New Jersey, Florida Health Facilities Top Finishers in AARP's New Hospitals-Health Care List of Best Employers for Workers Over 50

Source: AARP Press Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 9, 2009

CONTACT:
Dave Nathan
202-434-2560
dnathan@aarp.org

NEW JERSEY, FLORIDA HEALTH FACILITIES TOP FINISHERS IN AARP’S NEW HOSPITALS-HEALTH CARE LIST OF BEST EMPLOYERS FOR WORKERS OVER 50

Atlantic Health (#1) (Morristown, NJ) and Lee Memorial Health System (#2) (Fort Myers, FL) Lead Way

Washington, DC –Atlantic Health of Morristown, NJ is the winner in the first year of AARP’s separate Hospitals-Health Care list of Best Employers for Workers Over 50. Ranked second is Lee Memorial Health System of Fort Myers, FL.

In the past, AARP has considered both health care and non-health care organizations for general Best Employers honors, and, in fact, many of the top ranked hospital and health care facilities have been past winners. That includes not only Atlantic Health and Lee Memorial, but also others among this year’s leading health care employers, such as Mercy Health System (#3) of Janesville, WI, and Bon Secours Richmond Health System (#4) of Richmond, VA.

“AARP has decided to set up a separate health care and hospitals honor roll this year to acknowledge efforts in the health care field to creatively deal with shortages in qualified workers,” explained Deborah Russell, AARP’s Director of Workforce Issues. “They have set a standard in meeting the needs of an age-diverse workforce,” she added.

Russell said she was especially delighted to have such top flight employers as Atlantic Health and Lee Memorial as the top-ranked hospitals and health care winners this year.

Atlantic Health operates Morristown Memorial Hospital and Overlook Hospital, which include several specialized centers and facilities. Atlantic Health has more than 9,000 employees.

Atlantic Health offers a variety of flexible work arrangements that appeal to aged 50 and over workers. They include compressed schedules, variable shifts, job sharing, telecommuting and seasonal work. Post-retirement employment is provided under the auspices of the “1000 Hour Club”, with retirees working at Atlantic Health as many as 999 hours each year without losing their retirement benefits. “Focus on Your Financial Future” events – free workshops – provide information on retirement planning, Social Security benefits, pension plans, investment planning debt management, and education savings plans. On-site certified financial counselors are available on site daily as well.



An aggressive ergonomics program has been instituted in recent years, with more than 1,000 evaluations done with nurses and other employees at their work stations. Physical accommodations frequently have been made as a result.

Atlantic Health has an elaborate wellness program that encourages employees to maintain a personal profile through questionnaires that focus in part on cardiac, cancer, nutrition, exercise and stress issues. A confidential health summary that includes suggestions for improvements is provided to employees. Employees have an option of lab work, and suggestions follow for improvements or further follow up with physicians. As an incentive, a variety of prizes is offered for a number of those who complete the wellness profile. Last year, more than 2,000 employees participated.

Commenting on the #1 rating, Andrew Kovach, Atlantic Health’s vice president of human resources, said:

“We have always looked toward the future, and have understood that meeting the needs of our patients requires that we tap into the skills, experience and knowledge of our 50+ workforce. We have taken great efforts to recognize, preserve and cultivate the experience and wisdom that they bring to our organization.

Kovach said further:

“We are pleased that AARP has taken notice of the relationship we have with our older workforce in years past. This year, being top rated by AARP is an even greater honor. We hope it brings a new light to the accomplishments of our 50+ workforce and the daily contributions they make to Atlantic Health, our hospitals and our patients.”

Lee Memorial Health Systems, the fifth largest public health system in the United States, includes four acute care hospitals and two specialty hospitals and has more than 1,600 patient beds.

Lee Memorial has an ambitious phased retirement program, flexible work hours, job sharing and compressed work schedules, and seasonal work schedules that allow employees to take as much as six months a year off from work.

Two on-site wellness centers are part of a broad wellness program that also includes regular free health checks, lectures on such health challenges as weight control and diabetes, a pilot risk assessment program aimed at encouraging a healthy lifestyle, and another pilot program – “Lighten Up Lee” – which centers on exercise and nutritional improvements to lead to weight reduction. One pharmacy exclusively serves employees, with health plan members receiving diabetic, cholesterol and cardiovascular generic drugs free of charge.

In addition, the AARP International Innovative Employer Awards, recognizing 10 organizations for their innovative workplace policies, will be announced September 21. The 2009 winners represent four countries and a wide range of industries.

Any U.S.-based employer with at least 50 employees is eligible to apply for awards with the Best Employers awards. Candidates are vetted to ensure that practices meet the needs of mature workers. Key areas of consideration include: recruiting practices; opportunities for training, education and career development; workplace accommodations; alternative work options, such as flexible scheduling, job sharing, and phased retirement; employee health and retirement benefits and retiree work opportunities.

AARP The Magazine will feature the 2009 Best Employers in its November-December issue, available in homes September 24. The article will be found online then at www.aarpmagazine.org.

For more information on the 2009 Best Employers, please go to www.aarp.org/bestemployers. Included is background on each employer’s workforce practices and a description of the selection process.


2009 AARP Best Employers for Workers Over 50
Hospitals/Health Care Organizations

Hospitals/
Health Care
1. Atlantic Health, Morristown, NJ
2. Lee Memorial Health System, Fort Myers, FL
3. Mercy Health System, Janesville, WI
4. Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Richmond, VA
5. Jennings Center for Older Adults, Garfield Heights, OH
6. WellStar Health System, Marietta, GA
7. Scripps Health, San Diego, CA
8. TriHealth, Inc., Cincinnati, OH
9. University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
10. West Virginia University Hospitals, Morgantown, WV
11. Pinnacle Health System, Harrisburg, PA
12. Northern Michigan Regional Health Systems, Petoskey, MI
13. MidMichigan Health, Midland, MI
14. Central Florida Health Alliance, Leesburg, FL
15. Saint Vincent Health System, Erie, PA

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world’s largest-circulation magazine with over 35.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP’s 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.