Health Department Orientation Project

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

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

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

Needs Assessment  Employees (new and/or existing)  Administrators, Managers & Supervisors  Customers (services)

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

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

Delivery Options On-the-Job-Training (OJT) On-the-Job-Training (OJT) DVD’s, CD’s (8-Tracks & Cassettes for older employees) DVD’s, CD’s (8-Tracks & Cassettes for older employees) Manuals Manuals Staff Presentations (Walk & Talks) Staff Presentations (Walk & Talks) Community Partner Presentations Community Partner Presentations “Learning Resource Center” “Learning Resource Center”

Delivery Options On-Line: “Public Health 101” On-Line: “Public Health 101” Section 1 - What is Public Health? Section 2 - Core Functions Section 3 - Public Health Law Section 4 - Essential Services

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

Department & Division Review Go from “Big Picture” to “Job Specific” Go from “Big Picture” to “Job Specific” Health Department Orientation Health Department Orientation Division Orientation Division Orientation “Other Divisions” “Other Divisions” Section/Clinic Orientation Section/Clinic Orientation Job Specific Orientation Job Specific Orientation

Things that should help… “Test Drive” your program “Test Drive” your program Avoid “Drinking from a Fire Hose” Avoid “Drinking from a Fire Hose” Identify a “Keeper of the Sword” (Department & Divisions) Identify a “Keeper of the Sword” (Department & Divisions) Information and procedures change frequently…revise and update your program regularly Information and procedures change frequently…revise and update your program regularly “If you ain’t cheat’n, you ain’t try’n”. Steal (acquire) from other orientation programs “If you ain’t cheat’n, you ain’t try’n”. Steal (acquire) from other orientation programs

Lessons Learned Orientation doesn’t have to be painful Orientation doesn’t have to be painful Communicate, Communicate, Communicate Communicate, Communicate, Communicate Orient groups when possible Orient groups when possible Don’t wait until you’re 100%, or you’ll never implement your program Don’t wait until you’re 100%, or you’ll never implement your program “Fail often to succeed sooner” (PDSA) “Fail often to succeed sooner” (PDSA) Involve staff (partners) from all levels (areas) Involve staff (partners) from all levels (areas) Good orientation programs will always be “a work in progress” Good orientation programs will always be “a work in progress”

Questions?