VCU news

By Pamela DiSalvo Lepley
Division of University Relations

RICHMOND, Va. (Sept. 21, 2004) – The Virginia Commonwealth University Health System has been named one of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers by Working Mother magazine, which lauded the organization’s program to advance women in the medical sciences, its employee-only OB-GYN clinic and its on-site child-care centers.

The VCU Health System was one of 12 health systems in the United States, and one of six companies in Virginia, chosen for the honor. The magazine said this year’s recipients showed a trend toward attention to employees’ health and wellness.

“It’s an enormous responsibility to care for a family and succeed at a job, and we’re thrilled to see the serious commitment of smart companies to help their employees,” said Carol Evans, CEO of Working Mother Media, which publishes Working Mother. “When we started the list 19 years ago, we hit the mother lode when a company offered some kind of child care. Today we see stunning innovations.”

The VCU Health System gained the magazine’s recognition for several initiatives, including its Women in Science, Dentistry and Medicine program, a professional association for women designed to ensure they move through the ranks of the health system while at the same time juggling stressors like the life and death nature of their work with their home and family life.

Also lauded was the VCU Health System’s on-site Ob-Gyn clinic for pregnant employees, which enables the women to balance frequent doctor visits with their demanding schedules. 

“The access to excellent, on-site medical care is really incredible,” said Melissa Hunt, a VCUHS director of nursing and mother of two. “During a high-risk pregnancy with my twins, I could pop down to the OB-GYN clinic and be back in less time than most women would take to get to their doctor’s office.”

Further, the VCU Health System offers its employees three nationally accredited, on-site child–care centers that offer extended hours and back-up child care.

“When schools closed this year due to snow, they offered free childcare to my 5-year-old who is not even enrolled,” said Christina Blottner, a surgical nurse. “They did everything possible to accommodate every child with a parent who needed to work.”

Working Mother magazine also highlighted the health system’s Rainbow Society, which helps employees facing a financial hardship, such as the loss of a spouse’s job. Such workers can have their household bills paid in full with no need to repay.  The gifts are funded through staff contributions and fundraising events.

Dr. Sheldon M. Retchin, CEO of the VCU Health System, said he was not surprised at the honor but delighted to see the organization recognized for the efforts it makes on behalf of working mothers.

“The VCU Health System includes some extraordinary employees, many of whom are working mothers, and caring is the very essence of everything they do,” said Retchin. “That is one reason that we work so hard to help our employees balance their work and family lives. I am amazed at the way so many of my colleagues work so passionately at their jobs and careers while simultaneously raising children. I admire their passion for excellence at work and home.”

Retchin said the organization will continue to emphasize work-life balance issues through wellness programs, community development opportunities, employee benefits and lifelong learning opportunities, including tuition waivers.

VCU Health System officials attribute high performance among staff to policies and benefits that have been in place for many years.

“We have fostered and maintained a family-friendly culture that spans decades,” said Maria Curran, vice president of human resources. “Our longevity as well as the length of our employees’ tenure tells us that focusing on work-life balance is a right thing to do that also pays us back financially.” 

Working Mother magazine, with a circulation of nearly 3 million readers, is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers. The magazine says its 19-year signature initiative, 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers, is a benchmark for work/life practices in corporate America.

For more information on the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers visit Working Mother Magazine.