Alegent Health Scores Above National Norm in Employee Satisfaction Survey
06/06/2003
June 6, 2003 � Results from an employee opinion survey and consistently low turnover rates show that Alegent Health is the exception to the rule when it comes to norms among U.S. healthcare workers. According to a survey of Alegent Health employees, by a national market research firm, employees are feeling increasingly satisfied with the healthcare system each year. And, as positive responses on employee satisfaction surveys rise, Alegent Health is experiencing a drop in employee turnover rates.
Maintaining positive employee relations has been and continues to be a priority for us,� said Mark Thomas, vice president of Alegent Health Human Resources. We are focused on becoming the employer of choice through innovative development, retention and recruitment efforts.�
For the fifth year, Alegent Health Employee Relations Index scores continued to climb, from 65% in 2002 to 67% in 2003, surpassing the national norm of 63%.
Jim Velghe, president of Work Dynamics, Inc., the firm that developed and administered the Alegent Health Employee Opinion Survey, has worked with hundreds of hospitals across the nation, but has never seen such marked improvement.
Alegent Health�s five-year continual improvement in the Employee Opinion Survey is one of the most remarkable sustained improvements that I have seen in my 30-year career, which includes several hundred hospitals and over 1.5 million healthcare employees surveyed,� Velghe said. Today, Alegent Health sets the benchmark for others to follow. In addition, Alegent Health�s Employee Relations Council program is the very best I have seen.�
The Employee Relations Council, formed in 2001, serves as a liaison between employees and senior management to address employee concerns and issues. The Council has been so successful that it serves as a model for other healthcare organizations hoping to establish such a program, including most recently, three members of the senior leadership team of Columbus Hospital in Columbus, Indiana.
Increased employee satisfaction has resulted in lower than average turnover. System-wide, turnover at Alegent Health is 12.59%, nearly half the national average. Alegent Health�s
low turnover extends to its nurses, a critical area of retention among healthcare providers. Among Alegent Health�s nurses, the turnover rate is 7.6%, while the national average is 20%.
Of Alegent Health�s 7,500 employees, 84% participated in the Employee Opinion Survey. The survey revealed that:
- 81% feel a sense of commitment to Alegent Health.
- 90% like working for Alegent Health.
- 70% plan on staying at Alegent Health for a long time.�
Overall, the survey results show continued improvement, particularly in the following areas:
- Employees feel promotions are handled fairly and feel a stronger sense of input into decisions that affect their jobs.
- More employees consider their pay to be comparable and are satisfied with how pay increases are handled.
- Trust between employees and senior management continues to improve.
Alegent Health, the second largest employer in Omaha is an integrated, non-profit healthcare system. With eight hospitals and more than 100 clinic locations, Alegent Health provides healthcare services in a 100-mile radius in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.
