GANADO, Ariz. – My name is Brenda Yazzie I am the Healthcare Recruiter at Sage Memorial Hospital. I have been in healthcare for thirty years in various roles. I am often asked “why recruiting?” and my answer is “to bring healthcare professionals to take care of our Diné people and our surrounding communities. We all have elders and family members that we care for and knowing that our loved ones are being taken care of, is why I do it.”
I am passionate about helping our Diné people to ensure that we are giving the best quality of care by making Sage Memorial Hospital’s core values of Bee łá’í ‘dlį (Together/ Unity) | Hodílzin (Sacred) | Hózhó (Beauty/Balance) | Ił’ílį (Respect) as a cornerstone of Sage Memorial Hospital’s recruitment and retention program. Recruitment and retention in healthcare requires a strong organizational mission, vision and core value statements.
Sage Memorial Hospital provides behavioral health services, dental, diabetes & community health, emergency and urgent care, lab, medical imaging, medical/telemetry, optometry, outpatient clinic, pharmacy, rehabilitation therapy, and a mobile unit for community outreach. Our satellite clinic, Greasewood Springs Clinic provides outpatient care services, adult and children’s primary care, dental, pharmacy, and basic lab services.
As a Recruiter, knowing the clinical services that we provide is crucial to the search and recruitment of the best and utmost certified healthcare professionals who provide the most adequate and safe care possible to our patients. Therefore, it is vital that we fill our positions with highly educated, highly trained, licensed and board-certified health professionals to enhance and deliver effective and efficient care while employed with Sage Memorial Hospital. It is imperative that recruitment stay involved with the hiring processes, to collaborate with department leaders, to identify vacant and non-vacant healthcare professional positions.
For marketing, we use billboards in North Gallup, New Mexico, and Cameron, Arizona, to reach our community. I’m optimistic about expanding our advertising strategy to use radio, newspapers, and social media in the future. My vision also includes adding QR codes on our mobile units linking to the SMH “Careers” page for wider job visibility. Additionally, I would also like to create an employee referral program because our employees are our best advocates.
Since, I took on the role as the Healthcare Recruiter my main objectives were to create and foster partnerships, market and promote, and find the best medical staff. Sage is now working with the Indian Health Service who now posts Sage’s job openings on the IHS.gov/jobs website. Other partnerships include working with our local universities, colleges, and technical institutions.
Also attending career fairs and virtual fairs to network and gain insight on other opportunities. Another aspect of recruiting is working with our younger generation who are enrolled in universities pursuing their healthcare education. Sage Memorial Hospital has partnered with several universities that have created Affiliation Agreements to allow Native students to complete their clinical rotations at Sage and hopefully one day they return to work for Sage Memorial Hospital.
Sage Memorial invests in its clinical employees by providing Loan Repayment Options. Our employee benefits include Grand Canyon University discounted rates for employees who want to return to school. Verdguard (HMA) provides a comprehensive plan that covers medical, dental, pharmacy and vision insurance. Mutual of Omaha provides coverage for Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance, and AD&D. Nationwide Retirement Plan provides coverage for 403(b) retirement plan. Other benefits include Traditional Healing Reimbursement, Employee Recognition Program, Personal Time Off & Paid Holidays, including two (2) Floating Holidays, free membership to the Hoo’zhoo’gii Wellness Center, Child Care Services, and on-site housing for eligible positions.
I am fortunate to have a talented team to support our recruitment efforts here at Sage Memorial.
Please visit our careers page on www.sagememorial.com for vacancies at Sage. Please contact me if you should have any questions at brenda. yazzie@sagememorial.com.
