An Interview
with: St. Mary's Hospital & Medical Center
Q. Can
you tell us more about your organization?
St. Mary's ensures the highest quality of medical services available with the highest level of advanced technology. We are committed to quality care and patient satisfaction.
The experience and quality of over 250 physicians, representing 40 specialties, and close to 2000 employees work together to keep St. Mary's Hospital an outstanding institution. During the past few years, St. Mary's has positioned itself for the changing medical climate. It has integrated service delivery with increased emphasis on outpatient services. Yet, with all of its specialized programs, St. Mary's has a strong base of primary care physicians.
St. Mary's Hospital is a progressive, well-staffed facility. It is designated a Level II Trauma Center accredited by the Colorado Trauma Institute. Crucial to the program is St. Mary's Air Life helicopter.
Other widely recognized and respected programs in the hospital are the neonatal ICU, the Labor and Delivery area including the birthing rooms, the updated outpatient surgery areas, the trauma and ER areas.
If you share our common goal of meeting the needs of our community and want to contribute within a dedicated team of medical professionals, we encourage you to apply on-line today.
Q.What types of specialty
services does your organization provide?..
St. Mary’s has a strong base of Family Practice physicians and offers a highly respected Family Practice Residency program as well as, clinical support for local Nursing, Radiology and Medical Technology programs. Blood Bank, Cancer Care and Research, Critical Care including CCU, ICU, NICU, ER, and Dialysis. Family Medical Center, Cardiac Care, Home Care, Laboratory, Nutrition Service, Pastoral Care, Pediatrics, Perinatal Center, Pharmacy, Psychiatric, Radiology, Residency Program, Surgical Services, Diabetes Education, Integrative Medicine, Occupation Health, Pain Management, Rehabilitation, Wellness Center, Senior Life Program, and the Women’s Place. Other services including Ask-A-Nurse, the Chapel, Development Foundation and the Rose Hill Hospitality House, providing accommodations for out of town families of hospitalized patients.
Q.Describe any future
expansion plans, added services or new developments for your facility?
In early 1996, a Heart Center with a dedicated Heart Suite was added to the hospital. In 1998, St. Mary's expanded its outpatient facilities providing increased services in the areas of occupational and personal rehabilitative, and therapeutic services for adults and children.
A new Outpatient Dialysis Clinic will open in the fall of 2001 and an Outpatient Cancer Therapy facility is scheduled to begin construction in September 2001. A 10-15 year strategic plan has also been completed to address services, future needs and technology
Q. What
makes working in your organization different from working for other employers?
The feeling of family and community are the hallmarks of St. Mary’s Hospital. Our staff and physicians are dedicated to excellence and teamwork. The picturesque community of Grand Junction offers a quality of life and recreation opportunities that are second to none.
Q.Can you explain the
career opportunities available for new graduates in your organization?
We work very closely with Mesa State College and Their nursing and radiology program. Additionally, we have preceptor training programs twice a year for staff that have interest in becoming a preceptor for new employees. Preceptors are assigned one-on-one with new graduates, and our orientation program is 12 weeks in duration for specialty areas, and 6 weeks for general med/surg. This streamlined program will help new graduates to receive appropriate training and support.
Q. What
can a candidate expect during their interview process?
Human resources receives the application and forwards it to the department manager. An applicant's first contact from the department manager. Qualified applicants living outside of the state are offered an opportunity to travel to Grand Junction via air, and will tour the hospital and area, and meet with the manager or care coordinator for an interview. The applicant will also have an opportunity to meet the staff on the unit and possibly interview with the unit staff as well.
Finally, applicants will meet with a representative from Human Resources to review the benefit package offered at St. Mary's Hospital.
Q.What are some common
mistakes candidates make when applying for jobs with your facility?
The most common mistake an applicant makes when applying with us is to expect an immediate decision or turn around time when submitting an application. Although we make every attempt to respond in a timely manner, it may take up to two weeks before a candidate hears from us.
Q. Describe
the employee compensation and benefit packages available at your organization.
Q.Most facilities stress
only the positive aspects of working for their organization. What are some
of the challenges faced by new employees and even experienced personnel?
St. Mary's is the regional medical center for the Western slope of Colorado and Eastern Utah. Our census is high and the hospital is very busy. Sometimes that may be overwhelming, especially to those without experience in a major medical center. Overtime can be expected. We also have low census on some units at which time you can take a day off or float your hours to another department.
Q. What
is the best way for a candidate to apply for a job with your facility?
If provided,
please follow the link/s below to access employment opportunities
at St. Mary's Hospital & Medical Center. If employment opportunity information is not available
at this time, you are advised to contact the facility's Human Resource
Department for more information.
To
help you get a better picture of the community surrounding St. Mary's Hospital & Medical Center, you may also
want to check out any Related Links (Part IV), below, for further community, business and hospital information.
Community
Highlights
Enjoy over 300 days of sunshine each year.
Grand Mesa towering to elevations of over 10,000 feet with over 200 lakes, and streams offer the best trout fishing in the state
Great Family community with activities for the entire family to enjoy
Hiking, mountain biking, fishing, rafting, golfing, water- and snow skiing just to name a few
Wineries, peach orchards, and festivals are part of the community's local charm
Additional
Thoughts About The Community
Sheltered by the magnificent Colorado National Monument to the west and the Grand Mesa to the east, Grand Junction features a mild and hospitable climate year round. Grand Junction is classified as 'high desert', receiving an average of 8 to 10 inches of annual precipitation.
Grand Junction sees very few days of extreme weather each year. The warm days are cooled by temperate evenings. Snowfall is usually light and quickly melts under the warm Colorado sunshine that prevails over 300 days a year.
Humidity remains comfortably low throughout the year. 'Indian Summer' reaches long into the fall, with warm, sunny days and cool, pleasant nights; Grand Junction is a wonderful environment for visitors to enjoy the many surprising choices the area has to offer.
Source: Grand Junction Visitors and Convention Bureau
