The Vestfjörður Health Institute is a high jumper among large institutions Sameyki's survey of the institution of the year 2019.

"These results are extremely happy and confirmation of the feeling we have had that morale within the organization and satisfaction has increased, and its image and the pride of the staff have improved in recent terms," says CEO Gylfi Ólafsson.

Last year, the Vestfjörður Health Institute reached the minimum participation to be included in the survey, after failing to do so in previous years. The organization was then in 74th place out of 82 organizations with 50 or more employees. The institution was the lowest among healthcare institutions and below their average in sub-items measuring satisfaction and pride, institution image, morale and management.

A big turnaround

This has changed over the years. The institution jumps up 34 places, but no large institution rises so quickly between years, see figure 1

In July 2018, Gylfi Ólafsson took over the position of director of the organization, and as a result there was a major renewal in its management team. The medical manager, human resources and operations manager, financial manager and nursing manager at Patreksfjörður have all come to work since then. Vestfjörður Health Institute has now reached the average of all institutions, and after being somewhat below the average of health institutions, the overall score is now above the average of its sister institutions. See pictures 2 and 3

In particular, it is the sub-items management, morale, remuneration, image of the organization, and satisfaction and pride that increase between years, see figure 4.

The response rate increased considerably between years. It cannot be ruled out that it affects the results.

A good interim period but still work to be done

"To provide our vital services, it is fundamental that the staff feel good. That is why it is my biggest role as a leader to promote it by all means. These results are a good interim measure and show us that reforms can quickly bring measurable results, but they also show us where the shoe is cramping and where we should focus in the coming seasons. We have many projects in preparation there," says Gylfi.


Figure 1: Ranking 2018 and 2019. http://hvest.is/um_hvest/skraarsafn/skra/43


Figure 2: Average score 2018 and 2018 compared to all major institutions. http://hvest.is/um_hvest/skraarsafn/skra/44


Figure 3: Average score compared to sister institutions. http://hvest.is/um_hvest/skraarsafn/skra/45

Author: GÓ