Let your voice be heard: Employee engagement survey begins Feb. 10
Published on Monday, February 3, 2025
By: Danny Barrett Jr., dlbarrett@umc.edu
Photos By: Jay Ferchaud/ UMMC Communications
The last time University of Mississippi Medical Center employees spoke, leaders put their feedback into action. It’s a trend leaders hope will continue, starting this month.
The 2025 Employee Engagement Survey will be emailed to all employees Feb. 10 and will cover topics ranging from stress and safety to work environment. Answers to those questions across the Medical Center’s mission areas of clinical care, education and research are vital toward making UMMC a better place to work, leaders say.
“Our employees are the heart of our university medical center,” said Dr. Scott Rodgers, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs. “We need to hear from them through the upcoming Employee Engagement Survey so we have a full understanding of our strengths and our areas of opportunity. I urge everyone to complete the survey and be represented.”
In 2022, about 70 percent of UMMC’s 10,000 employees took the survey, which will again be administered in 2025 by Press Ganey, a national health care employee and patient survey developer. UMMC leaders have set a participation goal of at least 75 percent for this year’s survey.
The survey will be available through Feb. 24. When submitted, the survey goes directly to Press Ganey. Results are kept confidential, and employees are encouraged to answer questions honestly.
The last survey yielded several significant improvements, including:
- A merit-based performance evaluation process and pay increases tied to merit
- Restructured senior management leadership rounds to promote patient safety
- Improvements in multidisciplinary communication in the hospital and about work in the areas of quality and safety
- Increased staff resources and individual department recognitions
- Investments in technical upgrades
Supervisors in all departments depend on the feedback given in surveys to help determine goals and objectives in their respective work units.
“It’s an opportunity for all employees to express their thoughts anonymously and candidly regarding our achievements since the last survey, as well as the areas where we may need to improve,” said Ashley Darby, director of imaging services in radiology administration. “It’s essential to receive feedback from everyone involved to see exactly where we need to shift our efforts.”
It's also a way to take direction and channel it toward longer-range goals.
“Without such comprehensive data, our ability to make well-informed and equitable decisions is compromised, so it is vitally important that we take advantage of this opportunity to make our voices heard and help guide future planning,” said Dr. Caroline Compretta, assistant vice chancellor for research.
The survey is also a chance for employees to highlight strengths and build on what might already be discussed in rounds in University Hospital and Children’s of Mississippi, as well as the six health science schools.
“It’s important to return the survey to create an environment where our employees feel valued and heard,” said Brittani Crist, ultrasound manager in the adult hospital. “It makes for effective communication throughout the organization.”
Changes inspired by the 2022 survey also included several initiatives toward specific areas of need, such as disruptive patient emergencies, operational excellence and celebrating excellence.
“By providing honest feedback, employees contribute to decisions that directly influence UMMC’s culture, morale and progress,” said Dr. Denise Cornelius, associate professor of toxicology and pharmacology. “It’s important to recognize that meaningful changes have been implemented at UMMC as a direct result of past survey responses—proving that our voices matter and can drive real change.”