"The Ronan Report" provides insight about the activities at the Western Maryland Health System in Cumberland, Maryland, and about the changes taking place in healthcare today from a CEO's perspective.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Welcoming New Employees

Each month, I have the opportunity to spend time with our new employees at Orientation.  I open each session by introducing myself, welcoming them to WMHS and congratulating them on being selected through our new selection and on-boarding process since not everyone is chosen to work at WMHS.  The new employees then have the opportunity to tell me about themselves.  It is really enjoyable and can be great fun. 

In my introduction, I talk about my background in health care, which started 35 years ago in Central Processing, where most notably I worked cleaning and sterilizing bedpans.  Being able to inform them that throughout my career I have worked at every level of the organization from orderly to CEO, lets them know that I have walked in their shoes.  I routinely get follow up emails and notes describing their surprise when they learn of my humble beginnings.  I love having the opportunity to describe how I got my start in health care, as it gives many of the entry-level employees the idea that they too can make health care a career. 

At WMHS, we then try to make that dream a reality through the many scholarships offered.  It is so rewarding rounding throughout the hospital and seeing one-time unit secretaries, housekeepers or  phlebotomists who are now nurses,  lab techs, managers and the list goes on.  Mentoring and developing future leaders and health care professionals is one of the great benefits of my job.

1 comment:

  1. Barry, it's wonderful that you take this time to spend with new employees -- a true indicator that you value their important contributions in every aspect of healthcare. And equally important to watch them build skills and develop professionally, one of the key motivators for job satisfaction and performance!

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