A Moment to Shine

Building a workplace culture of inclusion, opportunity, and employee satisfaction has been a long-time priority for Memorial Healthcare System, with national recognition it recently earned certifying the organization’s efforts are appreciated by its workforce.

The Hollywood-based provider, which employs more than 16,000 caregivers, was honored by Great Place To Work®, a global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and leadership behaviors. The award was based entirely on what current employees said about their experiences at Memorial and an independent analysis of company culture that determined:

• 87% of employees said it’s a great place to work (57% is the national average)
• 94% feel good about Memorial’s contributions to the South Florida community
• 93% felt welcomed upon joining the organization
• 91% are proud to tell others they work there
• 90% take pride in the healthcare system’s accomplishments
• 89% say their work has meaning and isn’t just a job to them

“The workplace culture we’ve established is what sets us apart from both local and national competitors,” said Margie Vargas, chief human resources officer at Memorial Healthcare System. “We’re not able to accomplish what we do for patients, families, and health consumers without the contributions of our caregivers, so we’ve stayed laser-focused on the experience, environment, and career paths we provide them.”

Great Place To Work certification recognizes employers who create an outstanding employee experience, with that information helping job seekers identify which companies offer a great company culture. The recognition is also designed to give employers a recruiting advantage by providing a globally recognized and research-backed verification of great employee experience. Every year, more than 10,000 companies from 60 countries apply to get Great Place To Work-certified.

"Certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience," said Sarah Lewis-Kulin, vice president of Global Recognition at Great Place To Work. “By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that Memorial Healthcare System stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees."

According to Great Place To Work research, job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great boss at a certified great workplace. Additionally, employees at certified workplaces are 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work, and are twice as likely to be paid fairly, earn a fair share of the company’s profits, and have a fair chance at promotion.

One of South Florida’s largest employers, Memorial was also recently included by Modern Healthcare magazine on its list of “2023 Best Places to Work in Healthcare.”

The Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital NICU at Memorial Hospital Miramar brought together the spirit of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Awareness Month and National Literacy Month in a heartwarming Readathon celebration. Embracing the power of reading, the hospital created a cozy reading corner filled with books, enabling parents to choose stories that fostered bonding with their babies and facilitated quicker healing.

Elaine Green, nurse practitioner at Memorial Hospital Miramar and the driving force behind the program, expressed pride in their efforts to promote early reading in the NICU.

"We believe that reading from a young age has numerous benefits, such as nurturing parental bonding, reducing the stress of hospitalization, and aiding in neurodevelopment and literacy skills."

As part of the Read-a-thon, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital’s NICU at Memorial Hospital Miramar initiated a community book drive and distributed books to all families currently staying in the NICU. In an enchanting twist, parents and healthcare professionals dressed the babies in costumes inspired by beloved storybook characters, including the old lady that lived in a shoe, Little Bo Peep, and the mouse that ran up the clock. This fun-filled day aimed to inspire more parents to read to their babies in the NICU, creating a magical bond and sharing the exceptional care provided by Memorial Hospital Miramar.

Jon Itula, a proud participant and parent of the cow that jumped over the moon, expressed his enthusiasm for the reading program.

"We think it’s super important to read to our children. When I read to him in the NICU, you can see him drift to sleep and react to the stories and my voice. The staff here has been so helpful - they genuinely care. Things like this are so kind, dressing up our baby, we just feel like family.”

Ranked 10th in the country by Babies with Books, the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital NICU at Memorial Hospital Miramar's reading program has enchanted families and professionals alike for the last three years.

This year, the theme, "Story Time with the Mighty Readers," adds another chapter to the hospital's growing legacy of compassionate and innovative healthcare.

The South Broward Hospital District’s Board of Commissioners elected officers at its annual meeting in July. Elizabeth Justen was chosen as chair, Steven Harvey will serve as vice chair, and Douglas Harrison becomes secretary/treasurer.

The board, whose seven members are appointed by Florida’s governor to provide governance for Memorial Healthcare System, also includes Jose Basulto, Brad Friedman, Dr. Luis Orta, and Laura Raybin Miller.

Justen, a Hollywood resident, is executive director of the Sheriff’s Foundation of Broward County, a nonprofit organization which funds community programs and initiatives. She is also a manufacturer’s representative at OFB Marketing and the owner at The Marketing Experience. She was appointed to the board in 2020 for a four-year term.

South Florida-based Memorial Healthcare System is a national leader in quality care and patient, physician, and employee satisfaction. Its commitment to deeper caring and smarter health prioritizes a person-centered approach that has delivered safe, positive outcomes for 70 years.

Featuring multi-disciplinary collaboration, research, innovation, and transparency within its many facilities, Memorial is focused on removing barriers, increasing access, and providing equitable care throughout the region. It employs a staff of more than 15,000 and operates six hospitals, numerous primary, urgent, and 24/7 care facilities, medical office buildings, a health specialty center, and nursing home.