UAB Hospital senior management is responding to this year’s Employee Satisfaction Survey with action plans in the areas of communication, concern for employees, pay satisfaction and parking. The purpose of the survey was to help the entire management team identify the changes that would have the biggest impact in improving employee satisfaction. 

When the survey was conducted this year, senior management was appreciative of the numerous ideas employees had to share, many of which will lead to improved patient satisfaction and positive changes in the work environment. Additionally, the management team realized from the feedback that it needs to be easier for staff to share those ideas.

That’s why renewed emphasis has been placed on the “Ask Leadership” program, which was implemented as a way to allow for timely and direct communication with the leaders of the UAB Medical Center. Employees are reminded that they can ask questions, offer comments and make suggestions to leadership by sending an e-mail to AskLeadership@uabmc.edu or anonymously by using the online form on the Centernet Support and SCR Web sites.

Also in response to the survey, particularly in the areas of two-way communication and concern for employees, senior leaders are changing the “Conversations with Leadership” program. Instead of employees attending meetings, members of senior management will start rounding in January, visiting with employees in their work areas on a regular basis – not to inspect operations, but instead to have conversations about areas of concern and potential for improvement. While employees said they appreciated the idea behind “Conversations with Leadership,” in reality it was hard for many people to attend those scheduled meetings.

Senior management also will implement specific action plans with their teams to increase opportunities to talk, share ideas and answer questions. These will be additional opportunities for communication; regular Town Hall meetings and Breakfast with Administration will continue.

“We’re placing a renewed emphasis on employee communication,” said UAB Hospital CEO Mike Waldrum, M.D. “In order to improve communication throughout the organization, we will be using all of the available vehicles, staff meetings, Monday Mailing, Management Forum, Centernet and The eReporter,  and also will explore new ways to share information with the entire organization.

“Improving the satisfaction of our workforce is a critical focus for the organization, and I look forward to seeing the impact of many positive changes for our employees through this action planning process in our next survey in the spring,” Waldrum said.

 Watch for more updates on Employee Satisfaction Survey action items in the coming weeks.