MACON, Ga. —  As part of Atrium Health’s commitment to offering market competitive compensation and benefits programs, the health system is investing $180 million into teammate compensation across the health system, providing annual merit pay increases two months early, resulting in increases to base pay and critical staffing pay, and one-time patient care bonuses for Atrium Health Navicent teammates.

Additionally, Atrium Health Navicent is increasing its minimum wage to $12.50 per hour and also raising pay for key clinical roles such as nurses and respiratory therapists. Additional teammates are also receiving increases to maintain pay differentiation and minimize pay compression.

The minimum wage increase follows Atrium Health Navicent’s 2020 increase from the federally mandated $7.25 per hour to $10 per hour.

“Our teammates are our most important resource not only in fighting COVID-19, but in improving the overall health and wellness of the communities we serve,” said Atrium Health Navicent President and CEO Delvecchio Finley. “Battling the pandemic over the last 18 months has taken a toll on healthcare workers. We’re excited to reward our teammates for their dedication and provide this added investment in our workforce and the local economy at a time when families and individuals need it the most.”

Pay raises related to the minimum wage increase were reflected on approximately 5,100 affected teammates’ paychecks on Friday, Sept. 10. Other pay increases will take effect in November.

“As a major employer in central and South Georgia, Atrium Health Navicent’s investment demonstrates the health system’s commitment to invest in the region’s economy and to recruit and retain valued teammates,” said Vishal Bhalla, Atrium Health Navicent senior vice president and chief human resources officer, who also serves as Atrium Health’s chief experience officer. “It’s also an example of the economic impact afforded to the region through our strategic combination with Atrium Health.”

The former Navicent Health and Atrium Health entered into a strategic combination in 2019, providing health consumers with additional access to medical expertise and services within the Charlotte, North Carolina-based Atrium Health network which also includes Floyd health system in Rome, Georgia and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.