Health Department Orientation Project

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Health DepartmentOrientation Project
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Overview

• Background
• Orientation Goals
• Needs Assessment
• Policies Procedures
• Delivery Options
• Scheduling (Internal/External)
• Department Division Review
• Things that should help
• Lessons Learned

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Background

• Multi-partner effort with UNC School of Public
  Health Southern Piedmont Incubator
• Project Management design (whos going to do what
  by when)
• Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA)
• Assure competent public and personal health care
  workforce (Essential Services)

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Orientation Goals

• Provide employees with the tools, training, and
  department expectations necessary to be a
  successful and productive member of the Health
  Department Team.
• Reassure leadership that employees have been
  properly oriented and trained, allowing each to
  make better decisions with regard to permanent
  employment status.

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Needs Assessment

• Employees (new and/or existing)
• Administrators, Managers Supervisors
• Customers (services)

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Needs Assessment

• Improve employee turnover rates
• Reduce employee knowledge gaps
• Establish consistencies across divisions
• Determine if employee is the right fit
• Establish feedback mechanisms
• Establish formal assessments during
  probationary period
• Improve Customer Service

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Policies Procedures

• External
• County
• Community Partners
• Internal
• Department
• Divisions
• Accreditation Considerations
• Policies and Procedures
• Personnel Training Documentation

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Delivery Options

• On-the-Job-Training (OJT)
• DVDs, CDs (8-Tracks Cassettes for older
  employees)
• Manuals
• Staff Presentations (Walk Talks)
• Community Partner Presentations
• Learning Resource Center

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Delivery Options

• On-Line Public Health 101
• Section 1 - What is Public Health?
• http//breeze.unc.edu/p71004902
• Section 2 - Core Functions
• http//breeze.unc.edu/p11437945
• Section 3 - Public Health Law
• http//breeze.unc.edu/p11998001
• Section 4 - Essential Services
• http//breeze.unc.edu/p97173252

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Scheduling

• Internal
• Department (hrs/days of operation)
• Divisions
• Clinics/Services
• External
• County Orientation
• Local/State/Federal Partners
• Consider a Master Calendar

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Department Division Review

• Go from Big Picture to Job Specific
• Health Department Orientation
• Division Orientation
• Other Divisions
• Section/Clinic Orientation
• Job Specific Orientation

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Things that should help

• Test Drive your program
• Avoid Drinking from a Fire Hose
• Identify a Keeper of the Sword (Department
  Divisions)
• Information and procedures change
  frequentlyrevise and update your program
  regularly
• If you aint cheatn, you aint tryn. Steal
  (acquire) from other orientation programs

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Lessons Learned

• Orientation doesnt have to be painful
• Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
• Orient groups when possible
• Dont wait until youre 100, or youll never
  implement your program
• Fail often to succeed sooner (PDSA)
• Involve staff (partners) from all levels (areas)
• Good orientation programs will always be a work
  in progress

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• Questions?