FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Palmira Arellano -(210) 575-0172

November 2007 -- San Antonio, Texas Methodist Healthcare is the first San Antonio area company to use a recently-launched talent assessment tool to assist in employment selection and development.

Developed by San Antonio-based Harcourt Assessment, the Harcourt Workplace Personality Inventory assesses 16 key work styles and work-related personality traits. Methodist Healthcare is using the assessment in a pilot program at its new Methodist Stone Oak Hospital. The hospital will open next year and employees being recruited through the facilities shared employee program are asked to participate in the assessment process. The program, which rolled out in September of 2007, has been very successful and the candidates report they found the process enjoyable.

“Since most of our staff members are clinical, their relationships with patients as well as their technical expertise are very important to us,” said Dean Alexander, Methodist Stone Oak CEO. “Not only do they face life-or-death situations daily, but they also must be able to handle stressful, sensitive and emotional situations. Our patients trust them with the care of their loved ones. This new tool is helping us identify employees who are able to deliver services in keeping with the Methodist Healthcare mission and culture.”

Methodist Healthcare is the city’s second largest private employer with more than 7,000 employees in 22 facilities.

Harcourt Assessment has tailored the inventory to meet the special needs of Methodist Healthcare, and the organization currently is using the inventory as a requirement for job candidates who complete the application process. In tailoring the assessment tool, Harcourt Assessment teamed with Methodist to assess over 100 current employees to determine acceptable and desired norm levels in assessed categories such as initiative, persistence, stress tolerance, etc. This “norming process” has enabled Methodist to take a closer look at candidates to find the most desirable match. The assessment tool is administered prior to the employment interview and takes just 20 minutes.

Hiring individuals with the personal style that best meets the needs of a position reduces turnover and increases productivity. Competencies measured include achievement/effort, initiative, cooperation, social orientation, stress tolerance, dependability, integrity/dutifulness, innovation, persistence, leadership orientation, concern for others, self-control, adaptability/flexibility, attention to detail, independence and analytical thinking.

The Harcourt Workplace Personality Inventory can be useful in identifying the right candidates and coaching and developing individuals to strengthen their work style attributes to enhance their career success. In addition, the inventory includes a scale designed to identify individuals who present an overly favorable image of themselves in responding to questions.