It is widely known that pay is often a reason for turnover in public health. As a supervisor, I think it's key to not only welcome new employees, but also show that I'm invested in them. An employee who feels valued is more likely to stay in a position regardless of pay.
Kristine Hollingsworth
Public Information Officer and Assistant to the Administrator
Florida Department of Health, Collier CountyAs a public information officer, Kristine Hollingsworth is the spokeswoman for DOH-Collier and is enthusiastic in speaking with the media to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida. She is driven to spread awareness and educate the public on human trafficking, an ever-growing issue that affects her community and society at large. Kristine utilized $3,500 in grant funds received from the Florida Department of Health Violence and Injury Prevention Program via the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Trafficking in Persons to raise awareness, educate the community, and collaborate with outside organizations.
Kristine has been involved in multiple aspects of healthcare for over 15 years, including patient care, research, and executive support. She continually thinks “outside the box” and has spearheaded many initiatives at DOH-Collier, including the “Shoo the Flu Challenge,” winning a Prudential Productivity Award in 2017.
Kristine is a graduate of Oakland University in Rochester, Mich.
BOLD SOLUTION: Kristine initiated the "Shoo the Flu Challenge" to increase the rates of employees receiving the vaccination. Staff said that leaving their workspaces, registering, and waiting to receive a vaccine interrupted their workday and client care. Kristine worked with her immunizations division to create a "Flu Cart," a mobile cart that brings the vaccine and registration to an employee's workspace or desk. During the 2013-14 flu season, the employee vaccination rate was 36 percent. After the "Shoo the Flu Challenge" was implemented, the rate reached 75 percent in 2015-16, and the Immokalee site obtained a 100 percent overall vaccination rate.
