PMC Board Assessing Core Values Re-vamp

Joe Tye, the Chief Executive Officer of Values Coach Incorporated spent time with hospital staff at Prowers Medical Center last week, assessing the cooperative nature of the employees, their attitudes toward each other, their work and the hospital in general.  The Values Coach program provides consulting, training and coaching on leadership skills and a values-based outlook on hospital oriented professions.  Tye, author of several books regarding motivational changes in the workplace, is a former hospital administrator and public health activist.  His three day visit to PMC culminated in a public session held at Brew Unto Others coffee shop this past Thursday, June 26.

His hospital employee assessment for the Prowers Medical Center board of directors suggested that PMC’s statement of values needs work and is not easily recognizable among most members of the hospital staff.  “Your core values at this point are boilerplate and parallels that of most other hospitals in the country.  And while that’s not surprising, it does not allow you to stand out or develop a recognizable theme for your hospital,” he explained.  Tye said the good news is that, this can be a chance for you to redefine what your core values should be.  He added, “The employee survey showed that most feel that improvements are needed and the good news is that almost all of them are committed and willing to work for it.”  He suggested the hospital board use the next 90 days to develop eight new core values that are specific to PMC and practice them from management on down.  He added that a broad overview of employees shows that, as in most other businesses, valuable time and energy is spent on complaints.  He suggested the hospital take what he characterized as “The Pickle Pledge” to turn complaints into constructive suggestions.  Tye also explained to board members, a seven step, daily self-empowerment pledge covering areas such as: responsibility, accountability, determination, contribution, resilience, perspective and faith.

Julie Branes, PMC board chairman, said there was excellent attendance at the public event for Tye’s presentation on Thursday evening, with representation from other medical provider facilities, including High Plains Community Health Center and Southeast Health Group as well as the general public and elected officials.

In other action, the PMC board voted in favor of granting a partial funding request made by Megan Claybrook, RN, BSN, to further her medical studies towards her medical degree.  The Prowers Medical Center board has developed a policy of helping medical students with some tuition and book costs in return for a commitment to work at the hospital once their studies have been completed.  Students are required to maintain a 3.5 GPA and a provision of payback is included in the contract if the studies are not completed.  Board members appointed Connie Brase and Ron Farmer to the hospital’s finance committee and new board member, Matt Snyder was appointed liaison to the hospital’s Foundation Committee.  The committee is in the process of revising their by-laws.

By Russ Baldwin