MaineGeneral Health Leads Maine Hospitals in Focus on Patient Safety via Reference Checks

Healthcare Provider Advocates 360-Degree Feedback on Job Candidates

Wayne, PA and Augusta, ME --(February 1, 2010)--  SkillSurvey, Inc., and MaineGeneral Health, today announced that MaineGeneral has extended its use of SkillSurvey’s Pre-Hire 360® for an additional three years, based on the proven impact to MaineGeneral’s recruiting process during the past twelve months.  SkillSurvey’s Pre-Hire 360® is an online approach to job candidate reference checking that enables MaineGeneral to make more informed hiring decisions and achieve a more efficient and cost-effective hiring process.

MaineGeneral uses SkillSurvey’s Pre-Hire 360® reference assessment software to gather candid feedback from references regarding job candidates’ behaviors and capabilities — a major improvement over standard reference checks that usually provide only verification of employment.  Pre-Hire 360® provides detailed reports from references on candidates’ true abilities, so hiring managers can make more informed decisions.  “You just can’t get this kind of ‘inside information’ from a job interview—even one that is behaviorally based—because everything you hear is from the candidate’s perspective,” notes Karen Dostie, Recruitment Manager.  “We are better able to make hiring decisions with confidence knowing that we’ve heard from a variety of objective sources.”

MaineGeneral Health will also benefit from SkillSurvey’s Passive Candidate Compiler™, the contact management software solution that automatically populates with contact information for references who opt-in to learn about future job opportunities at MaineGeneral. “It’s a great way to extend our reach when trying to fill open positions.  It’s especially valuable because good people tend to know good people,” observes Rebecca Lamey, Sr. V.P. for Human Resources.

MaineGeneral Health serves nearly 190,000 individuals from 88 cities and towns in the Kennebec Valley region and employs approximately 3,800 people.  Its forward-looking vision centers on clinical excellence and customer satisfaction.

“MaineGeneral’s decision to incorporate SkillSurvey into its hiring practices is compatible with its focus on continuous improvement and offering the highest standard of care,” says Ray Bixler, CEO, SkillSurvey.  “We find that employers who rely on SkillSurvey’s solutions realize a tangible increase in both employee longevity and work performance.  Our tools are designed to help companies hire the best talent, which directly influences productivity and profitability.”

SkillSurvey serves hundreds of clients representing more than half a million candidates or reference providers in over 100 countries.  In the last year alone, over 300,000 professionals experienced SkillSurvey Pre-Hire 360®.  In addition, the SkillSurvey Passive Candidate Compiler™ has over 500,000 active names within the community for clients to use for proactive sourcing of candidates.

About MaineGeneral Health: The state’s third-largest health care system, MaineGeneral currently is a non-profit organization offering a range of services including: a 287-bed acute care medical center with campuses in Waterville and Augusta; the state-of-the-art Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care; primary care and specialty physician practices; long-term care facilities; rehabilitation, mental-health and substance-abuse treatment, home health care and hospice services; special care for patients with memory loss, community outreach programs and retirement living options.

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