Synthetic Medic Medical Center

Seconds with Snake

Team,

As summer winds down, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on everything that we’ve accomplished here at SMMC.

First, I’d like to recognize all of our SMMC frontline healthcare workers. Through staffing challenges, increased patient volumes, missed lunches, mandatory overtime, and unprecedented physical and mental demand, you continue to show up and provide exceptional care- often with little to no help from us. That resilience and drive is what makes SMMC great.

Although you can’t see it, SMMC Leadership has tirelessly worked behind the scenes as well. This summer alone, we were able to complete three executive retreats, established seven new interdisciplinary committees, redesigned the executive conference room, and identified significant cost-saving opportunities including: the removal of complimentary coffee from six employee break rooms within our healthcare system and the removal of our bonuses for open shift incentives.

In recent months it’s been brought to our attention that employee morale has been suffering. We can only ignore it for so long, so we are pleased to say that after a threat of mass exodus, WE HEARD YOU. After months of anonymous surveys- which are only accessible to you via a personal access code, focus groups, meetings, and consulting with people who have never actually worked your job, I am proud to announce that SMMC has secured a $1.6 million Employee Wellness Grant. Every single dollar of this grant is being dedicated to YOU

$310,000 - The SMMC Serenity Garden

A small garden featuring imported landscaping, a reflection pond, six benches, and a tranquil walking path where employees can decompress during the breaks we encourage you to take only when staffing permits.

$225,000 - Executive Wellness Initiative

Premium massage chairs will be installed throughout administrative offices. Healthy leadership and morale begins at the top, and we cannot effectively address your burnout if we too are uncomfortable.

$180,000 - Employee Pickleball Complex

A state-of-the-art pickleball court available to employees Monday through Friday from 10:00am - 2:00pm. We look forward to seeing many of you there, workload permitting.

$145,000 - Emotional Support Koi Pond

Located in the main lobby, this peaceful aquatic installation will provide a calming environment for employees arriving early, leaving late, or briefly passing through while transporting a patient.

The remaining $740,00 will support consultants, feasibility studies, administrative costs, signage, leadership development, and continued research into what employees actually need versus what employees want. Many of you have suggested that these funds could have instead been used for additional staffing or increased compensation. Unfortunately, solving morale through money would only provide a temporary solution. A koi pond is permanent.

As always, I want to personally thank every member of our frontline team. Your willingness to continue accomplishing more with fewer and fewer resources has allowed Leadership to pursue initiatives like this without negatively impacting our organizational goals and bottom line.

Thank you team,

Snake
Chief Executive Medic Officer
S.M.M.C.