HCA and the Importance of Onboarding

As HCA makes the transition to a system of electronic health records (EHR) we have been seeking a number of capable, knowledgeable individuals with interests and experience in both healthcare and technology. Sometimes we hire from within, and sometimes we find professionals seeking to join HCA from elsewhere. One of the people from outside HCA who has answered this call is a woman named Kimberly Johnson. Recently, we hired Kimberly to join us as a Senior Clinical Analyst in the EHR Program Office.

Because of Kimberly’s background and experience, an employer could easily take for granted her ability to hit the ground running. She did, after all, have what it takes to earn a spot on our Meditech 6.0 Team. But Kimberly’s first days with us, and her subsequent blogging about them, remind us all of the importance of onboarding programs for new employees, regardless of their level of expertise gained at other facilities or through other venues.

All healthcare organizations – and some might argue all organizations in general – perform the same basic activities, but they do so in different ways. When Kimberly likened her first day with HCA to a child’s first day of school, and recalled her curiosity about everything from where to park to what the cafeteria was like, we were reminded that with any new job there is a certain learning curve.

When Kimberly wrote, “While I have only been part of this unbelievable team that is HCA for 4 months, at every turn I have seen an authentic representation of teamwork,” she sent us a powerful reminder. We’d like to take this opportunity to say thanks, both to Kimberly for joining us and calling to mind those ever-so-important first days on the job and to all those who help mentor and guide each new employee who joins the HCA family.