IDG’s Computerworld Names Palmetto Health to Annual List of Best Places to Work in Information Technology for the Third Year in a Row

June 17, 2009

COLUMBIA, SC – June 17, 2009 – Palmetto Health announced today that IDG’s Computerworld has selected it as one of the top workplaces for information technology professionals for the third year in a row. Among the 100 U.S-based companies listed, Palmetto Health ranked 30th.This honor is part of the IT publication’s 16th annual Best Places to Work in IT survey and will be published in the June 15 issue of Computerworld and online at Computerworld.com.

Since 1994, Computerworld’s annual “Best Places to Work in IT” feature has ranked the top 100 work environments for technology professionals based on a comprehensive questionnaire about company offerings in categories like benefits, diversity, career development and retention. This year, Computerworld also surveyed more than 27,000 IT workers, and their responses factored heavily in determining the rankings.

Some of the unique attributes of Palmetto Health’s IT department that helped earn Computerworld’s award include:

Palmetto Health’s commitment to leadership development (enhancing the skills of existing leaders and developing future leaders).

Transparency (keeping employees informed and involved in decision making) via communication boards, weekly CEO updates and quarterly forums.

The Communication, Attitude, Reward/Recognition, Enhancement & Satisfaction committee (CARES). This staff-only committee reviews employee satisfaction scores and recommends improvements. The group was instrumental in implementing several enhancements for IT employees.

Employee of the Quarter. Honoring exemplary employees who go above and beyond the call of duty for customers and patients and consistently model Palmetto Health’s corporate values. 

Letters Home. Recognizing great customer service by sending letters to their homes. 

Senior vice president and chief information officer Michelle Edwards said, “This year’s award is particular significant in light of recent changes to IT leadership and our economic circumstances. Fortunately, consistent updates and our ongoing focus on our employees kept us grounded. Our team members are well known for living Palmetto Health’s values, from the compassion shown when coworkers experience personal challenges to the teamwork exhibited on our many important projects. Every person in our department helps make this one of the best places to work.”       

 Scot Finnie, editor in chief of Computerworld adds, To be among the Best Places to Work in IT, it’s not enough just to seek out and hire the most talented IT people, offer them competitive pay and provide great benefits. The organizations that made this year’s Best Places to Work list sustain a dynamic work environment in which IT professionals keep their hands on the latest technologies and work on projects that are business critical. In the months and years ahead, IT is going to become a key accelerator of business growth.

 

About Palmetto Health

Palmetto Health, which is the 4th largest non-government employer in our state, is South Carolina’s largest integrated health system in which a progressive environment, the latest technology, including research and treatment protocols, goes hand-in-hand with quality patient care. Palmetto Health is composed of three outstanding hospitals—Palmetto Health Richland in Columbia, and Palmetto Health Baptist in Columbia and Easley—and serves as the primary teaching hospital for the University of South Carolina. Each year, they treat nearly a half million patients, welcome nearly 6,600 babies into the world, treat more than 82,000 pediatric patients, 3,000 cancer patients, accommodate 132,000 Emergency department visits and make nearly 43,000 home care visits.

 About Computerworld

Computerworld’s award-winning Web site (Computerworld.com), weekly publication, and focused conference series form the hub of the world’s largest global IT media network. In the past five years alone, Computerworld has won more than 100 awards including the Magazine of the Year Award from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) in both 2004 and 2006, and the American Business Media’s Neal Award for Best Web Site, Best Blogs and Best Article or Series in 2008. Computerworld leads the industry with an online audience of over 2.5 million unique monthly visitors and a print audience of more than 1 million readers each week (IntelliQuest CIMS, Fall 2008). Computerworld also reaches over 10,000 IT executives every year through its high-touch conferences and custom summits.

About International Data Group (IDG)

International Data Group (IDG) is the world’s leading technology media, events, and research company.  IDG’s online network includes more than 450 web sites spanning business technology, consumer technology, digital entertainment and video games worldwide.  IDG also publishes more than 300 magazines and newspapers.