Forming a Line

By Stefanie Caraviello

One might think having a line outside South Carolina's largest, most comprehensive, healthcare resource wouldn’t necessarily be a good thing. Considering each year, Palmetto Health treats half a million patients, why would you want people lining out the door? The answer comes from Palmetto Health’s Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Trip Gregory.

"My vision is that Palmetto Health is the most sought after system people trust for their healthcare and that our reputation is such that we have a line of potential employees outside our doors knocking to get in."

Palmetto Health’s HR department has undergone some “surgery” of its own, reconstructing and intensely changing the management process. Now, under Gregory’s leadership and the dynamic abilities of his HR team – an atmosphere exists in which that line will surely form.

“We totally redeveloped and restructured the way we deliver the HR service within the organization. Now, there is that trust and that desire to bring HR to the table whenever considering managing through change, or even when considering a new piece of equipment that may need training,” said Gregory.

Gregory says one of the current challenges in HR is preparing for the generational change. “As boomers and older generations move out of the workforce, there is a dwindling supply of available talent in the succeeding generations. By the time all of the boomers hit the age of 65 (2029), there are going to be some 70-plus million fewer workers in the United States workforce. So when we talk about diversity, this is a bigger diversity issue than race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, anything.”

Gregory and his HR team are setting the stage now with programs to attract the next-generation workforce to Palmetto Health. These include programs such as: Total Rewards, which rewards employees in numerous ways for their time and talent; the Business Partner Model, which sets a standard of a 60 second response time for business and employee support; and, a corporate based staffing program that allows employees to work a schedule that meets their needs while maintaining balance between their personal and professional lives.

Maintaining that balance between personal and professional lives is something the HR team has seemed to master. In all, the eight people on the team (including Gregory) are involved in more than 28 outside organizations, boards, clubs and church groups.

“Every one of us is crazy in our own right. We are crazy from the standpoint that we have a diverse set of interests. We all have places we go in our private lives that nobody else on the team goes. So that creates different perspectives that each one of us brings back into the team fold.”

Gregory says the reason they work so well together is simple. “Every one of them is better at what they do than I am. I can’t do their jobs. They are all very smart…so that old rule of hiring people who are smarter than you and who can do it better than you is true…I’ve been very fortunate to either go and find people or grow people from within who ought to be where they are and who are causing things to happen.”

Meet the Palmetto Health HR Team

George Edward “Ed” Bell Jr., CCP, CBP, GRP Position: Director, Total Rewards Total Rewards as defined by the profession is the monetary and non-monetary returns provided to employees in exchange for their time, talents, efforts and results. Bell is one of only four triple-certified professionals in South Carolina. Two of the other triple-certified professionals work in his department. What program are you most proud of at work? “I am most proud of our myHealth reward program. In its earliest stage we combined a tobacco free discount with a health screening discount... As a healthcare provider, we are able to harness the internal intellectual resources of South Carolina's third largest private employer to provide health screening, coaching and management to our most at risk populations.”

Stephanie Case Davis Position: Director, Human Resources Information Solutions (HRIS) “HRIS supports and administers the systems that power Palmetto Health's HR department. Our mission is to transform the way you work...We're a one-stop shop when it comes to managing Palmetto Health's HR systems. So, we work closely with all areas to maintain, troubleshoot and improve system processes.” What program are you most proud of at work? “Our Performance Management system, aka PERKS. We went from a truly pen and paper (even some scissors and tape) to an electronic automated workflow system. PERKS has been 100% embraced by Palmetto Health's employees and leaders alike.”

Joni Glasscock Position: Executive Assistant to Senior Vice President of HR What program are you most proud of at work? “I plan, supervise and execute the annual Employee Service Awards banquets and receptions for all three Palmetto Health Campuses. It’s a joy to be part of an employee recognition event where the employer truly wants the employees to know they are appreciated and valued…It takes a lot of hard work from a lot of different people…Teamwork is what makes Palmetto Health one of the Top 100 Places to Work in Healthcare in the Nation!”

Willis “Trip” Gregory III Position: Senior Vice President, Human Resources What program are you most proud of at work? “I'm proud of all my areas and what they are accomplishing to make Palmetto Health better, but I’m proudest of our business partner program and self-insuring our worker's comp program…We challenged ourselves to learn the business of healthcare and support our operational directors, giving them only one phone number to call for all their HR needs. We set a standard of a 60 second response time.”

Gwen Hill, SPHR Position: Director, Human Resources What program are you most proud of at work? “Our Business Partner Model. In 2005, the HR Investment Center recognized our model as a best practice. The Business Partner serves as the primary interface between human resources and the operational units of the organization…Our Business Partners are asked to be at the table with their assigned directors when they are meeting with their management teams to hear the business-related decisions and planning for their departments. Human resources is no longer seen as ‘go to’ when there is a problem but an active member of the management team…We are proud of our reputation of responding to our leaders in a timely manner and providing the answers and support they need so they can get back to the business of taking care of our patients.

R. Don Morton, MA Position: Director, Instructional Media Services (IMS) Department The department provides audiovisual and related services and support to clinical and non-clinical staff, physicians, USC School Of Medicine faculty, patients and others. What program are you most proud of at work? “I am most proud of my staff and the talents they bring to Palmetto Health. Together, we provide cost-effective, high quality products and services, and excellent customer support. We have put together a great team. As a result, the quality of our products and services has grown into what has recently been described as ‘world class’ (Quint Studer, 2007).”

Dianne Matlock Position: Director, Palmetto Health Resource Staffing (PHRS) PHRS is a corporate based staffing program designed to provide experienced and qualified nurses and allied health professionals to supplement unit needs within Palmetto Health. What program are you most proud of at work? “Through the development of PHRS, the organization has created a win/win situation for employees and Palmetto Health. PHRS staff has schedule flexibility and premium pay, and the organization is able to utilize internal rather than external resources for staffing…PHRS is dynamic because it offers variety and flexibility. Depending on the employee’s skill set and unit needs, employees can work in a variety of clinical units and choose from several scheduling options. It’s a way for employees to work a schedule that meets their needs while maintaining balance between their personal and professional lives. This program has created an opportunity to retain employees that may have otherwise resigned because of their individual needs.”

Cynthia Walters Position: Director, Organization Development This department gives administrative direction for change management, workforce development, employee development and training. What program are you most proud of at work? “Support in achieving organization and departmental goals, employee professional development and School at work programs. It provides opportunities to meet with leaders and employees and listen to their goals and desires for success. We can then be part of these successes by providing appropriate resources.

 Stefanie Caraviello is the multimedia manager at the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.