Companies boost morale post-Katrina - New Orleans City Business

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20 2005 Best Places to Work 6 East Jefferson General Hospital By Tommy Santora, Associate Editor Cheryl Carter, director of East Jefferson General Hospital’s emergency room, summed up working and living at the hospital for a week during and after Hurricane Katrina. “It makes you realize how bad you miss clean underwear,” she said. “But in all seriousness, it changed the dynamics of how people worked together and brought people closer, just doing the small things to get through everything,” said Carter. Carter was one of about 800 employees who stayed and worked at East Jefferson during the brunt of the storm, and hos- Dr. Dan Fertel, radiologist, discusses a mammogram with employees Caprice Gioia, left, and Darlene Landry. EAST JEFERSON GENERAL HOSPITAL KATRINA HIGHLIGHTS • 24-hour per day disaster relief pay to employees who worked at hospital during and immediately after Katrina. • $200,000-hurricane relief fund available for greatly impacted employees. • 72 FEMA trailers; 70 rooms at downtown Sheraton; rooms at Inn on Bourbon and a furnished double-wide trailer available for employees on hospital property. Source: CityBusiness staff research
pital administration returned the favor for their hard work and dedication. Employees who worked at the hospital received 24-hour per day disaster pay, and East Jefferson’s humanitarian relief fund raised $200,000 to benefit severely impacted employees. The hospital also housed employees’ families, children and pets. Housing came in the form of 72 Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers, 70 hotel rooms at the downtown Sheraton, rooms at the Inn on Bourbon, a furnished double-wide trailer on hospital property and resources available to expedite the FEMA trailer process for private property. East Jefferson General Hospital raised $200,000 through its humanitarian fund for employees severely impacted by the storm. December 19, 2005 21 East Jefferson General Hospital president and CEO Dr. Mark Peters estimated about 800 hospital staff worked during and immediately after Hurricane Katrina. “It was all well deserved with the effort put forth by our team members,” said East Jefferson CEO and President Dr. Mark Peters. “It’s not a fair request to ask these people to work and not take care of their personal needs and families at the same time.” Carter had severe damage to two homes from Katrina and stayed at the hospital for a period of time before living with a co-worker and then renting an apartment from another co-worker. She said East Jefferson performed numerous tasks in the aftermath of the storm to accommodate employees. Boxes of housing supplies were available to employees, and food was always present, coming from places like Jason’s Deli and Domino’s. “We’re always pleased when they go a step farther, but it’s what their philosophy is all about for their employees,” Carter said. “We would have been more surprised if they didn’t step up. It’s the reputation of East Jefferson.” Monica Campbell, unit secretary in the emergency room, said routine morning announcements from hospital administration was one of the more comforting tasks they did. “We got up and looked forward to them because communication was so tough through everything; nobody knew what was going on,” Campbell said. East Jefferson employees said they were not surprised by the hospital’s generous responses through Katrina. Several programs were already in place to recognize employee performance like team member and volunteer of the month and physician or leader of the quarter. The hospital also puts on wellness challenges that can reward employees up to $100 to main exercise activity and remain in good health. “People should feel good about what they’re doing in every aspect of working here,” Peters said. “Our commitment is to the best quality care and patient safety; our team members see that as our number-one priority and they like being in that kind of professional and caring environment.”•
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Companies boost morale post-Katrina - New Orleans City Business

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