Employee engagement survey gives NBHH management high marks

Jeffrey Jamison of Success Profiles presented the results of an employee engagement survey to the North Big Horn Hospital Board of Trustees on July 16. The survey is conducted every two years to steadily improve how the hospital is managed and engages rank and file employees in the process.

One of the major goals of the hospital in the coming years is to maximize employee satisfaction, and one of the best ways to achieve that is by increasing confidence in those who manage them. The most recent employee engagement survey indicates that those efforts are paying off.

Success Profiles has been working with NBHH for more than a decade, which allowed Jamison to present trend data in addition to the data from this particular survey, and the results show an extremely positive response from employees regarding how the hospital is managed.

Jamison said the data allows management to focus on change and accountability, with an explicit goal of overall “employee engagement, satisfaction and loyalty.”

Jamison noted that trust in management is up a full 20 points since the previous study. He said that this is a very positive upward trend. He also noted that active listening and the perceived opportunity for employees to develop within their roles had a positive upward trend, as well. He said the results show organizational, departmental and individual accountability.

“Individual accountability is especially important, because an organization is made up of individuals,” he said. “Emphasis on the individual creates the kind of accountability we want to have.”

Jamison said the trending data over the past 10 years reflects efforts made toward improvement.

“This is clearly not a fluke,” Jamison explained. “It is the result of hard work on the part of managers.”

NBHH CEO Eric Connell praised the staff for the progress in this area.

“We’ve made a lot of progress in this area, and we want to continue that progress,” he said. “We have a really strong group of managers in our organization that do a wonderful job. We want to keep up the good work.”

In other matters, the trustees approved the purchase of a prime electric big wheel stretcher needed for the emergency room capable of calculating the weight of a critically ill patient. The trustees also approved a new urinalysis analyzer requested by lab manager Kathy Walker. Walker noted that the current analyzer suddenly stopped working and cannot be repaired.

Connell asked trustees to approve the organizational goals for the coming year. Some of the goals include continuing to increase employee engagement, satisfaction and loyalty; increasing pediatric readiness in the emergency room; improving safety scores; the likelihood of guests to recommend the hospital to others; and continuing to develop financial stability.

The clinic reported 1,120 patient visits in the month of June and 214 visiting nurse visits. Seventy patients were seen on a same day scheduling basis. A total of 40 patients enrolled in chronic care management. It was also reported that Dr. Beeton is now certified to complete Department of Transportation (DOT) exams. Michael Asay will also continue to perform these exams.

A hospital census report for the month of June submitted by Director of Nursing Michael Henley noted that 15 patients were admitted for observation in June. NBHH also admitted nine inpatients and four swing bed patients. There were no admissions for COVID-19-related infections.

Clinical Informatics Analyst Janel Thatch presented a draft of the district’s quality improvement plan. The plan is submitted annually and must be approved by the board chairman. The scope of the plan “encompasses all aspects of patient care and operational activities” in the district, Thatch said, adding, “It incorporates monitoring, evaluation and improvement of all activities that play a role in building strong patient and community relationships while also building a strong healthcare organization.”

Connell noted in his monthly CEO report that the human resources department completed a wage analysis for the year and that wage adjustments will occur during the first pay period in August.

He also noted that provider Rustin Myrick has signed an agreement with the hospital and is scheduled to begin work on September 1. Connell reported also that John Wallace, who is well known to the hospital, will work “a handful of days” after Dr. Johnson leaves his position as ER director on August 7. He reported that, in other provider recruiting efforts, there are several candidates under review to work in the emergency department and that the hospital has also been in contact with an OB/GYN specialist who has an interest in moving back to Wyoming.