Satisfaction 2003

Employees of both The Johns Hopkins Hospital/Johns Hopkins Health System Corp. and the School of Medicine ranked their overall job satisfaction higher than they did in the 2001 survey. In JHH/JHHSC, 56 percent of the workforce participated, and 69 percent of them (up from 59 percent) reported overall satisfaction with their jobs. In the School of Medicine, 32 percent participated, and 74 percent (up from 70 percent) reported overall satisfaction.

The next step will be to review initial results in small-group, follow-up sessions. "I am thrilled that so many employees came out to 'make their mark.' We worked hard to make improvements in pay, benefits, communication, food and more," said Pamela Paulk, vice president of human resources for the Hospital/Health System. "The increase in overall satisfaction shows we did the right things. But we aren't finished. This new survey has shown us many more opportunities to make this an even better place in which to work."

Making the Grade

Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center came through with flying colors on the new Maryland Hospital Performance Evaluation Guide, an Internet-based "report card" that rates the state's 46 hospitals on how well they treat two conditions, congestive heart failure and community-acquired pneumonia. The report card, created by the Maryland Health Care Commission and based on discharges from July to December 2002, evaluated hospitals in eight categories related to the two conditions, and in each one, Bayview tied or exceeded the state average.

The Johns Hopkins Hospital performed at or above the state average in four of the eight measures, but fell short in such areas as counseling against smoking and the timely delivery of antibiotics. State officials acknowledge that the scores are often more a reflection of the documentation process than quality of care, but already, performance improvement committees have taken steps that promise to elevate future rankings. Forms have been revised and simplified, brochures to aid in patient teaching have been created, and an action plan has been designed to speed antibiotics to pneumonia patients.