October 16, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media contact: Lindsey Ruivivar, 509-935-6001, LRuivivar@newhp.org

October 16th, 2023 – On October 11th the Spokane Journal of Business hosted a celebratory event for organizations selected as the Best Places to Work Inland Northwest for 2023. The Best Places to Work Inland Northwest is a survey and awards program that honors employers in the Inland Northwest region who are making their workplaces great.

The annual selection process is open to for-profit, non-profit, and government employers in Spokane,
Bonner, Kootenai, Pend Oreille, Stevens counties. Only 40 companies, including NEW Health, were
selected for this year’s recognition, and NEW Health was the only employer recognized from Stevens
and Pend Oreille counties.

“As a rural, non-profit health care employer to have gone up against urban, for-profit companies of all
industries in this evaluation process makes NEW Health’s recognition all the more meaningful,” says
NEW Health CEO Desiree Sweeney. “At NEW Health, we are committed to providing our staff with
opportunities for career training and advancement. Through our strategic workforce development
program, NEW Health University, we provide monthly education time for all employees and hold
ourselves accountable for internal advancement. Over the past 12 months, 23 employees were
promoted internally, a key performance indicator we monitor to measure employee opportunities.”

“We also prioritize internal staff communications and great benefits. For example, we continue to
provide employer-paid medical and dental insurance and this past year we added Life Flight
memberships for all staff and their families.” Sweeney continues, “We also have fun at NEW Health!
From our coffee days to our All Staff Celebration, we take time to celebrate and recognize our staff year round. I already knew I had the best staff. Receiving the Best Places to Work Inland Northwest
recognition is just another testament to the award-winning workplace we have created at NEW Health.”

Employers were scored through two surveys managed by Workforce Research Group, a partner of the
Spokane Journal of Business. Part one (25% of score) consisted of an employer survey about the
company’s benefits, policies, practices, and other information. Part two (75% of score) consisted of a
confidential employee survey used to evaluate the employees’ workplace experience in the areas of
engagement and satisfaction. Focus areas include:

    Employee Experience

    Role Satisfaction

    Diversity and Inclusion

    Leadership

    Benefits

    Training, Technology and Development

    Communication and Workplace Culture

    Supervisor Relationship

    Work-Life Balance

    This year, 40 companies in the Inland Northwest achieved scores high enough to be recognized as Best Places to Work.

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    The mission of NEW Health is to promote health and wellness within our communities by providing
    integrated, open-access healthcare for all. NEW Health operates primary medical, dental, behavioral
    health, and pharmacy services for residents of Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille counties. NEW Health
    serves over 16,000 patients annually and employs more than 180 staff. NEW Health is an equal
    opportunity provider and employer. Bringing healthcare into communities and communities into
    healthcare since 1978.

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