For the third year in a row, Lee Memorial Health System (LMHS) in Fort Meyers has been named one of Americas Top Ten Best Employers for Workers 50 and Over by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). The AARP award program has been in existence since 2000 and was created to showcase exceptional workplaces that utilize innovative strategies to attract, retain and accommodate mature workers. The prestigious honor, which is given to a total of 50 employers, distinguishes LMHS among all workplaces in the U.S., not only among health care settings.
Jon Cecil, FACHE, Chief Human Resources officer for LMHS, says that the facilitys vision in focusing on older workers is based on both pragmatic and idealistic considerations. “Older workers possess incredible wisdom, knowledge and skills and it would be foolish to let them leave. We do everything possible to keep them because they are the most experienced workers; they contribute so much and are extremely valuable to this institution. Our goal is to keep them working as long as possible because it serves the best interests of all concerned: the organization, the community and the workers themselves. Its an absolute win/win/win and any employer would be wise to adopt our approach. Its far better to have a skilled employee who is a little older than to lose all that experience.”
While LMHS seeks to attract and retain older employees throughout their 1600-bed system of hospitals and health centers, special emphasis is placed on the nursing department. Florida is experiencing a critical and worsening shortage of nurses, and efforts to recruit young people into the profession, while essential, are insufficient to address the growing need for nurses. Furthermore, as Cecil notes, a new graduate nurse is simply not the clinical equal of a seasoned veteran.
“An experienced nurse not only has the depth of experience that means a higher quality of care, she also is a mentor and teacher to younger, less experienced nurses, passing on her wisdom. Nothing can replace that. We have great respect for the body of knowledge that these nurses have.”
That positive attitude towards experienced nurses is one that the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is encouraging more hospitals to adopt. In its 2006 report, “Wisdom at Work: The Importance of Older Experienced Nurses in the Workplace,” RWJF states that the retention of older nurses is a key strategy in addressing the nursing shortage. By retaining the most knowledgeable nurses, hospitals retain the expertise that fosters excellence in patient care and more favorable outcomes.
Among the specific strategies for older workers that LMHS has initiated are creative scheduling plans. Job-sharing one position that normally entails 12-hour shifts enables two nurses to work a less physically draining six hours. Some part time positions of 20 hours and less are offered with excellent health and retirement benefits, and flexible individual scheduling needs are accommodated as much as possible. Cecil says that although the complexities of such scheduling can be challenging, it is well worth the effort. Similarly, he says that the higher costs of benefits are offset by savings in recruitment and training. The facility is also accommodating the unique needs of older workers through redesign of workplace processes and environments. Ergonomics and equipment as well as work practices and patient flow are being reconceived on a model unit that enables the staff to expend less physical effort.
Cecil says the demographics of the Fort Meyers region are a significant factor in the LMHS older worker program. “There are many baby boomers among our residents. When they retire, well experience an exodus of skilled employees. But we have a tremendous resource in the people who retire to this region there is so much talent that retires here and many of these people want to work part time. We have a volunteer force that is 3500 strong and we make creative use of our volunteers.”
LMHS has even launched a “Six Months + One Day” part time employment plan for the “snowbirds” that winter in the region and want to work half the year.
Cecil believes that a workplace atmosphere that welcomes, respects and accommodates maturing workers is an opportunity for other healthcare institutions to address shortages, retain highly skilled workers and enjoy a more stable workforce. LMHS has had excellent results, with higher satisfaction ratings from patients, physicians and staff members since launching the program. He credits LMHS CEO and President Jim Nathan and Chief Nursing officer Donna Giannuzzi for exceptional innovation and support, and acknowledges the employees themselves for their loyalty and commitment.
This year, the AARP Best Workplace awards program added a new dimension to the application with a confidential survey of the employees themselves. LMHS placed sixth this year and received the highest possible ratings for recruitment practices, training and development, health benefits and alternative work arrangements.
For the third year in a row, Lee Memorial Health System (LMHS) in Fort Meyers has been named one of Americas Top Ten Best Employers for Workers 50 and Over by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). The AARP award program has been in existence since 2000 and was created to showcase exceptional workplaces that utilize innovative strategies to attract, retain and accommodate mature workers. The prestigious honor, which is given to a total of 50 employers, distinguishes LMHS among all workplaces in the U.S., not only among health care settings. 
