Delta Dental employees learn their co-workers’ roles and contributions by following a claims process to completion.
Delta Dental of Arkansas is not a company that needs an introduction. Its smiles have spread all over the state, with nine out of 10 Arkansas dentists as members of the Delta network. That makes the company Arkansas’ largest dental benefits carrier for both private and corporate solutions.
The Sherwood offices subscribe to a mission of improving the health of the people it serves, even being certified as a “Center of Excellence” by The Center for Customer-Driven Quality at Purdue University, in conjunction with Benchmark Portal for five consecutive years.
“What we consider to be a core component of our success and what we believe sets Delta Dental apart from other organizations, particularly within our industry, is our drive to impact our state in an extraordinary way through investing in the residents of Arkansas,” said Kelly Carney, Delta’s director of human resources.
It’s clear to see that Delta Dental includes its employees in that investment, making it a 2014 Arkansas Business Best Places to Work honoree.
Some of the benefits of working at Delta include flexible hours, monthly meals, matching gift contributions and a family friendly culture. Because they are a dental and vision provider, those programs are offered at no cost, with dental free for dependents, to accompany the basic medical and life package.
Delta works to provide an environment of value for its employees, including appreciation lunches, treat days, focus groups and an employee steering committee that meets with the CEO to discuss ideas to better the workplace.
“We believe the secret to our success lies within our ability to understand the needs of our employees, community and customers and offer solutions to address each one while building relationships based on trust, integrity and good will,“ Carney said.
One way Delta Dental fosters these relationships is through the STAR program in which employees recognize each other with eCards or eButtons for a job well done. Employees also practice random acts of appreciation for their departments.
“The small things mean a lot, and taking the time to recognize departments as a team speaks volumes to our employees,” Carney said.
Staking A Claim
Remember the classic Schoolhouse Rock song “I’m Just a Bill” that follows the progression of a bill becoming a law?
That’s the idea behind Delta Dental’s “Life of a Claim” program for new employees. Within the first six months, staffers take part in this training session that follows a dental claim through the system, just like our friend on Capitol Hill.
Employees tour each department to learn the ins and outs of every step of the process and to understand and appreciate their coworkers’ roles and contributions.
When the tour is over, employees have lunch with CEO Ed Choate and talk about their first few months at Delta. This is their opportunity to give ideas and suggestions about the hiring and orientation process in a stress-free setting, and they don’t even have to worry about being sent back to Congress.
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