Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center

Winning Years: 2011
Industry: Hospitals/Healthcare
Location: Sioux Falls, S.D.
Website: www.averamckennan.org

Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center (AMH) provides all employees and their family members with an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The first three visits are free for each family member and any continued counseling sessions are offered at a reduced rate.

See also: How the 2011 Best Employers winners were selected.

LifeCare is the AMH worksite wellness program, which includes annual health screenings and assessments, healthy living activities, wellness challenges, workshops, health coaching and smoking cessation assistance.

Additional Policies and Practices:

Recruiting: AMH uses senior placement agencies to target and hire mature workers and retirees.
 
Workplace Culture/Continued Opportunities: AMH offers its employees the following learning and development programs: tuition reimbursement, in-house classroom training, online training and certification classes. Employees must work at least 18 hours per week to be eligible for the tuition reimbursement benefit.

Long-service anniversaries are celebrated with announcements, awards and gifts.

Employees gain new experiences by working on team projects, in temporary work assignments and by participating in formal job rotation programs.

AMH has an Onboarding Program that matches experienced nurse mentors with new recruits. For nurses and other caregivers who may no longer be in the physical condition needed for on-floor work, AMH offers 'virtual' opportunities through Averas  eCARE initiatives that use interactive computer, sound and video equipment to provide care remotely. Examples of eCARE include eICU, eEmergency, ePharmacy and eConsult.
 
Benefits/Health: Employees working 18 or more hours per week receive individual and family medical coverage, individual and family prescription drug coverage, individual and family vision and dental insurance, and individual and family long-term care insurance, as well as short- and long-term disability.

Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) are available to assist in covering out-of-pocket health care costs. In addition, employees are able to apply for fund assistance through AMH Foundation and low income employees can apply for premium reductions.

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