Here’s Why Porter Regional Hospital was Voted “Best Place to Work”

Porter-Blog-1Porter Regional Hospital has been voted by its employees “The Best Place to Work.” If you have ever visited Porter Regional Hospital, no doubt, you were greeted with a smile or a friendly hello from one of the volunteers; received a friendly smile from a doctor or nurse or even been given a flower by one of the Environmental Services Technicians more commonly known as the housekeepers. Nothing can be more true of the people that work at Porter Regional Hospital than the positivity that emulates from its employees. As an Environmental Services Technician (EVS) or housekeeper, I have been privileged to experience firsthand why Porter Regional Hospital has been voted “The Best Place to Work.” I have worked as a housekeeper for about six months and I have noticed friendships that have lasted for years. Strong bonds have been formed. People come into work with smiles on their faces ready to get their day started. We start each day off on a positive note with our morning huddle.

Nothing makes you feel better about your job than being able to tell someone, “Thank you for helping me or you did a wonderful job the other day and it was appreciated.”

Our Environmental Services Department recently formed a committee called the “Brighten Your Day” committee with the sole purpose of doing good things for and together as an EVS Department. On the historic day of 12-12-12, the Brighten Your Day Committee held its first annual outing at Inman's Fun & Party Center. To the delight of the EVS department managers and committee members, more people showed up than lanes were reserved. There was bowling, laughter, and most of all fun with family and friends.Porter-Blog-2

Deb Wilson, Assistant Unit Director and a member of the committee stated, “This committee was just formed in September. This was our first event and already people are asking when we can do it again,” she added. “This was a successful event it was very fun and very positive so the committee is going to look into other activities we can do as a group and also with our families.”

Working for Porter Regional Hospital has had a positive impact for Wilson, and she said, “We have an excellent teamwork approach. We have very caring people that work for our department and they always come in with a positive attitude and smiles on their faces. I just absolutely love what I do. I can’t put into words how I feel other than it makes me proud, proud to work with these people. I think of them as my extended family; my home away from home.”

Deb Yerga, Team Lead for the EVS department and also on the Brighten Your Day Committee, reiterated the sentiments of Wilson stating, “We are a family and when we can do these special things together as a department and together with our own families it shows just how great our Environmental Services Department really is. I feel very proud to work for this hospital and this department and I feel very honored to have gotten this position. With the position of Team Lead, I get the opportunity to meet with our associates out on the floor one-on-one and see what’s important to them, what they need for the day or answer anything that might be troubling them. Communication is the key to keeping everyone happy and positive and communication is of the utmost importance in our department.”Porter-Blog-3

Director of Environmental Services, Kassi Kelley concluded, “The Housekeeping Department at Porter Regional Hospital works so great as a team, they are always striving for excellence for their patients. When things get extremely busy, it is such an amazing sight to see the team volunteer to help each other out and work together to do what is best for the patients. They always put patients before themselves regardless of their busy workload. Their dedication is by far the best I have seen. The employees also started a committee called "Brighten Your Day" which was established to improve employee teamwork and relationships at work and outside of work. Recently, a large group attended a Housekeeping Department bowling night, where a large number of employees joined together outside of work just to relax and have fun with each other. Does it get any better than that? All of these reasons are why the Housekeeping Department or Environmental Services at Porter Regional Hospital is so special. Thank you for all you do EVS!”

Working together, caring about and for patients with smiles and friendly faces, coming together as an Environmental Services Department outside of work for fun and relaxation with more people than accounted for, just goes to show why Porter Regional Hospital is “The Best Place to Work.”

Some photos contributed by: Dawn Gattie.