Culture Guide

ProvidenceProvidence and its affiliates employ 119,000 caregivers (employees), serving patients in 51 hospitals and nearly 1,000 clinics across our system and our operations are located in seven states (Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington).

What is a…

CaregiverProvidence and its affiliates consider every employee to be a caregiver. No matter what role each of us plays, from working in a hospital or provider office to support services, our work is more than a job – it’s a calling. Those not directly involved with patient care provide support for those who are. We also care for our communities and each other. Our caregivers are the driving force behind all that we do.

What is a…

Core LeaderAt Providence and its affiliates, managers of people are considered Core Leaders. Your Core Leader is the person that you report to, that directs or supervises your work and partners with you to set and achieve your performance and development goals.

What is a…

MinistryThe term “ministry” refers to the commitment of Catholic health care to minister to those that need us, sometimes at the most vulnerable time of their lives. The term “ministry” does not concern only the ministers, but also institutions. Providence considers each hospital, clinic or office to be its own ministry, and the combination of the hospitals in a geographic region to be a regional ministry.

Providence Saint John’s Health Center Santa Monica, CA

What is a…

ReflectionWe begin meetings and gatherings at Providence with a reflection and/or prayer that invite people into a different space, allows them to take a break from the rush of the day and focus on the decisions and discussions of the meeting. Reflections and prayers remind us of our legacy. Our founding Sisters always half-planned and half-prayed to make it through their day and their tough decisions. Reflections at the beginning of meetings connect us to the deeper meaning of the work we’re doing at Providence. Reflections rededicate us to our Mission and Core Values.

What is a…

Safety MessageSafety Messages demonstrate our commitment to compassionate, safe, and reliable care by making it the first item after the reflection on all scheduled meetings with an agenda regardless of meeting topic. Safety messages are brief communications that help create the culture of reliability by sharing stories and messages about events related to patient safety, caregiver safety, reliability in our business operations, and provides an opportunity to thank our caregivers for reducing harm to our patients, caregivers, and business operations.

Origin StoryThe Good Samaritan story in Scripture unites all caregivers and leaders in a common “deep story.” The Good Samaritan sees a man, beaten and left for dead, in a ditch on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Others have passed the man by, for various reasons, but the Good Samaritan stops, bandages the beaten man’s wounds, places him on his donkey and takes him to an inn for caregiving. The Good Samaritan pays for the man’s care and promises to return again to check on the man and pay any outstanding debts for his care. Jesus says at the end of the telling of this story: “Go and do likewise.” The Sisters of St. Joseph and Sisters of Providence, our health system’s main foundresses, lived out the radical hospitality shown by the Good Samaritans. They met unmet and unexpected needs and cared for strangers through sacred encounters. Many different women’s religious groups founded the hospitals that now make up the Providence system. Here’s a brief look at the main two groups of Sisters.

Origin Story

Sisters of Providence Mother Emilie Gamelin, a young widow of Montreal, who lost three little boys in their infancy, founded the Sisters of Providence in 1843. Emilie was moved by the love of Christ to serve the many poor, hungry and sick people who lived around her. The people, who looked upon Emilie as “providence” for the needy, named her work “Providence.”

In 1856, Providence’s “pioneer Sister ” — Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart — and four other sisters traveled to the Pacific Northwest, establishing schools, hospitals, orphanages and other homes of care for those in need. Their ministry grew through-out the Northwest.

Origin Story

Mother Emilie Gamelin

Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange The Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange were established in 1912 by Mother Bernard Gosselin. Under the leadership of Mother Bernard, a group came to Eureka, CA. They built a Motherhouse and many schools. When the great Influenza Epidemic of 1918 devastated the local population, the Sisters responded to the needs of the community and became nurses. The Eureka community had no hospital, so in 1920 the Sisters opened St. Joseph Hospital and soon their hospitals grew throughout California.

Origin Story

Mother Bernard Gosselin

Who we areOur vision: Health for a better world.

How do we live health for a better world?

We provide everyone, including the most vulnerable, the opportunity to live their healthiest life possible by providing world-class health care, services and research to support those we serve, through all stages of life.

How do we work towards health for a better world?

By combining the compassionate, mission-driven culture of Catholic health care, talented and passionate team members and incorporating the best practices of a high-performing technology organization to do something truly impactful in the world – improving the lives of those we serve.

This means we need to achieve and sustain the level of a high performing organization with an internally driven focus on safety. Through the behavior of every caregiver, we are shaping a culture of reliability that will enable us to predictably achieve – every time, every place – safe, high-quality outcomes.

Who we are,what we believe

believe

What we believeNo matter what your religion or belief is, you are welcome at Providence.

Our people are the driving force of all the work we do.

Who we are,what we believe

believeLinda Ciaramella, Registrar, Providence Holy Family Hospital

Linda Ciaramella is a Registrar at Providence Holy Family Hospital. Linda shared with me three Patient Stories that I believe SHINE with dignity:

“One day I noticed a disabled adult dressed in only a hospital gown and an adult brief was to be transported back to his facility by a Care Taker. When I asked where the man’s clothes were, the Care Taker responded, ‘I don’t know, this is good enough.’ I quickly reached out to our nursing caregivers to get the patient some sweats to wear outside. Once we got the patient changed, I asked him, ‘Is that better?’ The patient gave me a thumbs up.”

“Another DD/SI patient had been here for over a week and just wanted to go home. I spent my own money and brought him some puzzles and an Etch-a-Sketch to keep him busy. Although the patient didn’t communicate it in words, the huge smile on his face and seeing him busy at work with those things really made me feel good.”

“There was also an elderly dementia patient in the ED who was scared and crying. I gave her a stuffed animal to hold and she stopped crying and began to smile. Every time I passed this patient’s room, I knew how much this elderly woman appreciated that small act of kindness.”

Who we are,what we believe

Mary Jo Moore, Dir. Critical Care Telemetry, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center

Mary Jo was the Nurse Manager of ICU when she was diagnosed with cancer. Even though Mary Jo had options for leaving work on disability or even retiring early, she noted that her compassion for others had grown immensely during her illnesses and her treatment at her own hospital, Sacred Heart Medical Center. Mary Jo returned to work and applied for even greater responsibility—she now oversees seven units. Two of her actions in particular have transformed our culture and added so much Compassion in Action.

First, because Mary Jo remembers being on stretchers and people averting their eyes, she has taught us to touch the side of the transport bed and say: “May everything go well for you here” or other short, encouraging phrases.

Mary Jo also brought to Sacred Heart the Honor Walk program for organ donors. When an organ donor (followed by the family) is on his or her way to the operating room to donate their organs after their death, dozens of caregivers, providers, and leaders line the halls in gratitude, in silence, and honor. They bow slightly or hold their hands in prayer, paying homage to the donor and the family. It’s a powerful ritual here that unites everyone, at all levels, in compassion and service.

Who we are,what we believe

believe

Our ValuesCompassionJesus taught and healed with compassion for all. –Matthew 4:24

We reach out to those in need and offer comfort as Jesus did. We nurture the spiritual, emotional and physical well-being of one another and those we serve. Through our healing presence, we accompany those who suffer.

Home and Community Care, Volunteers in Partnership (Mexico and Guatamala), Advance Care Planning, Peer to Peer Support groups, Compassionate Self-care, mental health first aid, institute of human caring, volunteerism/mission ambassadors (food bank/Mother Joseph Farm, serving at the rescue mission, mentoring young at risk children)

Our Values

DignityAll people have been created in the image of God. –Genesis 1:27

We value, encourage and celebrate the gifts in one another. We respect the inherent dignity and worth of every individual. We recognize each interaction as a sacred encounter.

Diversity efforts, caring for the poor and vulnerable, LGBQT inclusion, affinity groups

Our Values

JusticeAct with justice, love with kindness and walk humbly with your God. –Micah 6:8

We foster a culture that promotes unity and reconciliation. We strive to care wisely for our people, our resources and our earth. We stand in solidarity with the most vulnerable, working to remove the causes of oppression and promoting justice for all.

#Metoo, #timesup, #nothere, work on health care reform (gov’t affairs), partnering to improve mental health access, advocacy on behalf of the poor and vulnerable

Our ValuesOur Values

ExcellenceWhatever you do, work at it with all your heart. –Colossians 3:23

We set the highest standards for ourselves and our ministries. Through transformation and innovation, we strive to improve the health and quality of life in our communities. We commit to compassionate, safe and reliable practices for the care of all.

Research/development, innovative work, improving health in our communities, focus on safety, Own It (Heritage Art Gallery with visual expressions of Own It) and Caring Reliably – highlight a reliability coach and an Own it ambassador; Daisy Award for Nursing Excellence, support of continuing education/tuition reimbursement

Our Values

Our ValuesIntegrityLet us love not merely with words or speech but with actions in truth. –1 John 3:18

We hold ourselves accountable to do the right things for the right reasons. We speak the truth with courage and respect. We pursue authenticity with humility and simplicity.

“Green” initiatives, health for a better world

How do we demonstrate this?

• Compassionate care for our patients and each other

• Culture of safety • Embrace sacred encounters• Support the development of caregivers –

UP tuition discount, tuition reimbursement, professional development, certifications, Thomas’ program for new managers

• Building a Total Rewards (compensation and benefits) package to support you and your family, now and into retirement

• Volunteers in Partnership and other volunteer opportunities

• Health research and development

Know me, care for me,ease my way

Caregiver Resource GroupsCaregiver Resource Groups (CRGs) are voluntary, employee-led groups which are designed to create a more inclusive workplace focused on business networking and enhancing career and development.