At Adventist Health we know that part of providing the best care possible to our patients requires employing the best people possible. And were proud to say that our employees are some of the finest, the brightest and the most committed group of individuals youll find anywhere. In the health care business, its important not only to have the latest medical knowledge and equipment but to ensure that the people running the machines, scrubbing into surgery and working behind the scenes are all committed to excellence.
As the following pages demonstrate, we have an amazing group of employees, physicians and volunteers who believe in what they do and the mission that guides us to share Gods love by providing physical, mental and spiritual healing.
For instance, you will read about a pediatrician who prays over his roster of patients each day before work. Youll meet a nurse executive who does what it takes to make her departments run smoothlyeven if it means leaving her suit in the closet and donning scrubs when a staff member calls in sick. And youll get to know an MRI tech who decided to pursue a second career in health care because he wanted to make a difference.
To ensure that this quality caring continues, Adventist Health not only seeks out the best and the brightest employees, but our hospitals routinely participate in numerous state and federal quality measurement and improvement programs. These initiatives are the right thing to do and give our facilities an excellent opportunity to enhance best practices and identify areas for further improvement.
In all you read, I hope it will be evident that we take our commitment to quality health care seriously. And everyday the people who report to work across our system go the extra mile to make sure that our patients receive exceptional care that ministers to the mind, body and spirit.
Sidebar:
Fast Facts about Adventist Health
Headquartered in Roseville, California
20 hospitals in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington
16 home care agencies offering home health, hospice, personal care, medical equipment and infusion therapy services
Three joint-venture retirement centers
Approximately 19,000 employees
More than 3,100 beds
122,210 admissions
443,565 emergency room visits
2,118,968 outpatient visits
229,805 home care visits
71,581 hospice days
Provided more than $219 million in free and low-cost services to our communities in 2005
Donald R. Ammon, Adventist Health president and CEO, writes from Roseville, California.