In recognition of its efforts to create a healthy, high-performing work environment, Passport Health Plan has received the 2016 Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award from the American Psychological Association (APA).
One of just six U.S. employers to receive the award, Passport won in the medium not-for-profit category. Passport previously won the Kentucky Psychological Association’s state-level Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award, qualifying it to be nominated for the national APA award. The official recognition will take place at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 27.
Passport excelled in its efforts to foster employee involvement, health and safety, employee growth and development, work-life balance, and employee recognition, according to the APA. The organization’s comprehensive wellness program, behavioral health services, team-building and education, and kudos peer-to-peer recognition program are several examples of the workplace practices that helped it earn the 2016 award.
Passport’s psychologically healthy workplace practices have reaped rewards for both the organization and its employees. Since embarking on its “Cultural Change” program, the organization has enjoyed higher staff job satisfaction and increased productivity. Moreover, looking to promote from within, Passport has had 76 internal promotions within the last two years.
“The culture at Passport has always been one of our strongest attributes, along with our compassion, our dedication, and our commitment to quality healthcare,” said Passport Health Plan CEO Mark B. Carter. “Over the past several years, we’ve all been working very hard to improve our culture from top to bottom. I believe this award is a testament to the success we have achieved and that will continue as we grow and evolve as a team. All of us at Passport are proud and honored to be recognized by the American Psychological Association for all of this hard work.”
Passport supports a robust wellness program, and management continually offers new services and programs such as lifestyle awards, walking challenges, preventive screenings, healthy lunches, and fresh produce delivery from a local farm. Passport also offers onsite training for continuing education credit, management training, and coaching, among other things.
A job at Passport comes with domestic partner benefits, flexible spending accounts, robust medical coverage, and a work-from-home option for some positions. The “Passport Cares” fund lets associates apply for an emergency loan, and the employees’ health plan includes 24-hour access to free services including confidential face-to-face visits with a behavioral health professional. Passport even has a Most Valued Professional award, which recognizes associates for their service. Nominated by their peers or management, each recipient is awarded cash, a plaque and a dedicated parking space.
“Employees notice when an organization legitimately cares about their well-being and are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs, committed to the organization and motivated to do their best,” says David W. Ballard, PsyD, MBA, head of APA’s Center for Organizational Excellence, which hosts the annual awards. “Organizations like Passport Health Plan recognize the importance of creating a work environment where employees and the organization can thrive.”
The APA’s Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards are designed to showcase the very best from among the award winners recognized by APA’s affiliated state, provincial and territorial psychological associations. Nominees are evaluated on their workplace practices in the areas of employee involvement, health and safety, employee growth and development, work-life balance and employee recognition. Awards are given to for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, as well as government, military and educational institutions.
More information about APA’s Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award winners is available at http://www.apaexcellence.org/media. Organizations interested in learning more about creating a psychologically healthy workplace or applying for an award in their state, province or territory can visit http://www.apaexcellence.org. The Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program is a public education initiative from APA’s Center for Organizational Excellence.
Passport Health Plan is a provider-sponsored, non-profit, community-based health plan administering Medicaid benefits to nearly 300,000 Kentuckians. Named the top Medicaid plan in Kentucky by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for 2015-16, Passport has been contracted with the Commonwealth of Kentucky to administer Medicaid benefits since 1997. For more information, please visitpassporthealthplan.com. Passport also operates a Medicare Advantage program, called “Passport Advantage,” for residents of Jefferson, Bullitt, Hardin, and Nelson counties who are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare. For more information, go online to passportadvantage.com
The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. The APA’s membership includes more than 122,500 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people’s lives.
