St. Tammany Health System Board of Commissioners approved a $6 million workforce strategy, called Invested in You. The initiative is aimed at retaining the workforce the community health system is known for, as COVID-19 workforce impacts are affecting employers locally, regionally, and nationally.
“As a board, we hear from our community all the time that St. Tammany is different from other health systems,” John Evans, board chairman, said. “When people say they feel special, like family, that comes from how they are treated in our hospital. We have to do what it takes to make sure this workforce feels supported and valued. That’s what Invested in You means.”
The Invested in You campaign will include targeted incentives and salary adjustments to keep market-sensitive job classifications competitive, particularly in relation to travel and agency offers designed to entice highly skilled and valued employees away from established employers such as STHS.
The health system leaders further committed to educational programs that will help STHS colleagues further their careers long-term and enable STHS to grow the next generation of care providers. Programs in this part of the Invested in You campaign will foster career pathways for CNAs, sterile processing, RN residents, RN to BSN programs and other educational support and assistance designed to ensure dedicated, trained STHS professionals for years to come.
“If we are true to our culture of excellence, we are Invested in You, as the campaign says,” Joan M. Coffman, STHS president/CEO, said. “This commitment to our most valuable assets, our colleagues, is our way of ensuring the people who make St. Tammany special, the colleagues who embody our values, remain with us long-term.”