Describe your responsibilities
My job is to support the healthcare facilities in my region with all their compliance and operational documentation. I travel frequently to the sites in my three-state region. I conduct building tours to help them get prepared for Joint Commission surveys. I serve as their compliance resource, answering any questions they might have about possible issues at their site. If I don’t know the answer, I utilize my resources at Medxcel to get answers for them. Medxcel has robust compliance, validation, life safety, and support teams. It’s my job to come in behind them to help identify and address any issues they may have been cited for after a visit by Joint Commission or the Medxcel compliance validation team. I think of myself as the cleanup team that helps them prepare better for the next time.
Describe the path you took to arrive in your current role.
I began my career in a healthcare facility in Oklahoma in 2002. I was the secretary/coordinator for their facilities department and I answered the phones, ran maintenance orders, completed paperwork, and ordered supplies. Medxcel took over the facilities department six years ago and I took that opportunity to go back to school to enhance my career opportunities with Medxcel. I enrolled in a healthcare leadership program through ASHE that led to an associate degree. In 2017 I was promoted to Facility Manager, overseeing four sites in Oklahoma. In that role I became more involved in validations and learned that I had a passion for the compliance side of the business. I started to look for open compliance positions within Medxcel and I joined the compliance team in April 2019 when there was an opening in my region which covers Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. I now have responsibility for about 33 facilities, and I love my job.
What training and development opportunities has Medxcel provided you with?
When I joined Medxcel, I had a high school education. My director encouraged me to go back to college and Medxcel gave me that opportunity through a flexible schedule and a great tuition reimbursement program. I have taken a lot of training courses through ASHE and other organizations. I know that if I tell my director I’ve found a course that looks interesting and I need some time to take it, that Medxcel will support me. I feel like many companies don’t allow those opportunities for learning; I was in shock when I joined Medxcel and discovered how much they encouraged me to learn and grow, paying for my time to learn and paying for the courses. The tuition reimbursement benefit has made all the difference to me in my career. I’m still going to school; I’m not going to stop. I’m working on my bachelor’s degree in applied science and I’m also working towards my Certified Healthcare Facilities Manager (CHFM) certification, and I hope to complete that by the end of this year. I’ve never seen a company that encourages education and supports career growth the way Medxcel does.
What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is the variety. I enjoy visiting a new site every week and seeing new faces; it never gets boring. I love visiting all my sites and learning how they do things there. They teach me things and in return I use my experience to turn around and teach them something as well. I’m a people person and I enjoy traveling and meeting new people.
Which of Medxcel’s Core Values is most important to you?
To me Integrity means that your word means everything. Being trustworthy and reliable is very important to me both at work, and in my personal life. It’s my job to be respectful to those I work with, and to enforce our policies, setting a positive example for others. I always tell my kids, “Your word means everything. If people can trust what you say and trust what you do, you’ll have it made.”
Is there something you’ve learned during your time at Medxcel that you didn’t expect?
Medxcel has taught me that even though I’m a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry, I can achieve anything with hard work and the support of my company. I have really benefitted from the support of other women including our Director of CMMS and Facility Support, and our Regulatory Compliance Director. They have always been so positive and help me through any challenges I come up against. I wouldn’t be in the role that I am today without the mentorship and support of the women in Medxcel’s leadership.
What would you tell someone considering a career with Medxcel?
I encourage others to join Medxcel. For me, the educational opportunities have been tremendously rewarding. To have a company that helps to pay for your education and that is supportive and provides you with opportunities to grow, I’ve never experienced that with my prior employers. They rewarded longevity, not education and experience and were content to let people languish in a position forever. Medxcel really encourages us to grow and reach our full potential and provides us with the tools to succeed.