Following several months of discussions, the Cook County North Shore Hospital and Care Center (CCNSHCC) board concluded it was time to hire a fulltime human resources director (HRD).
CCNSHCC Administrator Kimber Wraalstad said there are approximately 150 employees between the hospital and care center. She explained that most businesses try to have one human resources director for each 100 employees.
Wraalstad also said changes brought on by the Affordable Care Act are creating more and more work for the one employee at the hospital tasked with that job and new job descriptions have to be created, which will be part of the human resource director’s duties.
The board voted 3-1 to begin advertising for the new position at its September 23 meeting. Voting yes were Tom Spence, Kay Olson, and Sharon Bloomquist with Justin Mueller abstaining; board member Howard Abrahamson couldn’t attend this meeting.
A draft detailing the HRD position has been created and shared with the St. Luke’s human resource staff, which will offer any needed input.
CCNSHCC Administrator Kimber Wraalstad told the board they needed to look at hiring someone with a degree in human resources and someone who had some experience in the field.
“This isn’t going to be a ‘train on the job’ position,” Wraalstad said. Instead, the person hired will have to help plan, direct and coordinate human resource functions within the organization, consult with executives on strategic planning, deal with employee relations, and link the hospital/care center’s management with its employees.
Discussion ensued regarding whether or not to have the human resources director be an employee of CCNSHCC, or to have the new hire be a St. Luke’s employee. Tom Spence said he had given the matter considerable thought and came to the conclusion it would be better for the position to be covered by St. Luke’s. St. Luke’s employees, including Wraalstad, currently fill three management positions at CCNSHCC. The board agreed with Spence and voted to have St. Luke’s be the primary employer.
“The person we hire will live here and become part of the community, so really, it doesn’t matter if they are an employee of St. Luke’s or not,” Spence said.
“The position has been posted through St. Luke’s and so far we have had two interested parties,” said Wraalstad to the News-Herald on October 21.
As far as salary, Wraalstad said St. Luke’s has set it at a “competitive range.” While there is no firm timetable for the new hire to start, Wraalstad said, “The sooner the better.”
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