It must be a great place to work.
“We have several pre-op/PACU nurses who have been here since the center opened,” says Judy Gray, RN, BC, MBA, administrator for Mississippi Surgical Center in Jackson, which opened in 1987. “We have other staff that has been here for close to and more than 20 years — several technicians have been here a long time as well.”
Mississippi Surgical has been able to keep staff members with the organization by creating an environment that fosters closeness.
“The fact that people are here for as many years as they have is a testament to the fact that they enjoy being here as employees,” says Cindy Cefalu, clinical director, who joined the staff in 1991. “I think we have a real sense of family among the employees. “Everybody genuinely cares about each other and works well with each other. Sometimes in an OR setting, people tend to be territorial, but that’s never been the case here.”
Mississippi Surgical, one of the largest surgery centers in the state at 25,509 sq. ft., performs about 8,800 procedures annually in 12 specialties, covering the gamut except for neurosurgery and GI. The ASC has six operating rooms and five specialty rooms used by its 30 physicians. It also features an extended recovery care area which includes four patient beds for 23-hour stays.
The management team of Ms. Gray and Ms. Cefalu work to let the staff members know they are appreciated. The ASC holds an employee appreciation week annually. The event features daily activities that include door prizes such as gift certificates and gift bags; breakfast, lunches and ice cream sundaes are served. Throughout the year, the staff members receive gestures of appreciation, including t-shirts and fleeces with the Mississippi Surgical logo and occasional free breakfasts and lunches.
The physicians also go out of their way to let staff members feel appreciated and important.
“When staff have lost a parent or had a sick family member, I know of several instances where the physicians have sent flowers or attended a funeral,” says Ms. Cefalu. “They’re more than just employers.”
It certainly helps when some of the physicians have stayed with the center for many years as well.
“The board of governors is made up of doctors that have had longevity with the center,” says Ms. Gray. “We still have several of the original doctors from 1987.”
Learn more about Mississippi Surgical Center.
