Historically, new employees at NYC Health + Hospitals Corporation only attended orientation at the facility for which they were hired, but in March 2015, the organization launched a System New Employee Orientation (SNEO) as a pilot with five of its hospitals and its centralized offices.
Program Details
The delivery method for SNEO is a blended approach of a one-day live session and an online component to be completed within 45 days of attendance. The strategic development of the program included creating a sense of belonging to the system as a whole and providing new employees with an official welcome to NYC Health + Hospitals—familiarizing them with the history and configuration of the organization, its guiding principles and strategic goals, and the importance of their role in the patient experience.
Modules are presented by the NYC Health + Hospitals president and other senior officials, so employees can learn about and become invested in the organizational strategies after hearing them directly from the executive leadership. The session is held in an interactive setting with senior leadership, and employees are encouraged to participate and ask questions. Careful attention is paid to creating an experience that leaves employees with a sense of pride in the organization, since level of pride is directly correlated to employee engagement and, ultimately, to the patient experience. Employees are reminded that they are vital to the patient experience and valued as a new member of the organization.
Results
The SNEO takes place one to two times a month, currently averaging 74 employees per session. In fiscal year 2016, a total of 1,260 new employees attended. Post-orientation survey results for FY’16 participants show that:
- 94 percent feel a high level of pride as a new NYC Health + Hospitals employee after attending the session and nine months post-session.
- 90 percent of respondents are motivated to go “above and beyond” to provide the best patient experience and work environment.
- A consistent 97 to 100 percent of new staff know the NYC Health + Hospitals Guiding Principles and strategic priorities as a result of attending the session.
- 98 to 100 percent of attendees report, post-orientation (three, six, and nine months), that they are putting into practice what is emphasized during the session—they are keeping patients first, managing resources, working together, continuing to learn, and pursuing excellence in their daily work and when taking care of patients.
Due to the success of the program, NYC Health + Hospitals expanded SNEO from five to 15 facilities/central offices.
