Sentara Healthcare is one of 10 health care organizations in the nation and the only one in Virginia to be named a Premier Employer in Healthcare by Premier Workplaces, an independent benchmarking and human resource consulting organization.
The award recognizes innovative health care companies who implement outstanding people practices and human resource programs that attract and retain diverse talent.
"We are extremely proud of this award," said Michael Taylor, vice president for Human Resources, Sentara Healthcare. "It demonstrates our commitment to offering a variety of high quality workplace programs and initiatives and to creating an employee-friendly culture. It also affirms how much we value our greatest resource the more than 15,000 members who make up the Sentara team."
In selecting the award recipients, Premier Workplaces looked at the work environment offered to employees in the health care industry including: compensation, benefits, education and training, career development, diversity strategies, work/life balance, wellness programs, retirement, employee assistance, culture and values.
In recent years, Sentara has been recognized by the Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA) with a Gold Well Workplace Award for programs that demonstrate a sincere commitment to wellness in the workplace and to improving employee health.
The Premier Health Care Employer Award is an industry specific recognition rather than a geographical or general comparison of employers in different fields. The distinction represents a "best in class" standing in the industry for Sentara and other named employers.
Premier Workplaces offers training and consulting to help improve workplaces and acknowledge outstanding employers through recognition programs.
Other health care companies honored with the award are: Anne Arundel Medical Center, Annapolis, MD; Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI; Lee Memorial Health System, Fort Myers, FL; Providence St. Peter Hospital, Olympia, WA; St. Joseph's-Baptist Health Care, Tampa, FL; St. Mary's Medical Center, Huntington, WV; Texas Health Resources, Arlington, TX; University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI; Wellpoint, Inc., Indianapolis, IN.