For Immediate Release

For more information, contact:
Meredith Johanson, 763-684-6801

Buffalo Hospital named Best Minnesota Hospital Workplace for the third time

BUFFALO, Minn. 01/14/2008--The Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) recently named Buffalo Hospital the Best Minnesota Hospital Workplace. The 2007 MHA Health Care Awards honor the best and brightest in Minnesota health care.

Buffalo Hospital received the Best Minnesota Hospital Workplace award at a recent Minnesota Hospital Association ceremony. This is the third time the hospital has won this award.  Pictured from left, Terry Marsh, Buffalo Hospital board member; Bill Priest, director of operations and finance; Sonja Carlson, director of marketing and marketing and communications; Gretchen Frederick, director of patient care services; Teresa Wrobbel, MD, Buffalo Hospital board of trustees vice chair; Steve Hatkin, Buffalo Hospital president; Rose Voigt, imaging department manager; Cindi Haataja, RN, Birth Center; Laurie McPhee, safety and security manager; Mona Volden, community programs coordinator; and Julie Larcom, Buffalo Hospital foundation.

The Best Minnesota Hospital Workplace award is designed to honor hospitals that "go the extra mile" in enhancing employee satisfaction. This is the third time Buffalo Hospital was name the Best Minnesota Hospital Workplace in the small hospital category. Judging was based on retention strategies and outcomes, demonstrated effectiveness in raising employee morale, and employee descriptions of the work environment.

"We will only be as successful as our employees are strong, they are the heart and soul of this organization," said Steve Hatkin, hospital president. "They truly fulfill our mission of serving the community by providing exceptional care, as we prevent illness, restore health and provide comfort to all who entrust us with their care. We are steadily working to make this the best place to work as measured by our most recent employee engagement survey, the measurement tool used to determine how positively employees view their work experience. Buffalo Hospital has achieved a 61 percent engagement score, putting us into the best employer category."

Communication is critical to the work of employee engagement at Buffalo Hospital. "All leaders check in with 90 percent of our staff each month with two goals in mind: to recognize accomplishments and to search for opportunities for continuous improvement," said Nikki Mills, director of Human Resources, Buffalo Hospital. "That, in addition to quarterly forums with the president, biweekly employee newsletters, Intranet communications and hospital-wide communication boards helps everyone stay connected and centered on current initiatives and news."

Buffalo Hospital's passion for care extends beyond the walls of the hospital. "A record number, 76 percent, of employees supported the Buffalo Hospital Foundation financially this year during our annual Giving Campaign," said Hatkin. "This is a real measure of their loyalty and commitment to caring for our patients, our communities, and each other."

For information about employment opportunities at Buffalo Hospital, go to www.buffalohospital.org and click on 'careers.'

About Buffalo Hospital

Part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, Buffalo Hospital is a not-for-profit regional medical center committed to providing exceptional care and improving the health of the communities it serves in and around Wright County. Information about Buffalo Hospital's services, along with the latest health information, can be found online at www.buffalohospital.org.

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