NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Northwell Health has been named to Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For,” the only New York health care provider to be recognized. New York’s largest health system and private employer ranked 93rd on this prestigious annual list of the country’s best places to work, earning recognition by Fortune for the first time.
Northwell was one of eight health systems nationwide to make the list and was one of only 10 New York-based organizations to be recognized.
Fortune’s top 100 list is based on results from America’s largest ongoing annual workforce study, representing more than 4.1 million employees this year alone. Employees responded to more than 60 survey questions describing the extent to which their organization creates a Great Place to Work For All™. Eighty-five percent of the evaluation is based on what employees report about their experiences of trust and reaching their full human potential within the organization, no matter who they are or what they do. Those experiences are analyzed relative to each organization’s size, workforce make up, and what’s typical in their industry and region. Other factors considered include an assessment of employees’ daily experiences of the company’s values, people’s ability to contribute new ideas and the effectiveness of their leaders.
With a workforce of more than 72,000 based at 23 hospitals and nearly 800 outpatient facilities throughout New York City, Long Island and Westchester County, Northwell was selected from among thousands of companies nationwide.
Ninety-one percent of Northwell’s 1,300 employees responding to the survey said they felt good about the ways the organization contributes to the community, while 87 percent felt they made a difference in their jobs. Eighty-six percent of respondents said their work had special meaning.
Northwell’s focus on innovation was one of many factors contributing to the health system’s recognition. For instance, last year the health system introduced “Ideas at Northwell,” an online challenge for team members that crowdsources ideas for ways the organization can improve. More than 700 employee ideas were submitted for consideration, of which seven are in development. One idea involved finding an alternative to the time-consuming task of manually checking and recording the vital signs of hospitalized patients. Mario Castellanos, MD, associate chair of research at Staten Island University Hospital, proposed using wireless technology to continuously capture, monitor and analyze vital signs that would decrease staff time and improve patient care by identifying critical changes as they occur in real-time.
In response to Fortune’s survey statement, “My work has special meaning, this is not just a job,” Northwell received high marks for supporting employees’ passion for volunteerism, both locally and abroad. For example, the health system’s Center for Global Health helps coordinate and fund medical missions to communities around the world, which last year involved more than 250 employees. The center helps offset some of the missions’ costs and also arranges for the donation of supplies and medications. In 2019, Nina Ng, RN, of Syosset Hospital, and Alexa Damone, RN, of Glen Cove Hospital were honored for their volunteer work in Haiti, Bangladesh, Iraq and Peru through Northwell’s most-prestigious recognition program, the President’s Awards.
Understanding that many health care professionals consider their careers in health care more of a calling than a job, Northwell is ensuring team members’ well-being is top of mind. The health system offers a service called “Team Lavender” that supports employees by providing emotional, physical and spiritual support to staff challenged by demanding work situations and the care of seriously ill patients. Members of Team Lavender include psychologists, social workers, physicians, nurses, chaplains, patient and family relations members, and holistic and integrative therapy practitioners. Team Lavender fosters an environment that promotes self-care, self-reflection and emotional support to reduce fatigue and burn out.
Another initiative that distinguished Northwell in the Fortune survey was how it contributes to the communities it serves. As part of the health system’s efforts to put underserved communities at the forefront of Northwell’s outreach efforts, Santhosh Paulus, MD, site director of Huntington Hospital's family medicine residency program, started a Human Trafficking Response Program in 2017. Showcasing how one physician's personal crusade to raise awareness about human trafficking became a health system-wide initiative, Dr. Paulus trained emergency medicine clinicians and other staff to identify and refer victims for treatment or connect them to community resources. To date, more than 2,700 physicians, nurses, social workers, administration and other hospital staff have been trained with staff intervening in nine cases of human trafficking.
In addition to being recognized for its community-mindedness, innovation through collaboration and supportive atmosphere, Northwell was also praised for its focus on veterans’ assistance, employee development and tuition reimbursement programs. For the last three years, Northwell has also been named one of Fortune’s Best Workplaces for Diversity.
To learn more about the exciting career opportunities at Northwell Health, go to: https://jobs.northwell.edu/.
About Northwell Health
Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer, with 23 hospitals, nearly 800 outpatient facilities and more than 13,600 affiliated physicians. We care for over two million people annually in the New York metro area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 72,000 employees – 16,000-plus nurses and 4,000 employed doctors, including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners – are working to change health care for the better. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.