Connect

UVA Health leadership has made a commitment to open and honest communication — inviting all team members to engage with leadership and “Be Heard.” Through this commitment, leadership has made available various channels for sharing your voice and receiving genuine feedback.

Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, started her Vision and Voice blog on the premise of using feedback and communication to “meet challenges head-on and uncover the opportunities that will continue to drive UVA Health to new heights.”

Through the Be Heard suggestion box on her blog, for example, a nurse requested access to communicator masks, which have a transparent panel that allows hearing-impaired individuals to read lips. As a result, any unit can easily request communicator masks from Supply Chain (by emailing GStoreroomOrders@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu).

Other examples of Be Heard in action:

• We Hear You Wednesday | When leaders round on units, they compile and respond to hot topics from their interactions in the weekly We Hear You Wednesday newsletter.
• Be Heard Breakfasts | Wendy Horton hosts Be Heard Breakfasts; K. Craig Kent, MD, CEO, UVA Health, hosts Breakfast With the CEO; and Jason Lineen, Chief Strategy Officer, hosts Virtual Coffee Chats to discuss the Strategic Plan, and more.
• Compensation | In response to feedback from team members, UVA Health invested $56 million in compensation increases, including market reviews, annual pay increases, shift differentials, and other targeted pay increases.
• Earn While You Learn | The Earn While You Learn program is making it easier than ever for individuals to begin a career in healthcare. The program provides structured coursework and on-the-job-training plus full-time benefits and pay during training. Nine months after the program’s launch, there are some amazing success stories, like a couple who kick-started their careers thanks to the program and 150 youth at a local Boys and Girls Club who got to learn about a future career path.
• Town Halls | Quarterly Town Hall meetings inform team members of organizational priorities, and leaders answer pre-submitted and live questions from team members. Watch the September Town Hall.
• Supporting families | The Malcolm Cole Child Care Center recently expanded enrollment by 12 children to help more families, and more changes are planned in the future to help families.

What are YOU most proud of?

This year’s engagement survey is open now through Friday, Nov. 11, and leadership is asking that you take time to reflect on your past year and provide direct feedback about how we are succeeding and where we have opportunities to grow. You can find your personalized survey invitation in your inbox, dated Tuesday, Oct. 4. (Note: UVA Community Health team members will participate in the engagement survey Nov. 28-Dec. 19.)