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Founded in 1980, Camarena Health has grown into one of California’s largest Federally Qualified Health Centers, serving more than 70,000 patients annually through 25 locations and providing approximately 400,000 patient visits each year.
As the organization expanded, leadership recognized an opportunity to strengthen employee engagement, provider involvement, and patient experience while creating a culture capable of supporting long-term growth.
MHA, Chief Executive Officer
“To be a provider of choice, we must first be an employer of choice because exceptional care begins with people who feel valued, supported, and inspired.
Like many healthcare organizations, Camarena Health experienced workforce challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic, including increased turnover, recruitment pressures, and employee burnout.
While staffing had begun to stabilize, leadership recognized that sustainable success required more than filling vacancies. Their vision was to become a best place to work, improve access to care, strengthen employee and provider engagement, and create an environment where employees, providers, and patients could all thrive.
Most importantly, leadership believed that becoming a provider of choice would first require becoming an employer of choice.
Chief Human Resources Officer
“These innovative approaches and strategic talent acquisition methods have not only streamlined our hiring process but also significantly enhanced the quality of our hires.”
In 2023, Camarena Health partnered with Custom Learning Systems to implement the Service Excellence Initiative™ (SEI), a comprehensive culture transformation strategy focused on employee engagement, leadership development, provider engagement, patient experience, and accountability.
Through the initiative, Camarena established:
In 2024, Camarena expanded its efforts through the Accelerated Staffing Fix™ program, implementing structured onboarding, mentorship, leadership rounding, employee recognition, and retention-focused engagement strategies.
One of the most successful outcomes was the creation of the Camarena Sluggers onboarding program, designed to celebrate and support employees throughout their first 120 days.
As employee engagement grew, staff began creating solutions that directly impacted patients and communities.
A health educator who noticed patients struggling to understand nutrition labels began accompanying them on grocery store visits. What started as one employee helping one patient evolved into a formal community education program that continues today.
Another employee-led initiative helped expectant mothers learn proper car seat installation. One family later returned to share that the education they received helped save their child’s life during a serious vehicle accident.
These stories became powerful reminders of the impact engaged employees can have on the communities they serve.
Within two years, Camarena Health achieved measurable improvements across employee engagement, patient experience, provider involvement, and organizational culture.
650 employees trained,
98% organizational participation.
Improved communication, teamwork,
morale and accountability.
SEA roles became highly sought-after
leadership opportunities.
Targeted vacancies eliminated.
Formal mentorship and onboarding systems established.
Formal mentorship and onboarding systems established.
Increased provider participation and satisfaction.
Improved provider confidence in staff capabilities.
Greater physician, dental, and behavioral health involvement throughout the organization.
Net Promoter Score increased to 78%.
Improved patient satisfaction and provider communication scores.
Google ratings improved from approximately 3.2 to 4.8 stars across organizational locations.
With Custom Learning Systems to learn how you can transform your culture.
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