Carondelet Health Network
Company: Carondelet Health Network, Tucson, Arizona
Company Description: Carondelet Health Network (CHN) includes three hospitals located in southern Arizona and is a member of Ascension Health, the nation’s largest, religious-sponsored not-for-profit health care system. Desiring to remain an Employer of Choice, CHN’s Human Resources Department places a high value on our most important asset – our associates.
Nomination Category: Organization Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Human Resources Organization
Nomination Title: Carondelet Health Network (CHN) Human Resources Department
1. Tell the story about what this nominated organization/department achieved in the past year (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:
With the shortage of healthcare workers, our Human Resources Department designed several innovative programs to attract and retain our high-quality staff. We are proud to report that last year we were able to increase our number of hires, and we reduced overall turnover from 25.2% to 19.8% and RN turnover from 20.5% to 14.3%. Overall Satisfaction on our Associate Satisfaction Survey was 3.22 on a scale of 4, while the national average was only 3.10.
To thank associates for their hard work, HR designed “CHN’s Day at the Movies”. We rented a movie theater and provided the associate and guest with free movie tickets and unlimited popcorn and soda. We literally rolled out the red carpet to treat our associates like the stars they are! Associates were greeted by our senior leaders dressed in eveningwear. A member of Human Resources stood on the red carpet with a microphone and a cameraperson to interview associates as they walked the red carpet. At the end of the red carpet, associates had pictures taken with celebrity cutouts.
HR also offered a family picnic at a water park, service award celebration, 4th of July event, and hospital week health fair to recognize associates.
Our Accelerated BSN program is a fast-track program for nursing students to gain the education to become registered nurses. We partner with the University of Arizona to provide the faculty and education to these students at no cost to them, and then hire them as nurses within our organization.
CHN offers a student loan payment program for nursing staff to assist in the financial obligation associated with higher education. We pay the newly hired or currently employed RN’s student loan monthly payment up to $150 per month.
Another exciting program that has 110 RNs participating is our Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program with Grand Canyon University. Associates can pursue their BSN onsite at any of our three campuses at no charge. This opportunity is a great way for associates to advance up the career ladder and gain a leadership role within CHN.
For the second year in a row, CHN was chosen as a 2005 Workplace Excellence Best Practices Award winner for quality and innovative Human Resources Practices. The award, sponsored by Tucson’s Newspapers, the Society for Human Resources Management of Greater Tucson, and the Arizona Society for Human Resource Management State Council, recognized our accomplishments in attracting, retaining and developing our associates and implementing practices that contribute to an inclusive and innovative workplace.
In 2005 CHN was also one of only 50 companies in the United States named one of the AARP Best Employers for Workers Over 50. In addition, CHN was one of only three companies nationwide receiving the Bernard E. Nash Award for Innovation, also issued by AARP, recognizing employers with exemplary practices in recruitment, flexible work opportunities and rehiring of retirees.
We believe our Human Resources Department has designed exciting programs to meet the challenge of recruiting and retaining quality staff in today’s healthcare environment.
2. List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:
Online article: RN to BSN Program
http://www.carondelet.org/career/rnprog_bsn.htm
Online article: RN Student Loan Payment and RN to BSN Program
http://www.carondelet.org/career/rnprog_newgrad.htm
Press Release: RN to BSN Program 7/6/05
http://www.carondelet.org/about/news.htm#07_06_2
Press Release: AARP Best Employers for Workers Over 50/Bernard E. Nash Award
http://www.aarp.org/research/press-center/presscurrentnews/2005
_aarp_best_employers.1.html
Press Release: AARP Best Employers for Workers Over 50 Award 8/31/05
http://www.carondelet.org/about/news.htm#08_31
SHRM GT Website article: Workplace Excellence Award
http://www.tucson.com/workplaceexcellence/index.php?page=history
3. Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader(s) of the nominated organization/department:
Linda Werbylo, VP of Human Resources, has over 25 years of experience and has been with Carondelet Health Network for 15 years. Ms. Werbylo holds an MA in Industrial Relations and a BA in Personnel Management.
Jane Levine, PHR, Director of Employment, Retention and Employee Relations has been in the HR field for over 20 years and joined Carondelet Health Network in 2002. Ms. Levine holds an MA from the University of Oregon and a BA from the University of Missouri.