Valley Medical Center Recognized as 2011 #1 Nonprofit Company to Work For

Renton, WA (June 22, 2011) –Valley Medical Center (VMC) received First Place honors in the non-profit category of Seattle Business magazine’s Best Companies to Work For 2011.

This marks the 10^th consecutive year that VMC has been named a Best Company to Work For in the Pacific Northwest, and the 2^nd time to be selected as the #1 non-profit in the state.

“We are humbled and thrilled to once again be named one of the top 100 Best Companies to Work For, and extremely gratified to be named the #1 Best Company to Work For in the state in the non-profit category,” said Rich Roodman, Valley Medical Center CEO. “As we move forward into a partnership with UW Medicine, we will continue to strive to provide an excellent workplace for our exceptional staff to thrive as they care for our patients.”

According to Seattle Business, “This is the year that separates true best companies from pretenders. An economic contraction the country hasn’t seen since the Great Depression has put pressure on all aspects of a business. Layoffs, pay freezes and cuts, benefits pruning—all have been the norm during these turbulent times. Many employees are simply thankful to have a job, and are less concerned with health club memberships and other perks. …These are the companies that have survived turbulent times and managed to keep their employees happy.”

To help determine the 100 Best Companies to Work For, Seattle’s Gilmore Research Group compiled data submitted anonymously by employees of the nominated companies. Characteristics of a Best Company to Work For include:

• ·                     Open communication; sharing both good and bad news with employees
• ·                     Promoting employee development
• ·                     Fostering an environment of accountability
• ·                     Challenging but attainable performance standards
• ·                     Offering competitive and equitable salaries, and comprehensive benefits
• ·                     Inspiring, encouraging and respecting employees
• ·                     Promoting creativity and brainstorming
• ·                     Offering opportunities for advancement
• ·                     Empowering employees to act and think independently

The 100 companies named to Seattle Business magazine’s Best Companies to Work For 2011 were honored June 16th at a special celebration at the Westin Hotel Seattle.

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About Valley Medical Center

Valley Medical Center (VMC) is a 303-bed acute care hospital and clinic network committed to providing safe, quality, compassionate care for more than 63 years. The oldest and largest public district hospital in the State of Washington, VMC proudly serves over 600,000 residents in its primary and secondary service areas in South King County. Dedicated to patient safety and improving the overall health of the community, VMC is a thriving medical center that focuses resources on major disease areas and specialties, including: emergency and trauma care, joint replacement, neuroscience, childbirth and Level III neonatal ICU, surgical services, critical care, cancer services, breast health, sleep medicine, diabetes education and much more. Through Valley Medical Group, a  network of Primary Care clinics serve as a medical home for care management, Urgent Care clinics provide a safety net of after-hours care and walk-in consult and treatment, and over a dozen specialty clinics provide convenient access throughout the district. As the largest nonprofit healthcare provider between Seattle and Tacoma, Valley Medical Center is South King County’s only disaster recovery facility and offers advanced emergency care in our Level III Trauma Center. VMC’s joint replacement program was proudly rated #1 in Washington by HealthGrades for 2009 and 2010. Ranked Top 10 in the Nation as a Best Place to Work in Healthcare for 2009 and 2010, Valley Medical Center attracts world class clinicians through state-of-the- art facilities and technology, award-winning teamwork and an atmosphere of medical excellence.  For more information, visit valleymed.org.