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A leader in the healthcare industry

BY BOB MOULESONG
Times Correspondent | Sunday, May 03, 2009

Even in tough economic times, competition for quality healthcare employees is at a premium.

One gauge of a medical facility is how they are viewed by their peers. In that aspect, the Methodist Hospital System (MHS) stands out.

Methodist Hospitals has been ranked in the top 50 (45th) in the nation for Neurology and Neurosurgery in U.S. News’s 2008 publication of America’s Best Hospitals. Authoritative and influential, the 2008 America’s Best Hospitals guide ranks 170 medical centers nationwide in 16 specialties, with full data available online for another 1,500 that are unranked.

Methodist Hospitals was the only hospital in Northwest Indiana to rank in any of the 16 specialties. The 16 ranked specialties are cancer; gastroenterology; ear, nose, and throat; endocrinology; geriatric care; gynecology; heart and heart surgery; kidney disease; neurology and neurosurgery; ophthalmology; orthopedics; psychiatry; rehabilitation; respiratory disorders; rheumatology; and urology. The rankings of America’s Best Hospitals highlight the internal culture of excellence embraced by caregivers in the great hospitals throughout the U.S.

“Methodist Hospitals has a strong commitment to responding to the needs of our physicians and patients,” said Carolyn Croswell, Senior Human Resources Consultant. “We are very proud of being recognized as one of America’s best.”

The excellent reputation at MHS has translated into a stable working environment with a high retention rate.

“Methodist continues to be one of the largest employers in Northwest Indiana,” Croswell said. “Our overall workforce of 2,500 employees is generally very stable. We do maintain an open-door policy with regard to the recruitment of registered nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other positions dramatically affected by the labor supply.

“Our vision is to be the best place for employees to work, and the best place for patients to receive care,” Croswell continued. “We also believe Methodist is the best place for physicians to practice medicine.”

MHS has two full-service campuses just 14 miles apart. Northlake is an urban campus in Gary, and the Southlake Campus is located in Merrillville. The combined campus bed capacity is 625 plus nurseries.

In addition, the Midlake Campus is an outpatient facility in Gary conveniently located between our Northlake and Southlake campuses. The Rehab Centers, providing outpatient rehabilitation services at Midlake, opened in 2003.

The Diagnostic Outpatient Center and Medical Office Building is located next to the Southlake Campus.Methodist continues to look for nurses that foster their sterling reputation.

“Methodist is looking for the best of the best in nurse applicants,” Croswell says. “We strive to provide excellent patient care and its important that highly qualified nurses are hired into these positions.”

According to Croswell, the MHS is interested in primarily specialty nurses with skills in critical care and emergency room medicine.

“The hospital administration is committed to providing state-of-the art equipment and facilities which support nursing practice,” Croswell says. “It’s one of the ways we can attract and retain quality nurses. This leadership is a reflection of our commitment to optimize the health and well being of our communities.”

MHS also has implemented an employee involvement program called ICARE, which stands for Integrity, Compassion, Respect, and Excellence. According to Croswell, listening and responding to the needs of nurses is critical to providing the needed tools for the high retention of nurses.

“We are sensitive to the needs of our employees, both financially and personal,” Croswell says. “We offer very competitive compensation packages and benefits. Our benefits package includes medical, dental and vision insurance coverage. We also provide tuition reimbursement, life insurance and 401k with a fixed hospital contribution, plus a 50 percent matching contribution. Time away from the hospital is awarded through our Paid Time Off (PTO) benefit plan.”

National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6, also known as National Nurses Day, through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

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