Frequently Asked Questions
A. Both of our hospitals – Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center and Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital – are growing facilities 
where nurses work with advanced technology to deliver excellent patient care. They are part of a nursing organization that is interested in promoting professional growth for its nurses. Also:
* Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center has recently completed an expansion and renovation of its patient care areas. Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital is an entirely new facility completed in 2008.
* Both hospitals are fully computerized and use electronic charting and medication administration developed in collaboration with the nursing staff.
* Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center offers nurses the chance to assist with primary and elective angioplasty, and assist with Level III Trauma Center cases. Nurses also participated in fulfilling The Joint Commission certification for the hospital's total knee and total hip replacement programs.
* Our Women's Centers is practicing mother-baby and family-centered care in our new labor/delivery/postpartum area.
* Nurses participate in sophisticated critical care nursing in our new Critical Care Unit at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center.
These are just a small sample of the opportunities in specialized nursing care at Ephraim McDowell Health.
Q. What is the interview process?
A. All nursing candidates can expect to have peer interviews. Initially, you will meet with a Human Resources representative and the director and/or manager of the nursing unit for which you are applying. Later, you will be asked to interview with a panel of peers. The objective is to give you the opportunity to evaluate Ephraim McDowell Health, as well as to give your potential colleagues a chance to have input. In some cases, we may ask you to return for a discussion with the night shift Associates, depending on the shift for which you are applying. In short, we want the interview process to provide information that will be mutually beneficial in the selection process for both the organization and for you.
Q. What is the RN Residency Program?
A. Our R.N. Residency Process has been designed to transition newly-graduated registered nurses from a classroom setting to the clinical setting to ensure greater success in providing patient care at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center. As part of this process, you will be assigned to a clinical educator who works with you to affirm your confidence in your knowledge of the processes and procedures of our nursing environment. After the residency process, the clinical educator continues to provide support while you are learning the specific details of your work within the department.
Q. Is there an incentive for me to continue my education?
A. The compensation philosophy of Ephraim McDowell Health is based on "Pay for Knowledge, Pay for Skill and Pay for Performance". Our compensation package is competitive for our nursing Associates and we do recognize additional education in our salary structure. There is an opportunity to receive additional compensation based on receiving specific certifications from national credentialing organizations. For each certification, the additional compensation is $1.00/hour up to two such certifications. It is also possible to receive a third certification as a Clinical Educator. We also pay an extra $1.00 per hour if you work as a clinical educator and attend educational programs as part of those responsibilities.
Q. What is meant by Pay for Skill and Pay for Performance?
A. Consistent with our compensation philosophy, Ephraim McDowell Health also recognizes nurses for new skills acquired through participation in our Clinical Achievement Pathways being introduced in 2010. "Pay for Performance" is how Ephraim McDowell Health adjusts Associates' base pay rate. A performance appraisal is completed annually on each Associate and, depending upon the person's overall score, a corresponding increase percentage is applied to the base rate. Performance-based compensation assures that each Associate is in control of their pay adjustment based upon their contributions to their role and responsibilities.
Q. What kind of retirement plan do you offer?
A. We are pleased to offer the best matching retirement plan in this area. Ephraim McDowell Health will provide a matching contribution based on the following schedule:
* EMH will match $2.00 for each $1.00 deferred on the first 1.0% of pay.
* EMH will match $1.00 for each $1.00 deferred on the next 3.0% of pay.
* EMH will match $.75 for each $1.00 deferred on the next 4.0% of pay.
Therefore, if you defer 8% of your pay, Ephraim McDowell Health will be matching that with 8.0% dollar for dollar.
Q. Will you pay off my student loans?
A. We offer 100% student loan repayment. For each year of service, Ephraim McDowell Health will pay the lesser of 20% of the loan value or 
$5,250, the designated IRS taxable benefit level.
Q. Can I further my education while working?
A. We encourage you to further your education while employed with us, and we will accommodate your school schedule so that you can maintain your employment with us. You can earn your bachelor's or master's degrees in Danville through Eastern Kentucky University's satellite campus. We will also continue to pay your student loan.
Q. What kind of health insurance do you offer?
A. We offer four levels of health insurance including a high deductible health plan with a health savings account, as well as three preferred provider organization plans. The co-insurance on these plans range from 80% to 90% of eligible expenses. If services are performed with an Ephraim McDowell Health facility there is no deductible. Our plans are self-insured; therefore, expenses are paid directly by Ephraim McDowell Health up to a specific attachment point where re-insurance will cover for extraordinarily large claims. This ensures our premiums are competitively priced and based on our claims experience.
Q. What kind of support is available to me while on the job?
A. We offer many types of support to our nursing staff, including: full support staff on every shift; unit secretary on every shift; 24-hour housekeeping coverage; and transport staff for taking patients to ancillary services. In addition, we have lots of student nurses and we welcome and support them in a friendly environment just as we do for our new Associates.