to ensure veterans have access resources they need to find civilian jobs in healthcare, specifically at Cleveland Clinic.
Deaconess Hospital (Evansville, Ind.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Deaconess Hospital, part of six-hospital Evansville-based Deaconess Health System, is a 365-bed teaching hospital with several "teams" that focus on employee well-being in various departments. Hospital employees have access to a gym, exercise courses and dietary classes. Deaconess Hospital emphasizes employees' professional development and recognition, offering leadership classes year-round that are open to all employees. In these classes, hospital management also encourages employees to share new ideas for work processes or initiatives. Further, outstanding staff members are regularly rewarded for exceptional services through a range of recognition programs.
Decatur County Memorial Hospital (Greensburg, Ind.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Decatur County Memorial Hospital is a rural community hospital located roughly 50 miles southeast of Indianapolis. The hospital provides a variety of support programs for its employees. For instance, the HOPE program at Decatur County Memorial allows staff to donate paid time off to colleagues facing extended illness or personal issues that require them to miss work for an extended period of time. Further, the "Helping Employees through Life's Predicaments," or HELP, fund supports hospital employees who have medical problems or other financially challenging issues. The fund is provided by other hospital employees. To further professional development, all employees are eligible for education reimbursement as long as the degree, certification or licensure will better their career and advancement opportunities. Full-time employees can receive $3,000 toward reimbursement, and part-time employees are eligible for $1,500 each year. Decatur County Memorial has been named a Top Workplace by the Indianapolis Star three years in a row.
Doctors Hospital of Sarasota (Fla.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Doctors Hospital of Sarasota has 155 beds and is part of HCA's West Florida division. Hospital employees receive comprehensive benefits, including pet insurance, but the hospital offers many benefits beyond the traditional. This includes complimentary monthly massages, on-site car washes and on-site drop-off and pick-up for dry cleaning. Further, Doctors Hospital of Sarasota offers catastrophic aid available to employees in need. In terms of employee development, the hospital makes an educational reimbursement program available to employees after their first 90 days. Staff members are encouraged to learn a new language, as the hospital offers free online foreign language lessons to all employees. The hospital also encourages employees to make a difference in the community — its Employee Advisory Group organizes regular food and supply drives at the hospital.
Duke University Health System (Durham, N.C.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Duke offers a range of traditional benefits in addition to programs designed to support employees' work-life balance and educational pursuits. Duke reimburses a portion of tuition for full-time employees and makes about $15,800 available in tuition grants per semester for children of eligible employees who attend Duke University. The system's wellness program, Live for Life, conducts regular health and fitness challenges and also sponsors a weekly farmer's market. Duke employees can expect 30 to 40 days of paid time off each year, depending on how long they've worked at the system. Duke's also encourages camaraderie among its employees through the PTO Donation Program. This lets employees donate accrued vacation or PTO to colleagues who have experienced a catastrophic illness or injury and exhausted all of their accrued PTO.
Edward White Hospital (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Edward White Hospital is a small community hospital and part of HCA's West Florida division. It has a "family-style" environment, where leaders' doors remain open to all employees, including contract personnel and students. Edward White encourages professional development through its education benefits, including monetary assistance and flexible scheduling so employees can work around academic obligations. At any given point, a large portion of employees use these benefits to continue their schooling. With employees hailing from as far as India and New Zealand, the hospital hosts multiple cultural events every year, encouraging employees to share their culture with one another and the community.
Emergency Physicians Medical Group (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Type of facility: Physician group
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Emergency Physicians Medical Group is a specialty group practice with 60 employees who support more than 300 physicians, 150 mid-level providers and roughly one million patients in eight states. EPMG believes in finding and cultivating every employee's personal strengths. To do so, every employee receives complimentary professional literature and completes an online assessment to determine their top five natural talents. Then, EPMG allows them the opportunity to do what they like best every day and showcases employees on its "Wall of Talent." EPMG also promotes professional development. Clinical employees maintain expertise through continuing medical education, which EPMG supports financially and through flexible scheduling. On the administrative side, every department at EPMG has a budget for educational assistance, professional memberships and training.
Endoscopy Center of Columbus (Ga.)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: The Endoscopy Center of Columbus is a single-specialty ASC located roughly 100 miles southwest of Atlanta. Over 19 years, the center has grown from one physician and two employees to three physicians and 11 employees and continues to expand. ECC fully funds each employee's retirement and provides bonuses each quarter. The center also provides employees with educational opportunities. ECC employees are encouraged to participate in community and philanthropic events. For example, staff and physicians have participated together in health fairs, Relay for Life and events promoting colon cancer awareness through local government affairs.
Evansville (Ind.) Surgery Center
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Evansville Surgery Center was developed by a small group of local physicians in 1984. Since then, its staff has grown to more than 100 employees throughout multiple locations in southern Indiana. ESC offers staff on-site childcare, free flu vaccines for staff members and their families and complimentary access to a fitness center. Additionally, employees can choose to participate in a wellness program, in which a wellness nurse helps with diet and fitness plans. Employees do not go unappreciated at ESC — the centers spend one week every summer honoring staff. Throughout Employee Appreciation Week, ESC provides catered meals, massages, gift cards and other prizes. To reward long-term employment, monetary bonuses are awarded and increase each time a five-year milestone is reached. All of these programs helped ESC keeps its turnover rate below 5 percent in 2012.
The Everett (Wash.) Clinic.
Type of facility: Group practice
What makes it a Great Place to Work: The Everett Clinic includes approximately 2,000 employees throughout 16 locations of care delivery. The physician-owned group practice offers employees medical and dental insurance, profit sharing, continuing education and a 401(k) plan that has received recognition from BrightScope, a financial information company, as one of the best in the Seattle area. Fortune magazine has named The Everett Clinic to its list of "100 Best Companies to Work For" for three consecutive years, and Seattle Business Magazine twice named it the number one large company to work for in Washington state.
Franklin (La.) Foundation Hospital
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Franklin Foundation Hospital is a 22-bed critical access hospital with 161 full- and part-time employees. The hospital recognizes the importance of employee retention, and as a result, many employees have been with the facility for more than 20 years and 11 have tenures of more than 30 years. To support employees beyond their career at Franklin, the hospital makes a contribution to everyone's retirement plan, even if the employee is not making contributions. The hospital's C-suite holds quarterly forums held over several days, which more than 80 percent of employees attend. As a result of its multiple benefit programs, employee satisfaction is in the 99th percentile, according to an engagement survey administered in May 2012.
Fremont (Neb.) Surgical Center
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Fremont Surgical Center in eastern Nebraska is a physician-owned surgery center with specialties including dental, gastroenterology, orthopedics, ophthalmology, pain management and pulmonology. The center's employees work collaboratively and participate in team-building activities at least six times a year at staff meetings. To further employee development, Fremont Surgical Center pays a set amount for each employee to continue his or her education and provides paid time off to attend classes. Additionally, the center pays the membership fee for any employee to belong to the local Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals group. Employees also enjoy basic benefits, such has health, dental and life insurance.
Geisinger Health (Danville, Pa.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Geisinger includes more than 17,000 employees across six hospital campuses. The system provides competitive, comprehensive benefit packages that include health, life and dental insurance. Geisinger also offers a travel assistance program for full-time employees that covers medical evaluations, legal services and assistance for lost items during employees' domestic or international trips. Geisinger provides up to $2,500 in tuition reimbursement for employees' work-related undergraduate or graduate courses. Geisinger employees are also highly involved in philanthropic and charity causes. Employees raised more than $400,000 for United Way during a two-month donation campaign in 2012, setting a new Geisinger record for total dollar amount raised.
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center (La Crosse, Wis.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center is a 325-bed teaching hospital that includes more than 5,500 employees. Gundersen Lutheran offers employees comprehensive benefits and opportunities for career advancement. The medical center also offers a 401(k) and pension plan with employer contributions, as well as the option of flexible schedules. The hospital strives to help employees achieve a better work-life balance through its on-site childcare. Gundersen Lutheran is also active in the La Crosse community and is a founding member of the Greater La Crosse Area Diversity Council.
Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: HackensackUMC includes more than 9,000 employees. The system offers comprehensive health benefits, 401(a) or 403(b) saving plans and tuition assistance toward hospital work-related courses. The system emphasizes employee recognition through departmental awards, monthly "Most Valuable Team Player" recognition and annual service award dinners. The hospital, which is Magnet-accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for nursing excellence, celebrates National Nurses Week with nursing-specific panel discussions and keynote presentations. HackensackUMC also has professional nursing councils that influence organizational policy and drive patient safety improvements.
Hallmark Health System (Melrose, Mass.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Hallmark Health System, the two-hospital official healthcare partner of the Boston Bruins, provides services to Boston's northern communities and includes more than 3,000 employees. Hallmark Health provides employees with auto and homeowners insurance via payroll deduction. The system regularly recognizes employees for their achievements. Each year, the system honors employees who have reached milestones in their service to the hospital. It also selects a "Team of the Month" and "Employee of the Month" to honor.
Hastings (Neb.) Surgical Center
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Hastings Surgical Center is a freestanding outpatient surgery center located roughly 150 miles west of Omaha and managed by Overland Park, Kan.-based Nueterra Healthcare. Team-based care delivery is emphasized at Hastings Surgical Center, and the collaboration extends to employees' involvement in numerous community service activities throughout the year. The center's employees also provide charity care in the community and raise awareness for various health issues on a regular basis. When new hires are brought into the center, they are assigned a mentor or supervisor to assist with assimilation and professional development.
Holy Spirit Hospital (Camp Hill, Pa.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Holy Spirit Hospital is a non-profit Catholic community hospital about 100 miles west of Philadelphia. The hospital takes pride in keeping up with the latest technology and improvements for the staff. Work-life balance can be difficult to maintain in the healthcare industry, but Holy Spirit's work-life committee eases work-related stress and ensures employees maintain a healthy balance. The hospital has a history of workplace excellence: Holy Spirit has been named as one of the "Best Places to Work in PA" many times in the past — in 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. "Best Places to Work in PA" is a statewide program managed by the Best Companies Group.
Hyde Park Surgery Center (Austin, Texas)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: About four years ago, a group of physicians built Hyde Park Surgery Center, which has since become a competitive employer among Austin ASCs. Employees enjoy flexible schedules that allow them to continue their education. Additionally, HPSC provides complimentary required educational services and pays employees for the time it takes to complete those courses. On top of basic benefits, Hyde Park's physician partners pay 85 percent of employee benefits, along with quarterly and Christmas bonuses. The ASC also provides matching employee 401(k) plans.
Intermountain Healthcare (Salt Lake City)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Intermountain Healthcare is the largest private employer in Utah. The system offers generous benefit packages that, on average, represent 33 percent of an employee's overall total compensation. In addition to medical, dental, life and disability insurance, 22-hospital Intermountain offers a range of other benefits to help support employees' personal and professional lives. Full-time employees can earn up to 25 days of paid-time off per year starting on their first day of work. Intermountain also has its own "university" that offers professional courses at several campuses throughout the organization. Most of those courses are complimentary to employees. The system also promotes employees' health through customized wellness programs and discounted memberships for community fitness centers.
Kansas Heart Hospital (Wichita, Kan.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: The Kansas Heart Hospital has a linear and flat structure of management, with the C-suite overseeing the core manager group. Every manager in the hospital is a "working" manager, meaning they perform administrative functions while also working "side-by-side" with employees, ensuring they are attuned with those they supervise. To promote employee development, every manager at KHH participates in leadership training at Wichita State University's Center of Management Development on a quarterly basis. KHH also makes a tuition reimbursement program available to employees. On the clinical side, nurses at KHH enjoy having fixed nursing ratios in each department, which allows them to spend ample time with patients. In the spirit of community, the hospital encourages employees to volunteer and mentor underprivileged high school students in the area.
KishHealth System (DeKalb and Sandwich, Ill.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: KishHealth's 1,400 employees across four facilities enjoy a robust peer recognition system that lets them publicize coworkers' excellent demonstration of the system's five core values: community, integrity, quality, service and stewardship. Last year, employees submitted nearly 3,000 shout-outs on behalf of their peers, celebrated with "Random Acts of Gratitude Days," which recognize employees in each department. KishHealth offers a Humana Vitality initiative with its employee health plan that allows workers and their families to rack up points for gifts — even credits toward premiums — by engaging in proactive health activities, including free on-site biometric screenings. Tuition reimbursement and scholarship programs are available, as well.
La Peer Health Systems (Beverly Hills, Calif.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Host to 11 different medical specialties, the growing La Peer Health Systems maintains an intimate "family-like" atmosphere that encourages staff input and professional development, according to employee testimony. La Peer offers company-paid medical, dental and vision coverage, and provides continuing education opportunities for staff members. System-sponsored sporting events, health fairs and other activities are frequent. In recognition of colon cancer awareness month, La Peer hosted "Scopefest," during which some staff and physicians underwent colonoscopies with film crews documenting the procedure.
Lafayette (La.) Surgical Specialty Hospital
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Retention is a strong point for nurses at physician-owned Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital, evidenced by its low turnover rates and an average of 16.1 years of experience. The hospital's 190 employees can earn generous bonuses for meeting annual performance benchmarks, with added incentives for length of tenure and attendance for scheduled shifts. The hospital provides meals when caseloads are heavy. Employees can earn $100 just for being nominated as employee of the year, while the winner takes home $1,000. The hospital also offers tuition reimbursement, fitness challenges, wellness support groups, monthly birthday luncheons and 401(k) matching plans.
Lake City (Fla.) Medical Center
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: On its last employee engagement survey, 92 percent of Lake City Medical Center employees reported they were overall "very satisfied" working for the hospital. In addition to generous and comprehensive health plans, Lake City Medical Center provides 100-percent matching for employee 401(k) contributions and up to $3,000 to aid employees affected by sudden illness or disaster, such as when Tropical Storm Debby severely damaged seven employees' homes last summer. Full tuition reimbursement and free access to continuing education units are available. Additionally, senior leaders receive eight hours of annual leadership training and host quarterly town hall meetings with hospital staff. Readers of the local Lake City Reporter have ranked it the "Best of the Best" hospital in the community for the past 13 years running.
Lakeview Hospital (Stillwater, Fla.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Lakeview Hospital repeatedly has been nationally recognized for patient and staff satisfaction. HCAHPS annually ranks it in the top 10 percent nationally each year for patient satisfaction, which reflects positively of Lakeview's workplace environment. Its annual turnover rate is 4.9 percent overall and just 2.5 percent for nurses. The hospital offers a defined contribution and 401(k) matching program, tuition and workshop reimbursement. It will also pay up to half of staff's travel costs for international mission trips. Truven Healthcare ranked Lakeview Hospital among its top 100 hospitals in 2012.
Lederman Kwartowitz Orthopedic Group (West Bloomfield, Mich.)
Type of facility: Physician group
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Employees of Lederman Kwartowitz Orthopedic Group receive health and insurance benefits and retirement accounts. Fifty catered lunches are provided each year, and parties and social events are frequent. The group hires internally when possible and works hard to promote a positive and cohesive work environment, aided by high rates of patient satisfaction. Pay bonuses help cultivate employee engagement in the group's success. The physician group performs procedures at Lakes Surgery Center, which has been recognized for multiple awards since 2005, helping create a sense of success and excellence among staff.
Lowell (Mass.) General Hospital
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Lowell General Hospital is a 217-bed facility that includes 1,488 employees. The hospital has an extensive benefits program, offering up to $2,500 in tuition reimbursement for job-related program courses or certifications per academic year. It also provides forgiveness loans for certain nursing programs. The hospital offers retirement benefits, such as Tax Sheltered Annuities 403(b), that permit employees to voluntarily save for retirement on a pre-tax basis. The hospital's "Spotlight on You" program is one way for fellow employees to reward and recognize each other for their professional accomplishments. In 2012, Lowell General Hospital was named one of the best places to work by Boston Business Journal for the third time in a row.
Lurie Children's Hospital (Chicago)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Lurie Children's Hospital offers employees the choice of three health plans, dental insurance, vision benefits, life insurance and a pension plan. Full-time employees are eligible for 29 days of paid-time off. To support employees' work-life balance, the hospital provides concierge services for daily errands. Employees with children on the college hunt can use Lurie Children's college coaching program, in which a counselor helps families with the school selection, application and financial processes. The hospital, which is Magnet-accredited for nursing excellence, offers up to $5,000 for adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement. It also provides a 50 percent discount to employees' Lurie Children's hospital charges after insurance has been applied.
Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Massachusetts General Hospital is backed by more than 23,000 employees, making it one of the largest private employers in Boston. The hospital offers employees comprehensive health benefits, life insurance, a cash balance retirement plan and special rates at a nearby fitness center. New full-time employees can earn up to 29 days of paid time off each year. The hospital also provides up to $2,000 in tuition reimbursement per fiscal year for degreed program courses and up to $750 for approved certification courses, depending upon the number of hours worked. Through the MGH Leadership Academy, managers can learn additional competencies to be effective leaders at the organization. They can also learn a range of courses for medical terminology, languages and professionalism. DiversityInc, a publication for diversity management in business, named MGH as one of the top hospitals for diversity in 2012.
Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Mayo Clinic provides care to more than 1 million patients annually and includes nearly 58,300 employees. Through training and educational programs, including tuition reimbursement, Mayo Clinic invests in employees' personal and professional goals. Its comprehensive benefits package includes adoption reimbursement, a health promotion program and diversity networking groups. The health system awards employees for their achievements in community involvement, leadership, teamwork and individual excellence. For 10 consecutive years, Mayo Clinic has been named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in the nation by Fortune magazine.
MedStar Health (Columbia, Md.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: MedStar Health is a non-profit regional healthcare system with a network of nine hospitals and 20 other healthcare settings across Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region. It is one of the region's largest employers, with more than 27,000 associates and 5,600 affiliated physicians. It offers its employees a total rewards package, which includes paid time off, flexible spending accounts and retirement savings through its tax deferred savings plan. The health system also offers an employee assistance program that provides counseling, financial and retirement planning and even entertainment referrals. MedStar Health has been named one of the best places to work by the Baltimore Business Journal and the Washington Business Journal.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York City)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: In addition to its package of medical, dental, vision, disability, accidental death and life insurance, Memorial Sloan-Kettering offers a generous tuition reimbursement package, covering up to 18 credits and $10,000 per calendar year for full-time employees. The option of flexible work arrangements, such as compressed work weeks or flextime, helps employees better balance family needs with their professional lives. The hospital, which is the country's oldest facility dedicated to cancer treatment, also provides carpool matching services and back-up emergency child or elder care. Employees can gain professional experience through Memorial Sloan-Kettering's staff, management and leadership development programs, which are offered electronically and in classroom settings.
Mercy Medical Center (Baltimore)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Mercy Medical Center is an acute-care facility and is a teaching hospital for the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. The hospital offers its 2,412 employees an extensive benefits package that includes flexible spending accounts, continuing education opportunities and adoption assistance. The hospital offers full-time employees basic comprehensive life insurance packages and long-term disability benefits at no cost. Mercy Medical Center also offers tuition reimbursement to most full-time employees.
Meridian Health (Wall Township, N.J.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Meridian Health has consistently been rated one of the top-performing health systems in New Jersey. It includes six hospitals and more than 11,000 employees. The health system is committed to promoting from within whenever possible. It offers a flexible benefits program to employees, as well as voluntary programs designed to provide professional and personal support for work-life balance. Employees who opt for these voluntary programs receive discounted memberships to Meridian's three fitness centers. The health system also offers employees and leaders opportunities to participate in a range of complimentary courses and workshops held at Team Meridian University, the system's internal corporate university, or on hospital campuses. It has established a Galaxy Team Member Recognition Program that recognizes excellence among team members, physicians and volunteers. In 2010, 2011 and 2012, Meridian Health was named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in the nation by Fortune magazine.
Methodist Health System (Dallas)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Methodist Health System has earned widespread recognition for its workplace. The Dallas Business Journal named Methodist among its "Best Places to Work" for nine consecutive years. Last year, the American Heart Association awarded it platinum distinction as a Fit Friendly Company, and the American Nurses Credentialing Center called numerous Methodist hospitals "Pathways to Excellence" for their positive work environments to advance the nursing profession. The system's faith-based mission resonates with the staff, 550 of whom donated a portion of every paycheck to contribute $230,000 to capital improvement projects, emergency need funds for employees, and other hospital funds and endowments. Employee benefit packages include $500 deductibles and 100 percent coverage at Methodist's primary network facilities, a 403(b) matching program and tuition reimbursement.
The Methodist Hospital (Houston)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: The Methodist Hospital is a 917-bed facility that includes 6,312 employees. It is committed to helping employees grow professionally and personally, offering tuition reimbursement up to the doctoral level. Additionally, the hospital offers a number of development and training modules, such as The Methodist Hospital Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology Program, which is a 12-month professional course of study fully accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. The hospital's benefits program includes wellness services, adoption assistance and legal assistance. Methodist Hospital has been named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" by Fortune magazine.
Mission Health (Asheville, N.C.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Mission Health's 8,800 employees have access to on-campus health services and a homebuyer education program with matching employer funds, as well as discounts on apartments, cell phone service, on-site child care and tuition reimbursement. Personal health is emphasized by Mission's wellness program, which offers cash incentives for certain healthy living choices. Other wellness services, such as massage therapy, are also made available to employees. Mission's Center for Leadership and Professional Development coordinates classes for all staff at Mission Hospital, ranging from instruction on how to build a resumé to mentoring nursing colleagues.
Mission Surgery Center (Mission Viejo, Calif.)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Mission Surgery Center employees enjoy medical and prescription drug coverage with wellness program incentives, a matching 401(k) program, on-site child care and tuition reimbursement. Employees also have the option of cashing out their unused paid time off. Management aims to be highly accessible to staff and hosts frequent meetings to cultivate a collaborative and cohesive environment.
Mount Auburn Hospital (Cambridge, Mass.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Mount Auburn Hospital, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, is home to more than 1,500 employees, making it one of the top five employers in the city of Cambridge. The hospital offers an extensive benefits package that includes life insurance, long-term disability insurance and even pet insurance. Flexcare is also available to employees scheduled to work a minimum of 20 hours per week, allowing them to set aside pre-tax earnings for out-of-pocket medical or dependent care expenses. The hospital offers up to $1,000 in tuition reimbursement for full-time employees and $750 for part-time employees. In 2012, the Boston Business Journal named Mount Auburn Hospital to its list of best places to work.
Mount Kisco (N.Y) Medical Group
Type of facility: Physician practice
What makes it a Great Place to Work: All full-time employees at Mount Kisco Medical Group receive two bonus checks each year, discounts on items ranging from contact lenses to plastic surgery, and the ability to share in profits. There's a strong spirit of charity throughout the practice, with frequent contributions to the Boys and Girls Club, Toys for Tots, Operation Defending the Holidays for troops in Afghanistan, and five annual trips to Haiti, during which physicians and employees volunteer to provide charity care. The practice of more than 300 physicians prides itself on its focus on customer service for its 300,000 patients, promoting its core values of dignity, excellence, justice and service.
Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital (Baltimore)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital, an affiliate of the University of Maryland Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Medicine, aims to provide the best in rehabilitative and transitional pediatric care. It includes around 400 employees. The hospital offers numerous benefits, such as paid time off, a tuition assistance program, a loan forgiveness program and flexible spending accounts. It also offers free annual physical exams and discounted medical plan premiums for tobacco-free employees. Its personal health coach program helps employees and eligible dependents learn about chronic health conditions by connecting them with registered nurses who can answer their questions. Additionally, the hospital offers a cash balance pension plan based on salary and credited years of service.
Nanticoke Health Services (Seaford, Del.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Nanticoke Health Services drives high performance through regular employee recognition, as evidenced by its wall of fame, employee of the month initiative and a "hidden treasures" program that recognizes unsung employees. Tuition reimbursement, 403(b) matching, discounts to local businesses and a health plan with wellness program incentives are all offered to employees. Volunteerism is promoted through charity drives, a speaker series and school-based service events.
New England Baptist Hospital (Boston)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: New England Baptist Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Tufts University School of Medicine, includes a staff of more than 900 employees. It offers an extensive benefits package that includes a retirement plan, legal support and an employee assistance program. The hospital offers up to $2,500 in tuition reimbursement for full-time employees with six months of service. Its HIV supplemental benefit plan provides financial assistance and health services for employees who contract HIV as a result of work-related exposure. The hospital also offers family-friendly benefits, such as a free referral services to help families find nursing homes, assisted living facilities, Alzheimer's care, retirement communities, home care and other senior care options. The hospital implements a number of reward and recognition programs to acknowledge employee contributions.
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (New York)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Non-profit, 2,409-bed NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital includes 19,376 employees and 6,144 affiliated physicians. The hospital does its best to promote from within and encourages staff to honor one another with recognition and awards. For example, nurses help nominate the "Physician of the Year," and physicians and physician assistants help nominate the "Nurse of the Year." NewYork-Presbyterian's benefits package includes educational assistance, paid vacation time and even pet insurance. From 2008 through 2011, NewYork-Presbyterian ranked as one of the top 25 companies for training and learning development by Training Magazine.
Newton-Wellesley Hospital (Newton, Mass.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Newton-Wellesley Hospital offers a number of benefits to its approximately 2,100 employees, including prescription drug coverage, life insurance and long-term care insurance. Employee assistance program counselors help employees with work-life problems that might affect job performance. The 313-bed hospital's Shipley Fitness Center, which is for the use of hospital employees and medical staff, features cardiovascular and strength training equipment and yoga classes. On-site day care services are also available. In 2012, Newton-Wellesley Hospital was named one of the best places to work by the Boston Business Journal and one of the top places to work by The Boston Globe.
Northbank Surgical Center (Salem, Ore.)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Northbank Surgical Center, one of 140 centers under the Surgical Care Affiliates umbrella, earned first place in an SCA-wide "Teammate Satisfaction" survey. Benefit packages include health and dental plans, disability and life insurance, flexible spending accounts, college and retirement savings plans, discounts at affiliated facilities and a matching program for employees who donate to co-workers during times of hardship. Schedules are flexible to help accommodate employees' requested time off, and quality work is rewarded with bonuses. Northbank Surgical Center cultivates camaraderie among staff members through cross-specialty training and management's open-door policy.
NorthShore University Health System (Evanston, Ill.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: NorthShore offers full-time employees medical, dental and life insurance. It also offers travel accident coverage, flexible spending accounts for healthcare expenses and dependent care, and alternative work arrangements. In some areas, employees may opt to work three 12-hour shifts or four 10-hour shifts instead of the standard five shifts that are eight-hours long. NorthShore offers up to $5,000 in adoption assistance, pays a portion of public transportation fares and offers up to $5,000 in tuition reimbursement for eligible employees. The system also promotes professional development through its onboarding training and leadership mentoring programs, which help employees learn additional skills for career advancement.
Northwest Michigan Surgery Center (Traverse City, Mich.)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: The 130-person staff at Northwest Michigan Surgery Center can participate in profit sharing each year and benefit from an up to 4 percent 401(k) match. Performance bonuses are granted to departments to encourage cost-cutting, and the ASC reimburses for continuing education units. Employees can accrue up to 26 days of paid time off per year, and are eligible for gym membership reimbursements and discounts to local businesses. The center is involved in local charities, school-based services and cross-specialty training to foster a communicative and cohesive work environment.
North Mississippi Health Services (Tupelo)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: North Mississippi Health Services includes six hospitals and 30 medical clinics, serving 24 counties in north Mississippi and northwest Alabama. With more than 6,225 employees, NMHS has an annual employee retention rate of 92 percent and, in 2012, its employee satisfaction survey results landed the system in the 99th percentile out of more than 500 hospitals and health systems nationwide. In addition to the traditional benefits of life, health, dental and vision insurance, NMHS offers tuition reimbursement, retirement plans with company match and subsidized wellness center memberships. In 2012, the system won the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for performance excellence.
North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System.
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: North Shore-LIJ includes more than 42,000 employees, making it the largest employer on Long Island. The system offers a comprehensive healthcare benefits package; life, disability, accident and cancer insurance; and the choice of a cash balance pension plan or 403(b) retirement savings plan. Six of the system's facilities also run weekly farmer's markets for local community members and employees, and the American Heart Association has awarded platinum-level recognition to North Shore-LIJ as a "fit friendly" organization. North Shore-LIJ bestows regular rewards and recognition upon employees, celebrating their achievements with a system-wide awards dinner, annual picnic, softball tournament, and professional recognition weeks, in which specific groups such as nurses or physical therapists are acknowledged.
North Valley Hospital (Whitefish, Mont.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: The 25-bed critical access North Valley Hospital is located on 40 acres featuring scenic views of Glacier National Park. The hospital promotes staff health and fitness with sponsored health and dental plans, as well as wellness program incentives and rebates for gym memberships. To keep stress levels low, medical staff has access to the Care for the Caregiver program, which provides massage therapists and spa services, as well as emergency food assistance and prescription delivery. Monthly "rave review" awards go to peer-nominated staff members. The hospital also offers retirement plans and a generous leave policy.
OrthoCarolina (Charlotte, S.C.)
Type of facility: Physician practice
What makes it a Great Place to Work: The Charlotte Business Journal has rated OrthoCarolina among its "Best Places to Work" twice and also as one of Charlotte's Healthiest Employers. The practice was also recognized by the American Heart Association as a platinum-level fit friendly company. OrthoCarolina offers benefits with wellness program incentives for part-time employees and their families, contributes up to $1,500 for family health savings accounts and makes annual 401(k) contributions. Employees participate in profit-sharing plans, are eligible for credit union memberships, have flexible schedules, receive discounts in-house and at local businesses, and can be reimbursed for gym memberships and continuing education courses.
Park Ridge Health (Hendersonville, N.C.)
Type of facility: Hospital and multi-specialty physician group
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Park Ridge Health, a 103-bed subsidiary of Rockville, Md.-based Adventist HealthCare, is selective in its hiring to ensure its 1,400 team members make good fits for PRH's tight-knit culture. Management engages the team through quarterly town hall meetings and bi-weekly video updates. Every six months, all employees receive pay bonuses based on successful completion of quality, financial and patient satisfaction goals. The organization offers a health savings plan, PPO plan, and a 50 percent retirement matching program for up to 4 percent of employee contributions. Employees can earn up to $600 annually in the company's wellness incentive plan, made easier with the on-site fitness center and discounts to five other local facilities through payroll deduction.
Parkside Psychiatric Hospital & Clinic (Tulsa, Okla.)
Type of facility: Psychiatric inpatient hospital
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Parkside Psychiatric Hospital & Clinic's collegial atmosphere is built through initiatives like the "By Your Side" program, which offers patients and their families emergency assistance to purchase essentials like food, clothing and school supplies through volunteer-staffed stores. Employee benefits include employer-sponsored health insurance plans, flexible health spending accounts, employer-matched 401(k) plans and low-cost health center memberships. In addition, the hospital hosts the "Knowledge is a Bonus" program, under which employees attend monthly instructional sessions on anything from psychiatry to general healthcare to healthy living. Employees can take a test at year's end, with the highest performer earning a $1,000 bonus.
Penn State Milton S. Hershey (Pa.) Medical Center
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is committed to keeping its employees well, beyond offering basic health, dental and vision coverage. The medical center has an employee wellness program, called Blueprints for Wellness, that aims to enhance quality of life through education on healthy behaviors and empowering participants to encourage each other in healthful practices. In addition to promoting physical health, Penn State Hershey Medical Center helps employees stay mentally fit through educational assistance. Employees — and their spouse and any dependent children, after one year of employment — can receive a 75 percent discount on tuition at Penn State University. Job-related degree programs offered at other accredited colleges are also eligible for tuition reimbursement.
ProMedica (Toledo, Ohio)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: ProMedica's large integrated network, which serves 27 counties with 1,674 physicians and 14,305 employees, began a culture shift in 2010 dubbed "Our ProMedica." The initiative gathered 6,000 employees' input to craft everything from core values to management policies. Employees were asked to write six-word stories describing their experience at ProMedica and snap photos on their shifts to compile a system-wide photo essay. Employee input is valued in organizational management, as staff suggestions to improve quality, service and processes could win them up to $10,000. The system discounts gym memberships and weight management services, and offers tuition reimbursement and scholarships for full- and part-time employees who enroll in up to eight hours per semester at the University of Toledo. The Toledo City Paper rated ProMedica as a "Best Company to Work For" in 2011.
Rhode Island Hospital (Providence)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Rhode Island Hospital was founded in 1863 and today it includes more than 7,000 employees. In addition to traditional health, dental and life insurance packages, Rhode Island Hospital employees can receive financial assistance and partial reimbursement for approved tuition costs and relocation expenses. Child care services and a fitness center are conveniently located on the Rhode Island Hospital campus for employees. Through the hospital's employee fund, employees can provide grants for their colleagues who experienced catastrophic events and have limited resources.
San Juan Regional Medical Center (Farmington, N.M.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: San Juan Regional Medical Center offers a full benefits package to employees as well as Full Engagement Training — a program that promotes employee wellness through nutrition, exercise, stress management and the development of a personal mission statement. The hospital also holds regular health events, such as free screenings and a 5k race, to encourage staff and the local community to take active roles in their health. In addition, the 250-bed hospital supports several education programs for certification in the healthcare field. For example, "Perioperative 101" is a course designed to train SJRMC-employed registered nurses to become operating room nurses.
Sanford Health (Fargo, N.D.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Sanford Health includes more than 26,000 employees across 126 communities in eight states, making it the largest employer in North and South Dakota. The system offers health, dental, vision and life insurance, in addition to 401(k) and 403(b) plans, adoption assistance, scholarship opportunities and a worksite wellness program. The system has taken extra steps to ensure its physician workforce maintains optimal mental and physical health. Sanford began offering a physician wellness program to specifically reduce and prevent burnout, which can result in depression and fatigue.
Schneck Medical Center (Seymour, Ind.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Schneck Medical Center has more than 800 employees as well as 150 affiliated physicians, 300 volunteers and more than 200 students. The hospital has a unique recruitment process called "Hiring for Excellence," which incorporates the organization's mission, vision and values. Peer interviewing and employee input are part of the selection process for new staff members. Through this program, the hospital's turnover rate reached the lowest it's been in the last 20 years. In addition, satisfaction levels among nurses at the hospital have exceeded the benchmark of the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators for the past three years.
Scripps Health (San Diego)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Scripps Health is a non-profit, integrated health system that comprises five acute-care hospital campuses with more than 13,000 employees. The health system offers employees a flexible benefits program for their individual needs. The 529 college savings plan allows employees to save for college expenses on a tax-advantaged basis. The health system also offers life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, adoption reimbursement, and an on-site childcare facility with a discounted tuition rate for employees. Scripps Health also offers a wellness program that includes health assessments, healthy living programs, health coaching and preventive care activities. In 2013, for the sixth year in a row, the health system was named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" by Fortune magazine.
Seattle Children's Hospital
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: More than 5,000 people work at 254-bed Seattle Children's, which is the primary pediatric referral center for the largest geographic area of any children's hospital in the country. In addition to competitive salaries, life insurance, retirement plans and three medical plan options, the hospital also provides eight paid holidays each calendar year, on-site child care, adoption assistance and discounted healthcare services for employees' children. Seattle Children's was named a Best Workplace for Commuters by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation, as it provides complimentary passes for regional transit routes, a shuttle network connecting various Children's worksites with public transportation and bicycle commuting support.
Shore Rehabilitation Institute (Brick, N.J.)
Type of facility: Rehabilitation hospital
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Shore Rehabilitation Institute includes 40 inpatient beds as well as outpatient rehabilitation services, backed by more than 150 employees. In SRI's most recent team member survey in April 2012, more than 96 percent felt SRI was effectively fulfilling its mission "to provide quality rehabilitative care that will restore and return physically disabled adults to optimal function and independence within an accepting community." SRI also offers a complete benefits package, including a 403(b) program. Under this program, employees can contribute up to 6 percent of their pre-tax earnings, and SRI matches 50 cents on the dollar. SRI employees also enjoy a generous amount of time off; at the highest earning level, employees can earn up to seven weeks of paid vacation per year and seven days of extended sick leave.
Silver Cross Hospital (New Lenox, Ill.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Silver Cross Hospital is a healthcare network including a 289-bed acute-care hospital, 10 satellite facilities and a freestanding emergency department. The hospital has a team of more than 3,000 employees, physicians and volunteers. Silver Cross offers employees a generous benefits package, including a dependent care spending account that allows employees to pay for child care or other dependent care necessary for work. In addition, the organization offers tuition reimbursement after six months of employment.
South Nassau Communities Hospital (Oceanside, N.Y.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: South Nassau Communities Hospital has 435 beds, more than 900 physicians and 3,000 employees. The hospital teaches employees its mission, vision and values at the start of orientation, which includes a day dedicated to customer service education. Employees learn about the hospital's customer service philosophy, measures of patient satisfaction, sensitivity to cultural needs and the importance of teamwork for patient safety. Staff members who demonstrate exceptional performance related to customer service, patient safety or hospital costs are recognized by a "You Cared" from managers and supervisors as well as a movie ticket or a free meal voucher. The hospital also recognizes an "Employee of the Quarter" and an "Employee of the Year."
Southern Illinois GI Specialists (Carbondale)
Type of facility: Physician practice
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Southern Illinois GI Specialists is the only physician gastroenterology practice in southern Illinois and is accredited by The Joint Commission, the American Society of Gastroenterology Endoscopists and the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Computed Tomography Laboratories. Physicians in the practice are dedicated to the community and work to serve patients in more than 20 counties. The practice participates in health fairs, Relay for Life and the Colon Cancer Awareness Walk-a-Thon. SIGIS offers employees many educational opportunities, paying for staff to travel to and attend seminars and other functions. The center also reimburses employees for certification programs and offers flexible scheduling so employees can continue to work while pursuing further education.
Southern Illinois Healthcare (Carbondale)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Southern Illinois Healthcare serves 16 counties and is backed by more than 3,000 employees. The system offers dental, life, medical and disability insurance, along with a 401(k) plan and wellness program. Southern Illinois Healthcare also provides flexible scheduling options for registered nurses and a generous amount of time off to support employees' work-life balance. Eligible employees can accrue 24 days of earned time off in their first year. The system offers loan forgiveness for employees in hard-to-fill positions, which currently includes registered nurses, physical therapists and pharmacists.
Southern Ohio Medical Center (Portsmouth, Ohio)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Southern Ohio Medical Center has an impressive employee retention rate, as approximately 20 percent of its more than 2,000-employee workforce has worked at the hospital for more than 20 years. The hospital offers employees the choice of two medical plans, along with dental and vision insurance, educational assistance and adoption reimbursement. Southern Ohio Medical Center also offers 100-percent tuition assistance for employees pursuing RN, BSN and other degrees for hard-to-fill positions. Employees can earn 24 to 34 days of paid-time off, depending on the number of years worked. Southern Ohio Medical Center was named to Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" in 2013.
Southwestern Medical Center (Lawton, Okla.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Southwestern Medical Center, a 199-bed hospital, supports professional development of its employees; it offers up to $5,000 annually for tuition reimbursement. In addition, the hospital works to ensure employees achieve a strong life-work balance and partners with area businesses to provide discounts to country clubs, spas and gyms. Southwestern Medical Center works to instill its mission, vision and values in employees. When employees have worked between 90 and 120 days, they are invited to a "mission meal" with senior leaders to discuss their orientation and any concerns.
St. John's Hospital (Springfield, Ill.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: With a staff of more than 3,000, St. John's Hospital is one of the largest employers in the Springfield area. The 431-bed hospital was named one of the "Best Places to Work" by the Springfield Business Journal in 2013, marking the second consecutive year it received this recognition. Besides complete medical and dental benefits, the hospital offers a variety of wellness programs, including a Fit for Life program that encourages employees to exercise, eat well and maintain work-life balance. In addition, the hospital offers paid time off bonus hours for completing a free annual health risk assessment and for undergoing a free biometric screening. Employees can also access the hospital's Center for Living, which offers mind-body medicine services, such as acupuncture, massage and yoga.
St. Joseph's Healthcare System (Paterson, N.J.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: St. Joseph's Healthcare System has more than 5,100 employees across its facilities, including a 651-bed hospital. The health system creates an environment where people want to work: Its overall employee retention rate for 2012 is 98.3 percent, and its nurse vacancy rate is only 1 percent. In addition, St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson was the only recipient of the 2010 Magnet Prize for nursing innovation. One of the ways St. Joseph's inspires employees is through complimentary activities such as lunchtime learning and ethics discussions, educational health fairs and health screenings.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Memphis, Tenn.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has 7,800 patient visits on average each year. The hospital aims to support staff through a benefits program that includes the option of flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement and life insurance. The flexible spending accounts option allows employees to set aside funds on a tax-free basis to a medical reimbursement account and/or dependent care reimbursement account for expenses they anticipate in the plan year. The hospital also offers disability insurance that covers 60 percent of base pay, up to a maximum of $15,000 per month, after six months of disability. In 2013, for the third year in a row, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was named to Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For."
Surgery Center of Anchorage (Alaska)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: The Surgery Center of Anchorage encourages employees to share their ideas and speak freely with leaders; the administrator maintains an open-door policy. The ASC strives to create a comfortable environment for employees and provides a break room stocked with fresh fruit, drinks and snacks. Surgery Center of Anchorage is also involved in regular charitable giving events. Staff give back to the community by donating clothing to shelters, suture material and dressings to animal shelters and medical equipment to third-world nations.
Surgicare of Jackson (Miss.)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Surgicare of Jackson is a multi-specialty ASC offering orthopedic, podiatric and hand surgery, among other specialties. The facility, managed by Surgical Care Affiliates, holds team-building activities at quarterly staff meetings to create a sense of community among staff. Surgicare of Jackson also encourages management staff to attend educational meetings and plans to offer a reward if staff bring back and implement a best practice at the ASC. In addition to a complete benefits package, the center offers shift pay and late pay for work after 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively. Employees also have the opportunity to win a gift card if they are mentioned on a returned patient satisfaction survey.
Teaneck (N.J.) Surgical Center
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Teaneck Surgical Center strives to create a family-like atmosphere among employees by hosting social events such as potluck lunches, monthly birthday celebrations and yoga classes. This summer, staff participated in a Mud Run. The facility offers complimentary professional development opportunities to promote career advancement. Those offerings include in-house training, webinars, developmental classes and training days.
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall (Texas)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall is a 50-bed joint venture owned by Arlington-based Texas Health Resources and physicians. A hallmark of the hospital's culture is its open communication, achieved through departmental or committee discussions, town hall meetings and an employee newsletter. In addition, the hospital president writes a "Week in Review" column to keep employees informed about the hospital and community. Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall is also dedicated to employee wellness and offers a variety of activities to maintain staff health. Under its Employee Wellness Program, employees who participate in health-related activities can earn points they can later redeem for complimentary items.
Texas Regional Medical Center at Sunnyvale (Texas)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Texas Regional Medical Center at Sunnyvale is a 70-bed acute-care, physician-owned hospital with more than 470 employees and nearly 300 physicians on staff. TRMC-Sunnyvale offers professional development opportunities, including some professional-specific certifications, and is committed to hiring from within to advance employees' careers. The hospital was voted a Best Place to Work in 2012 by readers of Mesquite News, published by Star Community Newspapers.
Tri-City Medical Center (Oceanside, Calif.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Tri-City Medical Center includes a workforce of nearly 2,300, including more than 500 affiliated physicians. The hospital encourages professional development through its Tuition Reimbursement Program, which offers employees $1,000 to $4,000 per year, and a Success Sharing Incentive Program, which offers employees an annual payment for reaching goals set by the hospital. Tri-City Medical Center also promotes a connection between its employees and the community. In 2011, employees raised more than $316,000 to support maternal and child health causes through Tri-City's "We Care, We Give" campaign.
Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center (Leitchfield, Ky.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center is a 75-bed community hospital serving a six-county area with a population of more than 90,000. Employees benefit from strong job security — the hospital has not reduced its workforce since the facility was built in 1951. The hospital involves the community in employee events, such as golf outings, softball tournaments and archery tournaments. Staff also participate in local charities such as Bowling for Kids' Sake and United Way.
University Hospitals (Cleveland)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system What makes it a
Great Place to Work: University Hospitals includes more than 24,000 employees across 150 sites of care, making it the second-largest private sector employer in Cleveland. The system provides medical, dental, long-term care, life and disability insurance in addition to a retirement savings plan, back-up child care, elder care services and adoption assistance. The system is also generous in its recruitment efforts for hard-to-fill positions. In October 2012, UH began offering a $3,000 net pay sign-on bonus for registered nurses hired to work in specific units and an $8,000 sign-on bonus for designated nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and physician assistants.
University of Chicago Medical Center
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Along with packages for medical, dental, vision and disability benefits, University of Chicago Medical Center offers employees access to its on-site corporate quality academy that offers a range of education and training courses, including BSN completion programs offered in partnership with two local colleges. Full-time hospital employees are entitled to 50-percent remission for courses taken at the University of Chicago or the lab school, and nurses receive 100 percent tuition reimbursement at the nursing school of their choice. The hospital also offers a generous paid-time off package: New full-time employees receive up to three weeks paid vacation per year, plus five paid personal holidays and 10 sick days.
University of Michigan Health System (Ann Arbor)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: University of Michigan Health System's more than 18,500 employees have some of the most comprehensive and competitive benefits in the region, including a range of financial benefits, work-life balance resources and support services. The health system offers health, dental and vision coverage, and employees can earn up to six weeks of paid-time off. All system employees have access to U-M's child care center and care services for aging parents, and the system supports employees' well-being through various activities, including regular health screenings, cooking classes and a walking club.
West Park Hospital (Cody, Wyo.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: West Park Hospital is a 25-bed hospital with an adjacent 94-bed long-term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center. With more than 570 employees, the hospital is the largest employer in the county. It also has 50 medical staff members who work collaboratively with employees to deliver care. West Park Hospital values employees' input and offers ongoing opportunities for staff to speak with hospital leaders, including monthly employee lunches with the hospital's CEO. West Park Hospital also provides daycare services for employees' children at its Seedlings Center.
West Virginia University Hospitals (Morgantown, W.V.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: West Virginia University Hospitals, a 531-bed tertiary care center, is part of Morgantown-based WVU Healthcare, which employs nearly 6,000 people. WVU Hospitals is a designated Magnet hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and offers flexible hours and generous benefits to nurses. In addition to traditional eight- or 12-hour shifts, WVU Hospitals offers straight shifts, rotating shifts and four-week schedules. The system also funds certification and recertification by national organizations. WVU Healthcare has been named an "AARP Best Workplace for People Over 50" six times and offers an employee wellness center, on-site daycare and retirement counseling. In addition, health system employees enjoy discounts and special offers from local and national companies.
Winchester (Mass.) Hospital
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: The 229-bed hospital has 2,900 employees and a medical staff of 806. The award-wining organization focuses on its employees and regularly recognizes employee achievements through a number of awards. Employees who go above and beyond for a patient or colleague are recognized through the Pacesetting Employees Earn Recognition, or PEER, award program. Nurses are recognized with the DAISY Award, which is a nationwide program that identifies nurses who show extraordinary compassion to patients and family members. Winchester Hospital has also established a grateful patient program, through which patients can honor their caregivers. The organization emphasizes a direct relationship between employees and leaders, and it has a leadership development program. Winchester Hospital has been named one of the best places to work in Massachusetts by the Boston Business Journal for the last 10 years. In 2011, it was also named one of the top 100 places to work by The Boston Globe.
Advocate Health Care (Oak Brook, Ill.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Advocate Health Care is one of the largest employers in the Chicago metropolitan area. The 10-hospital system includes more than 30,000 employees, or "associates." In addition to comprehensive medical benefits, a 401(k) plan, and life, auto and homeowners insurance, Advocate offers commuter benefits to cut associates' travel expenses by up to 40 percent. Associates can also earn credits, if involved in certain Advocate medical plans, that convert to a dollar amount ranging from $200 to $600. Those credits can then be used to pay for health services throughout the year. The system provides $4,000 annually toward tuition reimbursement for approved college courses, and its Advancing Careers Through Education program provides 100-percent tuition reimbursement for programs in high-demand specialties, such as nursing, respiratory care or health information technology.
Andrews Institute Ambulatory Surgery Center (Gulf Breeze, Fla.)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Andrews Institute Ambulatory Surgery Center, an independent ASC on the Gulf Coast, is a joint venture with local surgeons, James Andrews, MD, and Baptist Health Care of Pensacola (Fla.). Exceptional employees are rewarded through "Blue Nation Pins," which signify the employee's dedication to excellence. Many benefits are available, including an employer-matched 401(k) plan, professional development services, tuition reimbursement and an employee bonus plan. Volunteering in the community is a pillar of the ASC's culture, and the staff frequently participates in fundraisers for worthy causes. Through the tuition reimbursement plan, several nurses and support staff have returned to school and earned associate's degrees, bachelor degrees in nursing and master's degrees.
Bailey Medical Center (Owasso, Okla.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Bailey Medical Center is committed to providing quality patient care and does so with its staff of 178 employees. It supports employees through an extensive benefits package that includes tuition reimbursement, paid extended illness leave and flexible spending accounts. The hospital offers on- and off-site educational opportunities, such as skill fairs, leadership retreats and development workshops. An Employee Action Committee at the hospital creates and distributes a newsletter each month that includes news articles and ideas submitted by employees. Each quarter, Bailey hosts a picnic or a barbeque for employees, patients and their families. The hospital has high employee satisfaction scores, according to bi-annual surveys developed and administered by HealthStream, a provider of talent management and performance assessment solutions. The scores have been above 90 percent for five of the six years Bailey has been in operation.
Baptist Health South Florida (Coral Gables, Fla.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Baptist Health South Florida supports its more than 13,000 employees through extensive training programs, tuition assistance and comprehensive benefits. The health system's "Grow Our Own" initiative promotes internal talent and succession planning, and Baptist Health South Florida offers tuition reimbursement to regular part- and full-time employees for accredited technical/trade school and undergraduate programs. The system's continuing education arm, coined Baptist Health University, offers more than 1,000 online courses and more than 500 classroom courses, many of which are complimentary. The health system has a diverse workforce, with 50 percent being Hispanic and 20 percent being African-American, and it has been repeatedly recognized by Fortune magazine as one of its "100 Best Companies to Work For."
Barnabas Health (West Orange, N.J.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Barnabas Health is the second-largest private employer in New Jersey with 18,200 employees, 4,600 physicians and 445 residents and interns. Of those employees, a remarkable number of them — 55 percent — have been with the system for more than 10 years. Employees have say in the system's recruiting process, as 25 percent of new employees are hired directly from employee referrals, and Barnabas pays out more than $350,000 in bonuses to current employees for those referrals. Barnabas rewards and recognizes employees in several ways, including annual awards ceremonies and excellence in caring ceremonies at each facility. Additionally, the system has a Terrific Day program, in which employees recognize their co-workers for exceptional service.
Baylor Health Care System (Dallas)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a great place to work: Baylor Health Care includes more than 21,000 employees across more than 300 sites of care, including 30 hospitals. In addition to comprehensive health benefits, a 401(k) plan and life insurance, full-time Baylor employees have the opportunity to earn $5,250 toward tuition reimbursement. Named one of the healthiest employers in North Texas by the Dallas Business Journal in 2012, Baylor also offers employees the chance to earn $300 each year through its wellness program, which offers fitness center discounts and complimentary health coaching.
Bridgeport (Conn.) Hospital
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Bridgeport Hospital, part of the Yale-New Haven (Conn.) Health System, includes more than 2,600 employees. The 425-bed urban teaching hospital supports employees with a benefits package that includes tuition reimbursement plans and plenty of work-life balance resources. The hospital system offers tuition assistance to full- and part-time employees, and employees who have worked at the hospital for a year can claim a tuition loan of up to $2,500 a year for up to four academic years for an eligible dependent. Bridgeport's wellness reimbursement program provides $200 annually if employees visit a fitness center for one year or participate in scheduled fitness classes.
The Callahan Eye Hospital Health Care Authority (Birmingham, Ala.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: The Callahan Eye Hospital Health Care, the only eye hospital in Alabama, has roughly 200 employees. The hospital is committed to employee development and has a tuition reimbursement program for employees who wish to seek higher education or certifications. There is no annual limit to the tuition reimbursement provided to each employee, and if the employee earns an A, tuition and books are reimbursed 100 percent. Many employees make the most of this benefit, including the hospital's CFO, who earned her bachelor's and master's degrees and CPA with Callahan's tuition reimbursement. When new employees join the team, the hospital pairs them with experienced employees through a mentor program that focuses on on-boarding.
Carolinas Medical Center (Charlotte, N.C.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Carolinas Medical Center offers employees a competitive benefits package, including health, dental and life insurance. The 874-bed hospital is tobacco-free and supports employees' work-life balance through flexible scheduling options and flexible spending accounts for child and dependent adult day care expenses. Nursing and allied health professionals can receive up to $2,000 in relocation assistance funds when they move to the Charlotte area at their own expense. Carolinas Medical Center has been named one of the Top 40 Family-Friendly Employers by Charlotte Parent Magazine.
Casa Grande (Ariz.) Regional Medical Center
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Casa Grande Regional Medical Center is 177-bed hospital about 50 miles southeast of Phoenix. The hospital employs roughly 843 people and has an employee retention rate of 85 percent. Fifty-one of the employees have been with the hospital for more than 20 years and many more have worked there for at least 10 years. To recognize employee excellence, Casa Grande holds a recognition breakfast for nurses and physicians and annual recognition events for employee milestones and awards. Beyond basic health and insurance benefits, Casa Grande offers a $200 "Better Health Incentive" to each employee and dependent annually, which can be used toward a gym membership, massage therapy, stress management or chiropractor visits. In 2012, Casa Grande was named one of Arizona's Most Admired Companies by the Arizona Business Magazine and BestCompaniesAZ.
Central Park ENT & Surgery Center (Arlington, Texas)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Central Park ENT & Surgery Center is employee-focused when it comes to health and financial benefit packages. The center pays 100 percent of its employees' medical and vision insurance policies. Central Park ENT also contributes to employee health savings accounts and provides an on-site gym, dubbed "The Sweat Box," for employees to use free of charge. To promote employee development, the center provides certification training in basic life support, pediatric advanced life support and other courses, and it regularly sends individuals to various healthcare seminars and conferences. Central Park employees and management believe hard work and fun are not mutually exclusive. The center reinforces this through team spirit days, a Halloween costume contest and plenty of holiday, birthday and potluck events.
Chesterfield General Hospital (Cheraw, S.C.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Chesterfield General Hospital is a small rural community hospital in northeastern South Carolina. The hospital promotes employee camaraderie off-campus by providing discount tickets for various theme parks and other attractions, as well as hosting a family picnic at a nearby state park each summer. On campus, employees get together for birthday and holiday parties. Employees are recognized through monthly awards, and excellent managers can receive recognition every quarter. Chesterfield General Hospital also encourages employee education through a $5,000 reimbursement in exchange for two years of work at the facility. Additionally, the hospital has a web-based learning center that features a range of courses on anything from time management skills to how to prepare for bioterrorism.
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta comprises three hospitals and 17 neighborhood locations. Children's offers a range of employee benefits, as well as training and educational opportunities for professional growth. Benefits include backup care options for employees seeking care for loved ones from infancy to old age. The system provides employees with access to an online database of 3,000 sitters, nannies, pet sitters and house sitters in metro Atlanta. The employee assistance program offers confidential counseling for personal issues and it provides a trained response team to support those coping with traumatic incidents. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta has been named to Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" for seven consecutive years.
Children's Medical Center (Dallas)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Children's Medical Center is the fifth largest pediatric provider in the nation and is licensed for 559 beds on its two campuses in Dallas and Plano, Texas. Along with basic health benefits, Children's employees receive a discount on inpatient and outpatient services when their children receive care at the hospital. Employees also receive discounts at area daycare centers. Additionally, Children's pays for its employees to get to work: the hospital heavily subsidizes annual passes for buses and trains on the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system. The hospital promotes continuing education for its employees by reimbursing up to $3,000 of undergraduate or graduate tuition per employee each year. In 2012, Children's Medical Center was named one the top 100 places to work in Dallas/Ft. Worth by The Dallas Morning News and was recognized as a 2012 National Top Workplace. To choose the National Top Workplaces, 30 major regional newspapers selected the best workplaces in their region, and those organizations were then evaluated for the award.
Cleveland Clinic
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Cleveland Clinic's workforce exceeds 40,000 people around the globe. Staff physicians are salaried with one-year contracts, meaning patient volume yields no influence on their pay. This approach to compensation has earned Cleveland Clinic widespread recognition. Even president and CEO Toby Cosgrove, MD, works under a one-year contract. Throughout his career with the system, he's undergone 37 annual professional reviews and renewals. The system offers comprehensive healthcare coverage, pension and savings plans, life insurance and tuition reimbursement. On-site childcare is provided and the system encourages continued education with up to $7,500 in tuition reimbursement each year for eligible full-time employees, depending on the level of degree pursued. Cleveland Clinic has established partnerships with local, state and national groups to ensure veterans have access resources they need to find civilian jobs in healthcare, specifically at Cleveland Clinic.
Deaconess Hospital (Evansville, Ind.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Deaconess Hospital, part of six-hospital Evansville-based Deaconess Health System, is a 365-bed teaching hospital with several "teams" that focus on employee well-being in various departments. Hospital employees have access to a gym, exercise courses and dietary classes. Deaconess Hospital emphasizes employees' professional development and recognition, offering leadership classes year-round that are open to all employees. In these classes, hospital management also encourages employees to share new ideas for work processes or initiatives. Further, outstanding staff members are regularly rewarded for exceptional services through a range of recognition programs.
Decatur County Memorial Hospital (Greensburg, Ind.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Decatur County Memorial Hospital is a rural community hospital located roughly 50 miles southeast of Indianapolis. The hospital provides a variety of support programs for its employees. For instance, the HOPE program at Decatur County Memorial allows staff to donate paid time off to colleagues facing extended illness or personal issues that require them to miss work for an extended period of time. Further, the "Helping Employees through Life's Predicaments," or HELP, fund supports hospital employees who have medical problems or other financially challenging issues. The fund is provided by other hospital employees. To further professional development, all employees are eligible for education reimbursement as long as the degree, certification or licensure will better their career and advancement opportunities. Full-time employees can receive $3,000 toward reimbursement, and part-time employees are eligible for $1,500 each year. Decatur County Memorial has been named a Top Workplace by the Indianapolis Star three years in a row.
Doctors Hospital of Sarasota (Fla.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Doctors Hospital of Sarasota has 155 beds and is part of HCA's West Florida division. Hospital employees receive comprehensive benefits, including pet insurance, but the hospital offers many benefits beyond the traditional. This includes complimentary monthly massages, on-site car washes and on-site drop-off and pick-up for dry cleaning. Further, Doctors Hospital of Sarasota offers catastrophic aid available to employees in need. In terms of employee development, the hospital makes an educational reimbursement program available to employees after their first 90 days. Staff members are encouraged to learn a new language, as the hospital offers free online foreign language lessons to all employees. The hospital also encourages employees to make a difference in the community — its Employee Advisory Group organizes regular food and supply drives at the hospital.
Duke University Health System (Durham, N.C.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Duke offers a range of traditional benefits in addition to programs designed to support employees' work-life balance and educational pursuits. Duke reimburses a portion of tuition for full-time employees and makes about $15,800 available in tuition grants per semester for children of eligible employees who attend Duke University. The system's wellness program, Live for Life, conducts regular health and fitness challenges and also sponsors a weekly farmer's market. Duke employees can expect 30 to 40 days of paid time off each year, depending on how long they've worked at the system. Duke's also encourages camaraderie among its employees through the PTO Donation Program. This lets employees donate accrued vacation or PTO to colleagues who have experienced a catastrophic illness or injury and exhausted all of their accrued PTO.
Edward White Hospital (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Edward White Hospital is a small community hospital and part of HCA's West Florida division. It has a "family-style" environment, where leaders' doors remain open to all employees, including contract personnel and students. Edward White encourages professional development through its education benefits, including monetary assistance and flexible scheduling so employees can work around academic obligations. At any given point, a large portion of employees use these benefits to continue their schooling. With employees hailing from as far as India and New Zealand, the hospital hosts multiple cultural events every year, encouraging employees to share their culture with one another and the community.
Emergency Physicians Medical Group (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Type of facility: Physician group
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Emergency Physicians Medical Group is a specialty group practice with 60 employees who support more than 300 physicians, 150 mid-level providers and roughly one million patients in eight states. EPMG believes in finding and cultivating every employee's personal strengths. To do so, every employee receives complimentary professional literature and completes an online assessment to determine their top five natural talents. Then, EPMG allows them the opportunity to do what they like best every day and showcases employees on its "Wall of Talent." EPMG also promotes professional development. Clinical employees maintain expertise through continuing medical education, which EPMG supports financially and through flexible scheduling. On the administrative side, every department at EPMG has a budget for educational assistance, professional memberships and training.
Endoscopy Center of Columbus (Ga.)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: The Endoscopy Center of Columbus is a single-specialty ASC located roughly 100 miles southwest of Atlanta. Over 19 years, the center has grown from one physician and two employees to three physicians and 11 employees and continues to expand. ECC fully funds each employee's retirement and provides bonuses each quarter. The center also provides employees with educational opportunities. ECC employees are encouraged to participate in community and philanthropic events. For example, staff and physicians have participated together in health fairs, Relay for Life and events promoting colon cancer awareness through local government affairs.
Evansville (Ind.) Surgery Center
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Evansville Surgery Center was developed by a small group of local physicians in 1984. Since then, its staff has grown to more than 100 employees throughout multiple locations in southern Indiana. ESC offers staff on-site childcare, free flu vaccines for staff members and their families and complimentary access to a fitness center. Additionally, employees can choose to participate in a wellness program, in which a wellness nurse helps with diet and fitness plans. Employees do not go unappreciated at ESC — the centers spend one week every summer honoring staff. Throughout Employee Appreciation Week, ESC provides catered meals, massages, gift cards and other prizes. To reward long-term employment, monetary bonuses are awarded and increase each time a five-year milestone is reached. All of these programs helped ESC keeps its turnover rate below 5 percent in 2012.
The Everett (Wash.) Clinic.
Type of facility: Group practice
What makes it a Great Place to Work: The Everett Clinic includes approximately 2,000 employees throughout 16 locations of care delivery. The physician-owned group practice offers employees medical and dental insurance, profit sharing, continuing education and a 401(k) plan that has received recognition from BrightScope, a financial information company, as one of the best in the Seattle area. Fortune magazine has named The Everett Clinic to its list of "100 Best Companies to Work For" for three consecutive years, and Seattle Business Magazine twice named it the number one large company to work for in Washington state.
Franklin (La.) Foundation Hospital
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Franklin Foundation Hospital is a 22-bed critical access hospital with 161 full- and part-time employees. The hospital recognizes the importance of employee retention, and as a result, many employees have been with the facility for more than 20 years and 11 have tenures of more than 30 years. To support employees beyond their career at Franklin, the hospital makes a contribution to everyone's retirement plan, even if the employee is not making contributions. The hospital's C-suite holds quarterly forums held over several days, which more than 80 percent of employees attend. As a result of its multiple benefit programs, employee satisfaction is in the 99th percentile, according to an engagement survey administered in May 2012.
Fremont (Neb.) Surgical Center
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Fremont Surgical Center in eastern Nebraska is a physician-owned surgery center with specialties including dental, gastroenterology, orthopedics, ophthalmology, pain management and pulmonology. The center's employees work collaboratively and participate in team-building activities at least six times a year at staff meetings. To further employee development, Fremont Surgical Center pays a set amount for each employee to continue his or her education and provides paid time off to attend classes. Additionally, the center pays the membership fee for any employee to belong to the local Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals group. Employees also enjoy basic benefits, such has health, dental and life insurance.
Geisinger Health (Danville, Pa.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Geisinger includes more than 17,000 employees across six hospital campuses. The system provides competitive, comprehensive benefit packages that include health, life and dental insurance. Geisinger also offers a travel assistance program for full-time employees that covers medical evaluations, legal services and assistance for lost items during employees' domestic or international trips. Geisinger provides up to $2,500 in tuition reimbursement for employees' work-related undergraduate or graduate courses. Geisinger employees are also highly involved in philanthropic and charity causes. Employees raised more than $400,000 for United Way during a two-month donation campaign in 2012, setting a new Geisinger record for total dollar amount raised.
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center (La Crosse, Wis.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center is a 325-bed teaching hospital that includes more than 5,500 employees. Gundersen Lutheran offers employees comprehensive benefits and opportunities for career advancement. The medical center also offers a 401(k) and pension plan with employer contributions, as well as the option of flexible schedules. The hospital strives to help employees achieve a better work-life balance through its on-site childcare. Gundersen Lutheran is also active in the La Crosse community and is a founding member of the Greater La Crosse Area Diversity Council.
Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: HackensackUMC includes more than 9,000 employees. The system offers comprehensive health benefits, 401(a) or 403(b) saving plans and tuition assistance toward hospital work-related courses. The system emphasizes employee recognition through departmental awards, monthly "Most Valuable Team Player" recognition and annual service award dinners. The hospital, which is Magnet-accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for nursing excellence, celebrates National Nurses Week with nursing-specific panel discussions and keynote presentations. HackensackUMC also has professional nursing councils that influence organizational policy and drive patient safety improvements.
Hallmark Health System (Melrose, Mass.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Hallmark Health System, the two-hospital official healthcare partner of the Boston Bruins, provides services to Boston's northern communities and includes more than 3,000 employees. Hallmark Health provides employees with auto and homeowners insurance via payroll deduction. The system regularly recognizes employees for their achievements. Each year, the system honors employees who have reached milestones in their service to the hospital. It also selects a "Team of the Month" and "Employee of the Month" to honor.
Hastings (Neb.) Surgical Center
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Hastings Surgical Center is a freestanding outpatient surgery center located roughly 150 miles west of Omaha and managed by Overland Park, Kan.-based Nueterra Healthcare. Team-based care delivery is emphasized at Hastings Surgical Center, and the collaboration extends to employees' involvement in numerous community service activities throughout the year. The center's employees also provide charity care in the community and raise awareness for various health issues on a regular basis. When new hires are brought into the center, they are assigned a mentor or supervisor to assist with assimilation and professional development.
Holy Spirit Hospital (Camp Hill, Pa.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Holy Spirit Hospital is a non-profit Catholic community hospital about 100 miles west of Philadelphia. The hospital takes pride in keeping up with the latest technology and improvements for the staff. Work-life balance can be difficult to maintain in the healthcare industry, but Holy Spirit's work-life committee eases work-related stress and ensures employees maintain a healthy balance. The hospital has a history of workplace excellence: Holy Spirit has been named as one of the "Best Places to Work in PA" many times in the past — in 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. "Best Places to Work in PA" is a statewide program managed by the Best Companies Group.
Hyde Park Surgery Center (Austin, Texas)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: About four years ago, a group of physicians built Hyde Park Surgery Center, which has since become a competitive employer among Austin ASCs. Employees enjoy flexible schedules that allow them to continue their education. Additionally, HPSC provides complimentary required educational services and pays employees for the time it takes to complete those courses. On top of basic benefits, Hyde Park's physician partners pay 85 percent of employee benefits, along with quarterly and Christmas bonuses. The ASC also provides matching employee 401(k) plans.
Intermountain Healthcare (Salt Lake City)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Intermountain Healthcare is the largest private employer in Utah. The system offers generous benefit packages that, on average, represent 33 percent of an employee's overall total compensation. In addition to medical, dental, life and disability insurance, 22-hospital Intermountain offers a range of other benefits to help support employees' personal and professional lives. Full-time employees can earn up to 25 days of paid-time off per year starting on their first day of work. Intermountain also has its own "university" that offers professional courses at several campuses throughout the organization. Most of those courses are complimentary to employees. The system also promotes employees' health through customized wellness programs and discounted memberships for community fitness centers.
Kansas Heart Hospital (Wichita, Kan.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: The Kansas Heart Hospital has a linear and flat structure of management, with the C-suite overseeing the core manager group. Every manager in the hospital is a "working" manager, meaning they perform administrative functions while also working "side-by-side" with employees, ensuring they are attuned with those they supervise. To promote employee development, every manager at KHH participates in leadership training at Wichita State University's Center of Management Development on a quarterly basis. KHH also makes a tuition reimbursement program available to employees. On the clinical side, nurses at KHH enjoy having fixed nursing ratios in each department, which allows them to spend ample time with patients. In the spirit of community, the hospital encourages employees to volunteer and mentor underprivileged high school students in the area.
KishHealth System (DeKalb and Sandwich, Ill.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: KishHealth's 1,400 employees across four facilities enjoy a robust peer recognition system that lets them publicize coworkers' excellent demonstration of the system's five core values: community, integrity, quality, service and stewardship. Last year, employees submitted nearly 3,000 shout-outs on behalf of their peers, celebrated with "Random Acts of Gratitude Days," which recognize employees in each department. KishHealth offers a Humana Vitality initiative with its employee health plan that allows workers and their families to rack up points for gifts — even credits toward premiums — by engaging in proactive health activities, including free on-site biometric screenings. Tuition reimbursement and scholarship programs are available, as well.
La Peer Health Systems (Beverly Hills, Calif.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Host to 11 different medical specialties, the growing La Peer Health Systems maintains an intimate "family-like" atmosphere that encourages staff input and professional development, according to employee testimony. La Peer offers company-paid medical, dental and vision coverage, and provides continuing education opportunities for staff members. System-sponsored sporting events, health fairs and other activities are frequent. In recognition of colon cancer awareness month, La Peer hosted "Scopefest," during which some staff and physicians underwent colonoscopies with film crews documenting the procedure.
Lafayette (La.) Surgical Specialty Hospital
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Retention is a strong point for nurses at physician-owned Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital, evidenced by its low turnover rates and an average of 16.1 years of experience. The hospital's 190 employees can earn generous bonuses for meeting annual performance benchmarks, with added incentives for length of tenure and attendance for scheduled shifts. The hospital provides meals when caseloads are heavy. Employees can earn $100 just for being nominated as employee of the year, while the winner takes home $1,000. The hospital also offers tuition reimbursement, fitness challenges, wellness support groups, monthly birthday luncheons and 401(k) matching plans.
Lake City (Fla.) Medical Center
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: On its last employee engagement survey, 92 percent of Lake City Medical Center employees reported they were overall "very satisfied" working for the hospital. In addition to generous and comprehensive health plans, Lake City Medical Center provides 100-percent matching for employee 401(k) contributions and up to $3,000 to aid employees affected by sudden illness or disaster, such as when Tropical Storm Debby severely damaged seven employees' homes last summer. Full tuition reimbursement and free access to continuing education units are available. Additionally, senior leaders receive eight hours of annual leadership training and host quarterly town hall meetings with hospital staff. Readers of the local Lake City Reporter have ranked it the "Best of the Best" hospital in the community for the past 13 years running.
Lakeview Hospital (Stillwater, Fla.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Lakeview Hospital repeatedly has been nationally recognized for patient and staff satisfaction. HCAHPS annually ranks it in the top 10 percent nationally each year for patient satisfaction, which reflects positively of Lakeview's workplace environment. Its annual turnover rate is 4.9 percent overall and just 2.5 percent for nurses. The hospital offers a defined contribution and 401(k) matching program, tuition and workshop reimbursement. It will also pay up to half of staff's travel costs for international mission trips. Truven Healthcare ranked Lakeview Hospital among its top 100 hospitals in 2012.
Lederman Kwartowitz Orthopedic Group (West Bloomfield, Mich.)
Type of facility: Physician group
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Employees of Lederman Kwartowitz Orthopedic Group receive health and insurance benefits and retirement accounts. Fifty catered lunches are provided each year, and parties and social events are frequent. The group hires internally when possible and works hard to promote a positive and cohesive work environment, aided by high rates of patient satisfaction. Pay bonuses help cultivate employee engagement in the group's success. The physician group performs procedures at Lakes Surgery Center, which has been recognized for multiple awards since 2005, helping create a sense of success and excellence among staff.
Lowell (Mass.) General Hospital
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Lowell General Hospital is a 217-bed facility that includes 1,488 employees. The hospital has an extensive benefits program, offering up to $2,500 in tuition reimbursement for job-related program courses or certifications per academic year. It also provides forgiveness loans for certain nursing programs. The hospital offers retirement benefits, such as Tax Sheltered Annuities 403(b), that permit employees to voluntarily save for retirement on a pre-tax basis. The hospital's "Spotlight on You" program is one way for fellow employees to reward and recognize each other for their professional accomplishments. In 2012, Lowell General Hospital was named one of the best places to work by Boston Business Journal for the third time in a row.
Lurie Children's Hospital (Chicago)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Lurie Children's Hospital offers employees the choice of three health plans, dental insurance, vision benefits, life insurance and a pension plan. Full-time employees are eligible for 29 days of paid-time off. To support employees' work-life balance, the hospital provides concierge services for daily errands. Employees with children on the college hunt can use Lurie Children's college coaching program, in which a counselor helps families with the school selection, application and financial processes. The hospital, which is Magnet-accredited for nursing excellence, offers up to $5,000 for adoption assistance and tuition reimbursement. It also provides a 50 percent discount to employees' Lurie Children's hospital charges after insurance has been applied.
Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Massachusetts General Hospital is backed by more than 23,000 employees, making it one of the largest private employers in Boston. The hospital offers employees comprehensive health benefits, life insurance, a cash balance retirement plan and special rates at a nearby fitness center. New full-time employees can earn up to 29 days of paid time off each year. The hospital also provides up to $2,000 in tuition reimbursement per fiscal year for degreed program courses and up to $750 for approved certification courses, depending upon the number of hours worked. Through the MGH Leadership Academy, managers can learn additional competencies to be effective leaders at the organization. They can also learn a range of courses for medical terminology, languages and professionalism. DiversityInc, a publication for diversity management in business, named MGH as one of the top hospitals for diversity in 2012.
Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Mayo Clinic provides care to more than 1 million patients annually and includes nearly 58,300 employees. Through training and educational programs, including tuition reimbursement, Mayo Clinic invests in employees' personal and professional goals. Its comprehensive benefits package includes adoption reimbursement, a health promotion program and diversity networking groups. The health system awards employees for their achievements in community involvement, leadership, teamwork and individual excellence. For 10 consecutive years, Mayo Clinic has been named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in the nation by Fortune magazine.
MedStar Health (Columbia, Md.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: MedStar Health is a non-profit regional healthcare system with a network of nine hospitals and 20 other healthcare settings across Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region. It is one of the region's largest employers, with more than 27,000 associates and 5,600 affiliated physicians. It offers its employees a total rewards package, which includes paid time off, flexible spending accounts and retirement savings through its tax deferred savings plan. The health system also offers an employee assistance program that provides counseling, financial and retirement planning and even entertainment referrals. MedStar Health has been named one of the best places to work by the Baltimore Business Journal and the Washington Business Journal.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York City)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: In addition to its package of medical, dental, vision, disability, accidental death and life insurance, Memorial Sloan-Kettering offers a generous tuition reimbursement package, covering up to 18 credits and $10,000 per calendar year for full-time employees. The option of flexible work arrangements, such as compressed work weeks or flextime, helps employees better balance family needs with their professional lives. The hospital, which is the country's oldest facility dedicated to cancer treatment, also provides carpool matching services and back-up emergency child or elder care. Employees can gain professional experience through Memorial Sloan-Kettering's staff, management and leadership development programs, which are offered electronically and in classroom settings.
Mercy Medical Center (Baltimore)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Mercy Medical Center is an acute-care facility and is a teaching hospital for the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. The hospital offers its 2,412 employees an extensive benefits package that includes flexible spending accounts, continuing education opportunities and adoption assistance. The hospital offers full-time employees basic comprehensive life insurance packages and long-term disability benefits at no cost. Mercy Medical Center also offers tuition reimbursement to most full-time employees.
Meridian Health (Wall Township, N.J.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Meridian Health has consistently been rated one of the top-performing health systems in New Jersey. It includes six hospitals and more than 11,000 employees. The health system is committed to promoting from within whenever possible. It offers a flexible benefits program to employees, as well as voluntary programs designed to provide professional and personal support for work-life balance. Employees who opt for these voluntary programs receive discounted memberships to Meridian's three fitness centers. The health system also offers employees and leaders opportunities to participate in a range of complimentary courses and workshops held at Team Meridian University, the system's internal corporate university, or on hospital campuses. It has established a Galaxy Team Member Recognition Program that recognizes excellence among team members, physicians and volunteers. In 2010, 2011 and 2012, Meridian Health was named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in the nation by Fortune magazine.
Methodist Health System (Dallas)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Methodist Health System has earned widespread recognition for its workplace. The Dallas Business Journal named Methodist among its "Best Places to Work" for nine consecutive years. Last year, the American Heart Association awarded it platinum distinction as a Fit Friendly Company, and the American Nurses Credentialing Center called numerous Methodist hospitals "Pathways to Excellence" for their positive work environments to advance the nursing profession. The system's faith-based mission resonates with the staff, 550 of whom donated a portion of every paycheck to contribute $230,000 to capital improvement projects, emergency need funds for employees, and other hospital funds and endowments. Employee benefit packages include $500 deductibles and 100 percent coverage at Methodist's primary network facilities, a 403(b) matching program and tuition reimbursement.
The Methodist Hospital (Houston)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: The Methodist Hospital is a 917-bed facility that includes 6,312 employees. It is committed to helping employees grow professionally and personally, offering tuition reimbursement up to the doctoral level. Additionally, the hospital offers a number of development and training modules, such as The Methodist Hospital Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology Program, which is a 12-month professional course of study fully accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. The hospital's benefits program includes wellness services, adoption assistance and legal assistance. Methodist Hospital has been named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" by Fortune magazine.
Mission Health (Asheville, N.C.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Mission Health's 8,800 employees have access to on-campus health services and a homebuyer education program with matching employer funds, as well as discounts on apartments, cell phone service, on-site child care and tuition reimbursement. Personal health is emphasized by Mission's wellness program, which offers cash incentives for certain healthy living choices. Other wellness services, such as massage therapy, are also made available to employees. Mission's Center for Leadership and Professional Development coordinates classes for all staff at Mission Hospital, ranging from instruction on how to build a resumé to mentoring nursing colleagues.
Mission Surgery Center (Mission Viejo, Calif.)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Mission Surgery Center employees enjoy medical and prescription drug coverage with wellness program incentives, a matching 401(k) program, on-site child care and tuition reimbursement. Employees also have the option of cashing out their unused paid time off. Management aims to be highly accessible to staff and hosts frequent meetings to cultivate a collaborative and cohesive environment.
Mount Auburn Hospital (Cambridge, Mass.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Mount Auburn Hospital, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, is home to more than 1,500 employees, making it one of the top five employers in the city of Cambridge. The hospital offers an extensive benefits package that includes life insurance, long-term disability insurance and even pet insurance. Flexcare is also available to employees scheduled to work a minimum of 20 hours per week, allowing them to set aside pre-tax earnings for out-of-pocket medical or dependent care expenses. The hospital offers up to $1,000 in tuition reimbursement for full-time employees and $750 for part-time employees. In 2012, the Boston Business Journal named Mount Auburn Hospital to its list of best places to work.
Mount Kisco (N.Y) Medical Group
Type of facility: Physician practice
What makes it a Great Place to Work: All full-time employees at Mount Kisco Medical Group receive two bonus checks each year, discounts on items ranging from contact lenses to plastic surgery, and the ability to share in profits. There's a strong spirit of charity throughout the practice, with frequent contributions to the Boys and Girls Club, Toys for Tots, Operation Defending the Holidays for troops in Afghanistan, and five annual trips to Haiti, during which physicians and employees volunteer to provide charity care. The practice of more than 300 physicians prides itself on its focus on customer service for its 300,000 patients, promoting its core values of dignity, excellence, justice and service.
Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital (Baltimore)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital, an affiliate of the University of Maryland Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Medicine, aims to provide the best in rehabilitative and transitional pediatric care. It includes around 400 employees. The hospital offers numerous benefits, such as paid time off, a tuition assistance program, a loan forgiveness program and flexible spending accounts. It also offers free annual physical exams and discounted medical plan premiums for tobacco-free employees. Its personal health coach program helps employees and eligible dependents learn about chronic health conditions by connecting them with registered nurses who can answer their questions. Additionally, the hospital offers a cash balance pension plan based on salary and credited years of service.
Nanticoke Health Services (Seaford, Del.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Nanticoke Health Services drives high performance through regular employee recognition, as evidenced by its wall of fame, employee of the month initiative and a "hidden treasures" program that recognizes unsung employees. Tuition reimbursement, 403(b) matching, discounts to local businesses and a health plan with wellness program incentives are all offered to employees. Volunteerism is promoted through charity drives, a speaker series and school-based service events.
New England Baptist Hospital (Boston)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: New England Baptist Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Tufts University School of Medicine, includes a staff of more than 900 employees. It offers an extensive benefits package that includes a retirement plan, legal support and an employee assistance program. The hospital offers up to $2,500 in tuition reimbursement for full-time employees with six months of service. Its HIV supplemental benefit plan provides financial assistance and health services for employees who contract HIV as a result of work-related exposure. The hospital also offers family-friendly benefits, such as a free referral services to help families find nursing homes, assisted living facilities, Alzheimer's care, retirement communities, home care and other senior care options. The hospital implements a number of reward and recognition programs to acknowledge employee contributions.
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (New York)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Non-profit, 2,409-bed NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital includes 19,376 employees and 6,144 affiliated physicians. The hospital does its best to promote from within and encourages staff to honor one another with recognition and awards. For example, nurses help nominate the "Physician of the Year," and physicians and physician assistants help nominate the "Nurse of the Year." NewYork-Presbyterian's benefits package includes educational assistance, paid vacation time and even pet insurance. From 2008 through 2011, NewYork-Presbyterian ranked as one of the top 25 companies for training and learning development by Training Magazine.
Newton-Wellesley Hospital (Newton, Mass.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Newton-Wellesley Hospital offers a number of benefits to its approximately 2,100 employees, including prescription drug coverage, life insurance and long-term care insurance. Employee assistance program counselors help employees with work-life problems that might affect job performance. The 313-bed hospital's Shipley Fitness Center, which is for the use of hospital employees and medical staff, features cardiovascular and strength training equipment and yoga classes. On-site day care services are also available. In 2012, Newton-Wellesley Hospital was named one of the best places to work by the Boston Business Journal and one of the top places to work by The Boston Globe.
Northbank Surgical Center (Salem, Ore.)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Northbank Surgical Center, one of 140 centers under the Surgical Care Affiliates umbrella, earned first place in an SCA-wide "Teammate Satisfaction" survey. Benefit packages include health and dental plans, disability and life insurance, flexible spending accounts, college and retirement savings plans, discounts at affiliated facilities and a matching program for employees who donate to co-workers during times of hardship. Schedules are flexible to help accommodate employees' requested time off, and quality work is rewarded with bonuses. Northbank Surgical Center cultivates camaraderie among staff members through cross-specialty training and management's open-door policy.
NorthShore University Health System (Evanston, Ill.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: NorthShore offers full-time employees medical, dental and life insurance. It also offers travel accident coverage, flexible spending accounts for healthcare expenses and dependent care, and alternative work arrangements. In some areas, employees may opt to work three 12-hour shifts or four 10-hour shifts instead of the standard five shifts that are eight-hours long. NorthShore offers up to $5,000 in adoption assistance, pays a portion of public transportation fares and offers up to $5,000 in tuition reimbursement for eligible employees. The system also promotes professional development through its onboarding training and leadership mentoring programs, which help employees learn additional skills for career advancement.
Northwest Michigan Surgery Center (Traverse City, Mich.)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: The 130-person staff at Northwest Michigan Surgery Center can participate in profit sharing each year and benefit from an up to 4 percent 401(k) match. Performance bonuses are granted to departments to encourage cost-cutting, and the ASC reimburses for continuing education units. Employees can accrue up to 26 days of paid time off per year, and are eligible for gym membership reimbursements and discounts to local businesses. The center is involved in local charities, school-based services and cross-specialty training to foster a communicative and cohesive work environment.
North Mississippi Health Services (Tupelo)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: North Mississippi Health Services includes six hospitals and 30 medical clinics, serving 24 counties in north Mississippi and northwest Alabama. With more than 6,225 employees, NMHS has an annual employee retention rate of 92 percent and, in 2012, its employee satisfaction survey results landed the system in the 99th percentile out of more than 500 hospitals and health systems nationwide. In addition to the traditional benefits of life, health, dental and vision insurance, NMHS offers tuition reimbursement, retirement plans with company match and subsidized wellness center memberships. In 2012, the system won the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for performance excellence.
North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System.
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: North Shore-LIJ includes more than 42,000 employees, making it the largest employer on Long Island. The system offers a comprehensive healthcare benefits package; life, disability, accident and cancer insurance; and the choice of a cash balance pension plan or 403(b) retirement savings plan. Six of the system's facilities also run weekly farmer's markets for local community members and employees, and the American Heart Association has awarded platinum-level recognition to North Shore-LIJ as a "fit friendly" organization. North Shore-LIJ bestows regular rewards and recognition upon employees, celebrating their achievements with a system-wide awards dinner, annual picnic, softball tournament, and professional recognition weeks, in which specific groups such as nurses or physical therapists are acknowledged.
North Valley Hospital (Whitefish, Mont.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: The 25-bed critical access North Valley Hospital is located on 40 acres featuring scenic views of Glacier National Park. The hospital promotes staff health and fitness with sponsored health and dental plans, as well as wellness program incentives and rebates for gym memberships. To keep stress levels low, medical staff has access to the Care for the Caregiver program, which provides massage therapists and spa services, as well as emergency food assistance and prescription delivery. Monthly "rave review" awards go to peer-nominated staff members. The hospital also offers retirement plans and a generous leave policy.
OrthoCarolina (Charlotte, S.C.)
Type of facility: Physician practice
What makes it a Great Place to Work: The Charlotte Business Journal has rated OrthoCarolina among its "Best Places to Work" twice and also as one of Charlotte's Healthiest Employers. The practice was also recognized by the American Heart Association as a platinum-level fit friendly company. OrthoCarolina offers benefits with wellness program incentives for part-time employees and their families, contributes up to $1,500 for family health savings accounts and makes annual 401(k) contributions. Employees participate in profit-sharing plans, are eligible for credit union memberships, have flexible schedules, receive discounts in-house and at local businesses, and can be reimbursed for gym memberships and continuing education courses.
Park Ridge Health (Hendersonville, N.C.)
Type of facility: Hospital and multi-specialty physician group
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Park Ridge Health, a 103-bed subsidiary of Rockville, Md.-based Adventist HealthCare, is selective in its hiring to ensure its 1,400 team members make good fits for PRH's tight-knit culture. Management engages the team through quarterly town hall meetings and bi-weekly video updates. Every six months, all employees receive pay bonuses based on successful completion of quality, financial and patient satisfaction goals. The organization offers a health savings plan, PPO plan, and a 50 percent retirement matching program for up to 4 percent of employee contributions. Employees can earn up to $600 annually in the company's wellness incentive plan, made easier with the on-site fitness center and discounts to five other local facilities through payroll deduction.
Parkside Psychiatric Hospital & Clinic (Tulsa, Okla.)
Type of facility: Psychiatric inpatient hospital
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Parkside Psychiatric Hospital & Clinic's collegial atmosphere is built through initiatives like the "By Your Side" program, which offers patients and their families emergency assistance to purchase essentials like food, clothing and school supplies through volunteer-staffed stores. Employee benefits include employer-sponsored health insurance plans, flexible health spending accounts, employer-matched 401(k) plans and low-cost health center memberships. In addition, the hospital hosts the "Knowledge is a Bonus" program, under which employees attend monthly instructional sessions on anything from psychiatry to general healthcare to healthy living. Employees can take a test at year's end, with the highest performer earning a $1,000 bonus.
Penn State Milton S. Hershey (Pa.) Medical Center
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is committed to keeping its employees well, beyond offering basic health, dental and vision coverage. The medical center has an employee wellness program, called Blueprints for Wellness, that aims to enhance quality of life through education on healthy behaviors and empowering participants to encourage each other in healthful practices. In addition to promoting physical health, Penn State Hershey Medical Center helps employees stay mentally fit through educational assistance. Employees — and their spouse and any dependent children, after one year of employment — can receive a 75 percent discount on tuition at Penn State University. Job-related degree programs offered at other accredited colleges are also eligible for tuition reimbursement.
ProMedica (Toledo, Ohio)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: ProMedica's large integrated network, which serves 27 counties with 1,674 physicians and 14,305 employees, began a culture shift in 2010 dubbed "Our ProMedica." The initiative gathered 6,000 employees' input to craft everything from core values to management policies. Employees were asked to write six-word stories describing their experience at ProMedica and snap photos on their shifts to compile a system-wide photo essay. Employee input is valued in organizational management, as staff suggestions to improve quality, service and processes could win them up to $10,000. The system discounts gym memberships and weight management services, and offers tuition reimbursement and scholarships for full- and part-time employees who enroll in up to eight hours per semester at the University of Toledo. The Toledo City Paper rated ProMedica as a "Best Company to Work For" in 2011.
Rhode Island Hospital (Providence)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Rhode Island Hospital was founded in 1863 and today it includes more than 7,000 employees. In addition to traditional health, dental and life insurance packages, Rhode Island Hospital employees can receive financial assistance and partial reimbursement for approved tuition costs and relocation expenses. Child care services and a fitness center are conveniently located on the Rhode Island Hospital campus for employees. Through the hospital's employee fund, employees can provide grants for their colleagues who experienced catastrophic events and have limited resources.
San Juan Regional Medical Center (Farmington, N.M.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: San Juan Regional Medical Center offers a full benefits package to employees as well as Full Engagement Training — a program that promotes employee wellness through nutrition, exercise, stress management and the development of a personal mission statement. The hospital also holds regular health events, such as free screenings and a 5k race, to encourage staff and the local community to take active roles in their health. In addition, the 250-bed hospital supports several education programs for certification in the healthcare field. For example, "Perioperative 101" is a course designed to train SJRMC-employed registered nurses to become operating room nurses.
Sanford Health (Fargo, N.D.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Sanford Health includes more than 26,000 employees across 126 communities in eight states, making it the largest employer in North and South Dakota. The system offers health, dental, vision and life insurance, in addition to 401(k) and 403(b) plans, adoption assistance, scholarship opportunities and a worksite wellness program. The system has taken extra steps to ensure its physician workforce maintains optimal mental and physical health. Sanford began offering a physician wellness program to specifically reduce and prevent burnout, which can result in depression and fatigue.
Schneck Medical Center (Seymour, Ind.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Schneck Medical Center has more than 800 employees as well as 150 affiliated physicians, 300 volunteers and more than 200 students. The hospital has a unique recruitment process called "Hiring for Excellence," which incorporates the organization's mission, vision and values. Peer interviewing and employee input are part of the selection process for new staff members. Through this program, the hospital's turnover rate reached the lowest it's been in the last 20 years. In addition, satisfaction levels among nurses at the hospital have exceeded the benchmark of the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators for the past three years.
Scripps Health (San Diego)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Scripps Health is a non-profit, integrated health system that comprises five acute-care hospital campuses with more than 13,000 employees. The health system offers employees a flexible benefits program for their individual needs. The 529 college savings plan allows employees to save for college expenses on a tax-advantaged basis. The health system also offers life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, adoption reimbursement, and an on-site childcare facility with a discounted tuition rate for employees. Scripps Health also offers a wellness program that includes health assessments, healthy living programs, health coaching and preventive care activities. In 2013, for the sixth year in a row, the health system was named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" by Fortune magazine.
Seattle Children's Hospital
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: More than 5,000 people work at 254-bed Seattle Children's, which is the primary pediatric referral center for the largest geographic area of any children's hospital in the country. In addition to competitive salaries, life insurance, retirement plans and three medical plan options, the hospital also provides eight paid holidays each calendar year, on-site child care, adoption assistance and discounted healthcare services for employees' children. Seattle Children's was named a Best Workplace for Commuters by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation, as it provides complimentary passes for regional transit routes, a shuttle network connecting various Children's worksites with public transportation and bicycle commuting support.
Shore Rehabilitation Institute (Brick, N.J.)
Type of facility: Rehabilitation hospital
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Shore Rehabilitation Institute includes 40 inpatient beds as well as outpatient rehabilitation services, backed by more than 150 employees. In SRI's most recent team member survey in April 2012, more than 96 percent felt SRI was effectively fulfilling its mission "to provide quality rehabilitative care that will restore and return physically disabled adults to optimal function and independence within an accepting community." SRI also offers a complete benefits package, including a 403(b) program. Under this program, employees can contribute up to 6 percent of their pre-tax earnings, and SRI matches 50 cents on the dollar. SRI employees also enjoy a generous amount of time off; at the highest earning level, employees can earn up to seven weeks of paid vacation per year and seven days of extended sick leave.
Silver Cross Hospital (New Lenox, Ill.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Silver Cross Hospital is a healthcare network including a 289-bed acute-care hospital, 10 satellite facilities and a freestanding emergency department. The hospital has a team of more than 3,000 employees, physicians and volunteers. Silver Cross offers employees a generous benefits package, including a dependent care spending account that allows employees to pay for child care or other dependent care necessary for work. In addition, the organization offers tuition reimbursement after six months of employment.
South Nassau Communities Hospital (Oceanside, N.Y.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: South Nassau Communities Hospital has 435 beds, more than 900 physicians and 3,000 employees. The hospital teaches employees its mission, vision and values at the start of orientation, which includes a day dedicated to customer service education. Employees learn about the hospital's customer service philosophy, measures of patient satisfaction, sensitivity to cultural needs and the importance of teamwork for patient safety. Staff members who demonstrate exceptional performance related to customer service, patient safety or hospital costs are recognized by a "You Cared" from managers and supervisors as well as a movie ticket or a free meal voucher. The hospital also recognizes an "Employee of the Quarter" and an "Employee of the Year."
Southern Illinois GI Specialists (Carbondale)
Type of facility: Physician practice
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Southern Illinois GI Specialists is the only physician gastroenterology practice in southern Illinois and is accredited by The Joint Commission, the American Society of Gastroenterology Endoscopists and the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Computed Tomography Laboratories. Physicians in the practice are dedicated to the community and work to serve patients in more than 20 counties. The practice participates in health fairs, Relay for Life and the Colon Cancer Awareness Walk-a-Thon. SIGIS offers employees many educational opportunities, paying for staff to travel to and attend seminars and other functions. The center also reimburses employees for certification programs and offers flexible scheduling so employees can continue to work while pursuing further education.
Southern Illinois Healthcare (Carbondale)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Southern Illinois Healthcare serves 16 counties and is backed by more than 3,000 employees. The system offers dental, life, medical and disability insurance, along with a 401(k) plan and wellness program. Southern Illinois Healthcare also provides flexible scheduling options for registered nurses and a generous amount of time off to support employees' work-life balance. Eligible employees can accrue 24 days of earned time off in their first year. The system offers loan forgiveness for employees in hard-to-fill positions, which currently includes registered nurses, physical therapists and pharmacists.
Southern Ohio Medical Center (Portsmouth, Ohio)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Southern Ohio Medical Center has an impressive employee retention rate, as approximately 20 percent of its more than 2,000-employee workforce has worked at the hospital for more than 20 years. The hospital offers employees the choice of two medical plans, along with dental and vision insurance, educational assistance and adoption reimbursement. Southern Ohio Medical Center also offers 100-percent tuition assistance for employees pursuing RN, BSN and other degrees for hard-to-fill positions. Employees can earn 24 to 34 days of paid-time off, depending on the number of years worked. Southern Ohio Medical Center was named to Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" in 2013.
Southwestern Medical Center (Lawton, Okla.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Southwestern Medical Center, a 199-bed hospital, supports professional development of its employees; it offers up to $5,000 annually for tuition reimbursement. In addition, the hospital works to ensure employees achieve a strong life-work balance and partners with area businesses to provide discounts to country clubs, spas and gyms. Southwestern Medical Center works to instill its mission, vision and values in employees. When employees have worked between 90 and 120 days, they are invited to a "mission meal" with senior leaders to discuss their orientation and any concerns.
St. John's Hospital (Springfield, Ill.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: With a staff of more than 3,000, St. John's Hospital is one of the largest employers in the Springfield area. The 431-bed hospital was named one of the "Best Places to Work" by the Springfield Business Journal in 2013, marking the second consecutive year it received this recognition. Besides complete medical and dental benefits, the hospital offers a variety of wellness programs, including a Fit for Life program that encourages employees to exercise, eat well and maintain work-life balance. In addition, the hospital offers paid time off bonus hours for completing a free annual health risk assessment and for undergoing a free biometric screening. Employees can also access the hospital's Center for Living, which offers mind-body medicine services, such as acupuncture, massage and yoga.
St. Joseph's Healthcare System (Paterson, N.J.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: St. Joseph's Healthcare System has more than 5,100 employees across its facilities, including a 651-bed hospital. The health system creates an environment where people want to work: Its overall employee retention rate for 2012 is 98.3 percent, and its nurse vacancy rate is only 1 percent. In addition, St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson was the only recipient of the 2010 Magnet Prize for nursing innovation. One of the ways St. Joseph's inspires employees is through complimentary activities such as lunchtime learning and ethics discussions, educational health fairs and health screenings.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Memphis, Tenn.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has 7,800 patient visits on average each year. The hospital aims to support staff through a benefits program that includes the option of flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement and life insurance. The flexible spending accounts option allows employees to set aside funds on a tax-free basis to a medical reimbursement account and/or dependent care reimbursement account for expenses they anticipate in the plan year. The hospital also offers disability insurance that covers 60 percent of base pay, up to a maximum of $15,000 per month, after six months of disability. In 2013, for the third year in a row, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was named to Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For."
Surgery Center of Anchorage (Alaska)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: The Surgery Center of Anchorage encourages employees to share their ideas and speak freely with leaders; the administrator maintains an open-door policy. The ASC strives to create a comfortable environment for employees and provides a break room stocked with fresh fruit, drinks and snacks. Surgery Center of Anchorage is also involved in regular charitable giving events. Staff give back to the community by donating clothing to shelters, suture material and dressings to animal shelters and medical equipment to third-world nations.
Surgicare of Jackson (Miss.)
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Surgicare of Jackson is a multi-specialty ASC offering orthopedic, podiatric and hand surgery, among other specialties. The facility, managed by Surgical Care Affiliates, holds team-building activities at quarterly staff meetings to create a sense of community among staff. Surgicare of Jackson also encourages management staff to attend educational meetings and plans to offer a reward if staff bring back and implement a best practice at the ASC. In addition to a complete benefits package, the center offers shift pay and late pay for work after 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively. Employees also have the opportunity to win a gift card if they are mentioned on a returned patient satisfaction survey.
Teaneck (N.J.) Surgical Center
Type of facility: Ambulatory surgery center
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Teaneck Surgical Center strives to create a family-like atmosphere among employees by hosting social events such as potluck lunches, monthly birthday celebrations and yoga classes. This summer, staff participated in a Mud Run. The facility offers complimentary professional development opportunities to promote career advancement. Those offerings include in-house training, webinars, developmental classes and training days.
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall (Texas)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall is a 50-bed joint venture owned by Arlington-based Texas Health Resources and physicians. A hallmark of the hospital's culture is its open communication, achieved through departmental or committee discussions, town hall meetings and an employee newsletter. In addition, the hospital president writes a "Week in Review" column to keep employees informed about the hospital and community. Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall is also dedicated to employee wellness and offers a variety of activities to maintain staff health. Under its Employee Wellness Program, employees who participate in health-related activities can earn points they can later redeem for complimentary items.
Texas Regional Medical Center at Sunnyvale (Texas)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Texas Regional Medical Center at Sunnyvale is a 70-bed acute-care, physician-owned hospital with more than 470 employees and nearly 300 physicians on staff. TRMC-Sunnyvale offers professional development opportunities, including some professional-specific certifications, and is committed to hiring from within to advance employees' careers. The hospital was voted a Best Place to Work in 2012 by readers of Mesquite News, published by Star Community Newspapers.
Tri-City Medical Center (Oceanside, Calif.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Tri-City Medical Center includes a workforce of nearly 2,300, including more than 500 affiliated physicians. The hospital encourages professional development through its Tuition Reimbursement Program, which offers employees $1,000 to $4,000 per year, and a Success Sharing Incentive Program, which offers employees an annual payment for reaching goals set by the hospital. Tri-City Medical Center also promotes a connection between its employees and the community. In 2011, employees raised more than $316,000 to support maternal and child health causes through Tri-City's "We Care, We Give" campaign.
Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center (Leitchfield, Ky.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center is a 75-bed community hospital serving a six-county area with a population of more than 90,000. Employees benefit from strong job security — the hospital has not reduced its workforce since the facility was built in 1951. The hospital involves the community in employee events, such as golf outings, softball tournaments and archery tournaments. Staff also participate in local charities such as Bowling for Kids' Sake and United Way.
University Hospitals (Cleveland)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system What makes it a
Great Place to Work: University Hospitals includes more than 24,000 employees across 150 sites of care, making it the second-largest private sector employer in Cleveland. The system provides medical, dental, long-term care, life and disability insurance in addition to a retirement savings plan, back-up child care, elder care services and adoption assistance. The system is also generous in its recruitment efforts for hard-to-fill positions. In October 2012, UH began offering a $3,000 net pay sign-on bonus for registered nurses hired to work in specific units and an $8,000 sign-on bonus for designated nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and physician assistants.
University of Chicago Medical Center
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: Along with packages for medical, dental, vision and disability benefits, University of Chicago Medical Center offers employees access to its on-site corporate quality academy that offers a range of education and training courses, including BSN completion programs offered in partnership with two local colleges. Full-time hospital employees are entitled to 50-percent remission for courses taken at the University of Chicago or the lab school, and nurses receive 100 percent tuition reimbursement at the nursing school of their choice. The hospital also offers a generous paid-time off package: New full-time employees receive up to three weeks paid vacation per year, plus five paid personal holidays and 10 sick days.
University of Michigan Health System (Ann Arbor)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: University of Michigan Health System's more than 18,500 employees have some of the most comprehensive and competitive benefits in the region, including a range of financial benefits, work-life balance resources and support services. The health system offers health, dental and vision coverage, and employees can earn up to six weeks of paid-time off. All system employees have access to U-M's child care center and care services for aging parents, and the system supports employees' well-being through various activities, including regular health screenings, cooking classes and a walking club.
West Park Hospital (Cody, Wyo.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: West Park Hospital is a 25-bed hospital with an adjacent 94-bed long-term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center. With more than 570 employees, the hospital is the largest employer in the county. It also has 50 medical staff members who work collaboratively with employees to deliver care. West Park Hospital values employees' input and offers ongoing opportunities for staff to speak with hospital leaders, including monthly employee lunches with the hospital's CEO. West Park Hospital also provides daycare services for employees' children at its Seedlings Center.
West Virginia University Hospitals (Morgantown, W.V.)
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: West Virginia University Hospitals, a 531-bed tertiary care center, is part of Morgantown-based WVU Healthcare, which employs nearly 6,000 people. WVU Hospitals is a designated Magnet hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and offers flexible hours and generous benefits to nurses. In addition to traditional eight- or 12-hour shifts, WVU Hospitals offers straight shifts, rotating shifts and four-week schedules. The system also funds certification and recertification by national organizations. WVU Healthcare has been named an "AARP Best Workplace for People Over 50" six times and offers an employee wellness center, on-site daycare and retirement counseling. In addition, health system employees enjoy discounts and special offers from local and national companies.
Winchester (Mass.) Hospital
Type of facility: Hospital/health system
What makes it a Great Place to Work: The 229-bed hospital has 2,900 employees and a medical staff of 806. The award-wining organization focuses on its employees and regularly recognizes employee achievements through a number of awards. Employees who go above and beyond for a patient or colleague are recognized through the Pacesetting Employees Earn Recognition, or PEER, award program. Nurses are recognized with the DAISY Award, which is a nationwide program that identifies nurses who show extraordinary compassion to patients and family members. Winchester Hospital has also established a grateful patient program, through which patients can honor their caregivers. The organization emphasizes a direct relationship between employees and leaders, and it has a leadership development program. Winchester Hospital has been named one of the best places to work in Massachusetts by the Boston Business Journal for the last 10 years. In 2011, it was also named one of the top 100 places to work by The Boston Globe.