INTEGRIS Health’s Employee Referral Program is one way we’re combating the Nursing and other Healthcare position shortages

[Download Press Release]

From left: Chris Hammes, President of INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center; Bruce Lawrence, Executive VP & COO, INTEGRIS Health; Candace McFarlane-winner, INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center, Emergency Room Trauma Registrar; Stanley Hupfeld, President & CEO, INTEGRIS Health; Bob Quiring, VP Human Resources, INTEGRIS Health

The INTEGRIS Health Annual Employee Referral Program Luncheon was recently held on January 18, 2007 at the Oklahoma City Marriott. Nearly 200 participants, guests and hospital administration gathered to celebrate the program’s success and reward program participants for their hard work recruiting friends and family to join the INTEGRIS Health team of employees.

“Since the Employee Referral Program began 6 years ago, our employees have recruited approximately 2,250 new healthcare professionals to join the staff INTEGRIS Health,” said Jason Eliot, System Director of Human Resources and master of ceremonies at the luncheon. “Our program is unique in that our employees actively pursue other healthcare professionals who demonstrate the same level of dedication to excellence we strive for at INTEGRIS Health. Our employees refer the professionals they know would be good to work along side, who they know have good work ethic and they can trust. This helps with job satisfaction and, in turn, retention. Our statistics show this program accounts for almost 25% of our annual recruitment efforts, employees are our best asset!”

During the year-end event, modeled after the popular game show “Deal or No Deal,” the audience waited in anticipation as participants tried their luck at opening suitcases to reveal which prize they had won. Prizes included gift certificates for free INTEGRIS Health clothing, a gift certificate for a year’s worth of free monthly massages at Pacer Fitness Center, a year-long gym membership also at Pacer Fitness Center, an MP3 player, a digital camera, a $1000 gas card, a plasma television and the grand prize—a two-year lease on a 2006 Toyota Prius.

The crowd immediately erupted as Candy McFarlane, trauma registrar at INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center for three years, opened her winning suitcase to reveal she was the grand prize winner. McFarlane could hardly contain her excitement before she was whisked away by the INTEGRIS Health recruitment team, administration and photographers to claim her prize.

“I’m just in shock,” McFarlane said. “I don’t win things like this. These things don’t happen to me.”

Winning the new, economical and environmentally-friendly gas-electric hybrid car couldn’t have come at a better time for McFarlane. Although she just bought a new van right before Christmas in 2006, the cost of gas needed to drive to INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center from her home in Yukon was becoming a burden. But with three children and 12 grandchildren, McFarlane needed the van’s space to transport a lot of passengers to and from activities.

“This car will help so much in my busy lifestyle,” McFarlane said. “I have to keep my van for the large amount of room it has, but now I can leave it at home until I need to drive the kids somewhere. I can use my new car to travel to and from work and not spend so much money on gas.”

However, McFarlane almost didn’t drive away with the top prize. She felt ill the day before, and because the road conditions weren’t ideal, she thought twice about attending the event. But she quickly reconsidered when she remembered what was at stake.

“Who can pass up the chance to win a car?” McFarlane wondered. “I was excited just to be eligible, and now I’ve won! I just can’t believe it!”

In conjunction with the state’s centennial celebration, “Stake Your Claim” was announced as the 2007 Employee Referral Program theme. Employees were encouraged to begin recruiting friends and family to join the INTEGRIS Health team and to gain a chance at the top prize—a two-year lease on a brand new Dodge Nitro—to be presented at next year’s luncheon.

“At INTEGRIS Health we experience the most challenging healing everyday, and we need an outstanding staff of healthcare professionals to provide our patients with the expert medical care they need,” said Eliot. “With our employee’s participation in our Employee Referral Program, we’re able to employ Oklahoma’s finest healthcare professionals and bring first-class healthcare to Oklahoman’s across the state as well as combat the healthcare professional shortages.”