Northwestern Memorial HealthCare Named Among the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers for the 13th Consecutive Year

CHICAGO, Sept. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Northwestern Memorial HealthCare has been recognized as one of the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" by Working Mother magazine for the 13^th consecutive year.  The esteemed award recognizes the top companies nationally to support working mothers as they balance work duties and familial responsibilities.  Northwestern Memorial was the only hospital in Illinois awarded the prestigious distinction. 

"We are proud of our commitment to supporting our working parents and we are honored to be recognized for our efforts," said Dean L. Manheimer, senior vice president of human resources at Northwestern Memorial.  "Through a broad range of benefits and programs including our new state-of-the-art childcare center, we endeavor to help employees balance professional demands and personal responsibilities."

The Working Mother 100 Best Companies are judged on answers to 650 questions, including data on the access and usage of flexible work arrangements, parental leave, childcare, health and wellness support and the advancement of women to all levels of management.  Northwestern Memorial was praised for several programs that foster a family-friendly culture at both Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital including its new expanded, childcare center for 320 children, tuition reimbursement, continuing education program and flex-time schedule offerings.  Benefits also include health insurance for part-time employees and access to lactation rooms for new mothers and an employee assistance program.

"Work-life balance promotes engagement among our employees and ties into our Patients First mission," Manheimer said.  "The support we offer our employees helps them deliver on our promise of high quality care in meeting the unique needs of our patients."

For this year's 100 Best, particular weight was given to child care, flexibility, and advancement of women.  100 percent of this year's winning companies offer paid maternity leave and 93 percent offer child care resources.

The 2012 "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" are featured in the October issue of Working Mother magazine and online at workingmother.com/best-companies. 

About Northwestern Memorial HealthCare
Northwestern Memorial HealthCare is the parent corporation of Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital, an 894-bed academic medical center hospital and Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, a 201-bed community hospital located in Lake Forest, Illinois. 

About Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Northwestern Memorial is one of the country's premier academic medical center hospitals and is the primary teaching hospital of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.  Along with its Prentice Women's Hospital and Stone Institute of Psychiatry, the hospital has 1,705 affiliated physicians and 6,769 employees.  Northwestern Memorial is recognized for providing exemplary patient care and state-of-the art advancements in the areas of cardiovascular care; women's health; oncology; neurology and neurosurgery; solid organ and soft tissue transplants and orthopaedics.

Northwestern Memorial has nursing Magnet Status, the nation's highest recognition for patient care and nursing excellence.  And, Northwestern Memorial ranks 12^th in the nation in the U.S. News & World Report 2012 Honor Roll of "America's Best Hospitals." The hospital is ranked in 12 of 16 clinical specialties rated by U.S. News and is No. 1 in Illinois and Chicago in U.S. News' 2012 state and metro rankings, respectively. For 12 years running, Northwestern Memorial has been rated among the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" guide by Working Mother magazine. The hospital is a recipient of the prestigious National Quality Health Care Award and has been chosen by Chicagoans as the Consumer Choice according to the National Research Corporation's annual survey for 13 years. 

SOURCE Northwestern Memorial Hospital