July 31, 2004
Saturday

Ketchikan, Alaska - PeaceHealth has been named one of the honorees for the 2004 International Spirit at Work Award. Since 2002, the Association for Spirit at Work-a non-profit association focused on the study and practice of spirituality in the workplace-has bestowed this prestigious award on companies that have implemented specific policies, programs, or practices that explicitly nurture spirituality within their organizations.

"I am so proud that PeaceHealth has received this justly deserved recognition," said John Hayward, President/CEO of PeaceHealth. "This award is a true testament to the amazing spirit of the people at PeaceHealth."

PeaceHealth is among 10 organizations from around the world (seven in the United States), selected to receive this award, aimed at transferring the knowledge gained by award-winning companies into the general business community, so that others can learn from their examples.

"Healing, compassion, and spirit are increasingly evident throughout our health system," said Judy Hodgson, Senior Vice President of Organizational Development at PeaceHealth. "I was thrilled to learn that PeaceHealth is among five health care organizations to be awarded, and is leading the way for others to follow."

The application for the award was initiated by Janet Muller, a data analyst in the PeaceHealth Lower Columbia Region's Center for Health Care Improvement. Inspired by her own experiences at PeaceHealth, Ms. Muller took on the task of working with the Organizational Development Department to complete the application in a very short time period.

"It wasn't that some of the challenges in my work environment were so different from other places, but the open access to senior leaders, their listening presence, and their congruent example of the PeaceHealth values were completely unique," Ms. Muller said. "It was easy to tell a story of healing and compassionate care when there was so much from which to choose that lifted my own heart."

In addition to outlining the PeaceHealth heritage, mission, vision, values and culture of healing and compassionate care, the award application highlighted some of the incredible work going on throughout PeaceHealth's regional health systems, including:

• PeaceHealth Lower Columbia Region's Youth Mentorship Program, which helps at-risk high school juniors and seniors by providing opportunities to attend college.
• PeaceHealth Whatcom Region's "Journey," a two-day educational experience for staff and patients focused on re-igniting the spirit of caregivers to increase their commitment to, and engagement in, creating a healing and compassionate quality care experience for patients and their families.
• No One Dies Alone, a program comprising more than 200 employees in the Southeast Alaska and Oregon Regions, from housekeeping, engineering, food service, administration and patient care, who volunteer their time to sit with dying patients who are alone.
• The employee- and volunteer-driven improvements made to physical surroundings in the PeaceHealth Siuslaw Region, to give patients and families a sense of caring and warmth while they wait for treatment.
• Our Healing and Compassionate Care Retreats, providing the opportunity for managers, clinicians, and employees in all of our regions to reflect on our organizational philosophy, spirituality, and the vibrant heritage of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace.

The application also included several touching stories and testimonials collected from a variety of PeaceHealth physicians and caregivers.

This extraordinary distinction will be presented at the Spirit in Business conference in Zurich, Switzerland in late September. Ms. Muller will accompany Ms. Hodgson to accept the International Spirit at Work Award on behalf of the 9,000-plus caregivers throughout PeaceHealth whose commitment, enthusiasm, and spirit made it possible.

PeaceHealth is a not-for-profit health care system sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, with services in Oregon, Washington and Alaska.

Source of News Release:

Ketchikan General Hospital
Web Site

 

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