July - August 2017

CEO Message: July-August 2017

Dear Colleagues:

I hope you are enjoying your summer and have activities and fun trips planned with your family and friends.

Results of this year's Employee Engagement Survey are beginning to be shared across the system. Overall, they are very positive. The NEMG numbers, in particular, show great improvement from 2016.

Corporate Business Services' initiatives add up to a better patient experience

About 1,400 employees in Yale New Haven Health System's Corporate Business Services (previously called the System Business Office) serve all five YNHHS hospitals and outpatient locations. A few years ago, CBS began to work toward a more patient-centered approach in its functions, including Patient Access, Health Information Management and Patient Accounts/Billing.

Engagement survey results rolling out across YNHHS

Leaders across Yale New Haven Health System (YNHHS) are beginning to share the 2017 employee engagement survey results and overall, they are very positive.

"At NEMG and System-wide, survey participation and employee engagement increased," said Kevin A. Myatt, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. "There was improvement in areas identified as opportunities on prior surveys, reflecting our attention to employees' valuable feedback."

New — support to prepare for your child's college journey

If planning and paying for college is weighing on employees' minds, support is available through College Coach, an educational resource and counseling program that has been expanded across Yale New Haven Health.

Resources available to help balance work-life demands

Free LifeCycle Kits are available from the Employee and Family Resources (EFR) program. They cover a variety of topics, including child care, adult care, college life, fitness, stress management, emotional wellness and more. Educational resources such as books, DVDs and first aid kits are sent directly to employees' homes. The EFR even has information about summer activities while home or away.

For more information, visit the EFR website or call 1-877-275-6226 any time, day or night. EFR services are completely free and confidential.

Clinicians gather for Spring Working Retreat

On June 10, nearly 200 clinicians came together at the Trumbull Marriott for the Spring Working Retreat. The event centered on how working smarter and non-clinical functions and processes can help Northeast Medical Group meet its goals. Topics included advanced care planning, clinical continuity, coding and Epic optimization.

Welcome, new clinicians

We extend a warm welcome to our new clinicians.

Greenwich region clinicians help local employees "know their numbers"

During June and July, Northeast Medical Group clinicians attended health fairs at local employers' sites. They met with employees to discuss the importance of health and wellness. They also provided blood pressure and BMI screenings.

Give to the coat drive

Northeast Medical Group's Community Outreach Committee is collecting gently used coats and winter accessories for people of all ages through November 11. Donations will benefit those in need throughout the Bridgeport, Greenwich, New Haven and New London/Westerly regions. Wanted items include coats, jackets, hats, scarves, gloves, mittens and blankets. Thanks to everyone's generosity, last year's campaign collected more than 1,600 items.

Please contact Cindy Georgette with questions.

Backpack drive begins in September

The Community Outreach Committee's annual drive to support homeless teens will run September 1-30. Wanted items include backpacks and hygienic items, including:

Introducing the "Compassion" and "Integrity" Standards of Behavior

This is part 3 of a series of articles about the new Standards of Professional Behavior, based on Yale New Haven Health System's five core values: Patient-Centered Care, Respect, Compassion, Integrity and Accountability. In May, we covered Patient-Centered Care, and in June we covered Respect. July and August's focus is on Compassion – being empathetic – and Integrity.

Reminders about using the new YNHHS brand

Yale New Haven Health System's online Brand Center makes it easy for employees to download templates for email signatures, PowerPoint presentations and office communications materials such as memos, letterhead and agendas.

YNHHS partners with independent healthcare organizations to enhance access to care

In May, Yale New Haven Health announced a new "community partner" relationship with Day Kimball Healthcare in Putnam – an example of the different ways the system is helping to enhance clinical care throughout Connecticut, while preserving local access to that care.

Forbes names YNHHS a top employer

Forbes Magazine has named Yale New Haven Health System one of "America's Best Employers" for 2017. The health system is one of 17 Connecticut companies named to the list. YNHHS ranked highest among the Connecticut companies, coming in at number 57. Forbes partnered with online statistics provider Statista to choose 500 companies with more than 5,000 employees from different industries nationwide. More than 30,000 workers in those companies were asked how likely they were to recommend their employer to someone else.

Eight Children's Hospital specialties spotlighted by U.S. News & World Report

Yale New Haven Children's Hospital has been ranked among the best in the nation in eight out of 10 of its pediatric subspecialties in the 2017 Best Children's Hospitals rankings, published online by U.S. News & World Report. This is the highest level of recognition YNHCH has received to date.

YNHHS begins process of integrating psychiatry and behavioral health services

Last fall, a psychiatric leadership steering group from Yale New Haven Health System's delivery networks began discussing ways to integrate services across the system.