Sutter Health Named One of the Best Places to Work in Technology

SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 28, 2003 -- IDG's Computerworld has selected Sutter Health, a family of not-for-profit hospitals and physician organizations in Northern California, as a top workplace for information technology professionals. The honor is part of the weekly newspaper's 11th annual Best Places to Work in IT survey, which ranks the top 100 work environments for technology professionals using the categories of benefits, diversity, career development, training and retention. Computerworld surveyed more than 17,000 IT workers for this year’s national list. Sutter Health ranked 34th -- up from 64th in 2003.

Sutter's commitment to pioneering breakthrough technologies like its patient safety systems is key to engaging its employees, says Sutter Health Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer John Hummel. "Each day, our IT professionals work with physicians, nurses and other technicians across our network of hospitals and medical groups to improve patient care through technological innovations and the implementation of best practices. Our goal is to provide a rewarding work environment that supports this meaningful work," Hummel says. "We believe that if our employees are happy, our organization will be more successful, so we're thrilled to be acknowledged as a leader in providing a challenging and rewarding work experience."

As part of its strategic plan, Sutter Health strives to provide its employees with the "best place to work and practice." Through coordinated efforts in recruitment, training, assessment of job satisfaction and benefit enhancement, the organization works to continually improve work culture as well as involve all levels of employees in effecting positive change in its primary business -- quality patient care. To reward its employees, Sutter increased its salary and benefit investment by nearly a half billion dollars from 2001 to 2003. It also invested a quarter of a billion dollars in its pension plan during 2003.

"We were tremendously gratified by the reader response to our 'Best Places to Work' survey this year, which was 30 percent higher and represents the views of nearly 17,000 technology professionals," says Maryfran Johnson, editor in chief of Computerworld. "The most-desired benefits have remained consistent in recent years. IT pros still want access to leading-edge technologies, training and flexible work schedules. But our Best Places companies often go beyond those measures to provide much deeper levels of job fulfillment."

Other companies that Computerworld ranked among the Best Places to Work include Allstate Insurance Company, FedEx Corporation, Ford Motor Company, General Mills, MasterCard International and Discover Financial Services.

About Computerworld
Computerworld, the "Voice of IT Management," is the most trusted source for critical information needs of senior IT management. Computerworld’s integrated offerings form the U.S.-based hub of the world’s largest (58-edition) global IT media network through its weekly publication, Computerworld.com website, focused conference series and custom research. In the past five years alone Computerworld has won more than 100 print and online awards for editorial and design excellence surpassing its direct competition by an order of magnitude. Recognition includes a Jesse H. Neal Award for “Best News Coverage” and the 2004 American Business Media’s first annual Timothy White Award for journalistic integrity and editorial courage bestowed to editor in chief, Maryfran Johnson. In print since 1967, Computerworld is the source for information technology management with a guaranteed rate base of 180,000, a total print audience of 1,869,000 (IntelliQuest CIMS v.10.0), and an online audience of over one million unique monthly visitors (DoubleClick).

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Contact
Karen Garner
Communications Manager
916-286-8297
garnerk@sutterhealth.org