I have worked at Leesburg Regional Medical Center for six years now. I am an X-ray technician with 35 years of experience, and during those years I’ve worked at least part time in all of Lake County’s hospitals (including some extinct), hospitals in neighboring counties and several doctors’ offices.
There are several reasons why LRMC is the best I have worked for. This month, AARP recognized LRMC as an employer of choice for seniors — fourth in the nation. It’s a good choice for younger folks, too. LRMC supports education and advancement to a degree I have not seen before. My fellow employees include a surprising number who have worked their way from an unskilled, entry-level job to a well-paid professional position. Quite a few are on their way up the ladder right now. At LRMC you are encouraged to be what you can be.
One result of this is the longevity and experience of the staff. Employees with 10 or 20 years at LRMC are everywhere. While Central Florida’s other community hospitals were being swallowed by big corporations, LRMC got busy skimming off the cream of the area’s nurses.
You will not find a better nursing staff. It’s not just a bunch of temporary employees. My department is the same. LRMC is obsessed with patient satisfaction. Anyone who wants input on how things are done can fill out one of the comment forms available everywhere.
Good or bad, we will hear about it. Something will be done. Patient evaluations determine how we do our jobs. Certainly we are not perfect, but we try hard, and we are good at what we do.
Since patient care is the emphasis, we have what we need to work with. We have state-of-the-art technology, and all of it is kept working. Nonprofit status means profit is invested in improvements. My job is operating a $5 million scanner.
I recently was diagnosed with cancer and was admitted to LRMC three times. I had complete confidence knowing I was in the most capable hands, and that my treatment was the best available. I have seen all of these folks show their stuff, and know that they care and are the best at what they do.
Since I live in Umatilla, I could not vote in the election that determined LRMC’s fate. But I was pleased that residents realized what they had and decided to hang onto it.
