Tammy Batten - St John of God Hospital, Geraldton
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Title: Chief executive officer/director of nursing
Business: Hospital
Total employees: 161
Reporting directly: 10
Accomplishments
Tammy Maree Batten believes her most significant business achievement is the improvement of the profitability of St John of God Hospital that followed her appointment as CEO/DON.
She says she encouraged the caregivers’ contribution to the profitability of the organisation, reviewed staffing levels and their flexibility, undertook discussions with key stakeholders, and increased media coverage of the organisation’s achievements.
Ms Batten established a funding submission process under the St John of God Health Care Rural Health Strategy and a level 2 neonatal nursery reducing the transfer of babies needing specialist care to Perth.
She also instigated the recruitment of psychiatrist staff to the region and viteoretinal surgery, a highly specialised branch of eye surgery.
Career guides
• A physical presence in the employee work environment to allow role modelling, responsive coaching and mentoring.
• Structuring of department meetings and other communication forums to ensure all employees have the opportunity to express their concern and ideas, and influence policies and decisions that affect their work.
Personal/community
Ms Batten has a bachelor of science degree specialising in nursing from Curtin University and is currently undertaking a master of business administration at the University of Newcastle.
She collaboratively advocates for and on behalf of rural communities in her role as rural health manager, and successfully lobbied with the Cancer Council WA for continuation of the rural breast nurse role.
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