Employees Share Why Bailey is a Best Place to Work in Health Care
Employees Share Why Bailey is a Best Place to Work in Health Care
Submitted by ahs-admin on Thu, 10/01/2015 - 13:28The doctors, nurses and staff who arrive at Bailey Medical Center each day (or night) are among some of the most satisfied health care employees in the country, according to a growing list of awards and recognition. Listed as a “Top 100 Best Places to Work in Health Care” by Modern Healthcare in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, a Becker’s Hospital Review “Best Places to Work” in 2012, 2013 and 2015 and recipient of the HealthStream 2015 Excellence through Insight award for Overall Employee Satisfaction in the Small Hospital category, Bailey Medical Center continues to catch the eye not only nationally, but also right here at home.
“When I came here from a different industry,” shares Health and Wellness Coordinator David Steward, “I wanted to go somewhere where I could help people. This is a place where I can help people.” Living in Owasso, when David decided to leave his career in finance, the physician-owned hospital seemed like the perfect fit. “I think there is a genuine desire to put patients first. I really do believe that.”
David spends most of his time working with patients and bariatric navigators at The Center for Bariatrics at Bailey Medical Center, as well as managing seven support group meetings throughout northeastern Oklahoma. He also works with Owasso Public Schools, sharing the health and wellness initiative PLAY Program directly with area elementary students. That is not always an eight to five day. “I don’t have to psych myself up to come to work,” adds David. “That attitude – putting the patient first – trickles down. The people who work here genuinely want to help patients and so they get a lot of satisfaction from their job. When you see the impact and you have a lot of satisfaction in helping people, then it’s a place you want to come to every day.”
Radiology nurse Patty Griffin, RN, started working at Bailey Medical Center the day the hospital’s doors opened in 2006. For her, working at Bailey is about the personal experience. “It’s home,” she says. “Everyone is family. You’re not just an employee on a floor with 70 other employees.” With more than 30 years of experience in nursing, Patty understands the value of that personal connection, not only as it applies to her co-workers, but also her patients. “They come in and they are scared. Some of them are angry, but when you figure out what’s going on with them and you explain things to them, they calm down. Then you can help them.”
“A better-educated nurse is able to provide better patient care,” explains Clinical Educator Kim Allen, RN. “Our priority at Bailey is patient safety and patient satisfaction and that’s my job to be able to give our staff what they need to provide that.” Kim ensures the 200-plus medical staff stay current with the most up-to-date techniques, equipment and safety. More than knowing how to do their job well, Kim says working at Bailey also means working in an environment where you are educated, respected and appreciated. “It comes down to our culture. We’re a small facility, so everyone knows each other. Our administration asks, ‘What can we do to help you be very satisfied at work?’ I think they take those into consideration and really work to make those things happen.”
From employee appreciation events at the hospital and off-campus to food trucks and dunk tanks to raise money for local organizations, Bailey Medical Center is more than just a place to come to work, Kim says. “If I were to come in today as a new employee and look around, I hope that we are a warm environment – one that they feel safe to learn, confident that there is going to be someone to support them,” she adds. “If you feel welcome, I think you’re more likely to build those relationships that can make you successful.”
Employee satisfaction scores at Bailey Medical Center hover near the top year after year at 3.61 on a 4.0 scale compared to other hospitals throughout the country and well above the national average. “Our employees are highly engaged in what they do and in the organization as a whole,” shares Bailey Medical Center Human Resources Coordinator Tandy Groves. “On the annual survey employees are encouraged to leave comments as to why they scored the way they did and the most common comment was simply ‘Bailey is a great place to work. We are a family focused on giving the best patient care possible.’”
For more information on working at Bailey Medical Center please click here.