Good Day Ascension - Summer 2023

Good Day Ascension

Called to serve

Across Ascension, associates and leaders respond to community needs

INSIDE: Events, activities celebrate associates / Formation is for everyone / Teams address community health / Celebrate Service Commitments with a new sticker

POWERED BY OUR PEOPLE

Earlier this year, our executive leadership took a step into the future when we named Eduardo Conrado as Ascension’s President, while I remain Chief Executive Officer. I have had the honor of working with Eduardo for many years as he has served on the Ascension Leadership Team and led our work in strategy and innovation, and earlier when he served on the Ascension Board of Directors. In his new role, he already is making an even deeper impact on our healing ministry.

The more I visit with leaders and associates across Ascension, the more privileged I am to learn about the incredible stories we have to share. Whether it’s an extraordinary nurse who took a moment to bring a patient a blanket without being asked or an associate whose simple touch meant so much to an elderly patient who is hard of hearing and nearly blind, we are truly powered by our people, inspired by our shared Mission that goes back thousands of years.

The pages of this edition of Good Day Ascension magazine are filled with stories of our Mission in action.

We continue to make a positive difference in the communities we serve. In this issue we learn about the impact Ascension Rx and our Community Health Ministries have made. We also look at our evolving Consumer Experience work and how we are leveraging technology and talent to enhance the experience for patients and associates alike. In addition, you’ll read about our high reliability journey and clinical priorities. We also reflect on associate appreciation events that took place this year.

You play an important role in the story of Ascension. Thank you for the commitment you bring to your vocation and calling every day.

Good Day Ascension / Summer 2023 - Issue 22

Good Day Ascension is published by Ascension Marketing and Communications for associates and family members across our integrated national health ministry. Stories in Good Day Ascension support our One Ascension journey and reflect the commitment of associates, clinicians and volunteers across the health ministry to provide compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable.

Executive Editor: Nick Ragone, JD, nick.ragone@ascension.org

Editor: Ted Siegel, ted.siegel@ascension.org

Design and Production: dcpubs.com

To share comments, ask questions or suggest articles for Good Day Ascension, please email GoodDay@ascension.org, or send a note to Editor, Good Day Ascension, Ascension Marketing and Communications, 4600 Edmundson Road, St. Louis, MO 63134.

All content copyright 2023 Ascension. Republication or any other use of the contents of Good Day Ascension without the express written consent of Ascension is prohibited. Any reference to or depiction of a product or service does not constitute or imply an endorsement by Ascension. Online version available at Ascension.org/goodday.

Joseph R. Impicciche, JD, MHA CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Our Mission: Rooted in the loving ministry of Jesus as healer, we commit ourselves to serving all persons with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable. Our Catholic health ministry is dedicated to spiritually centered, holistic care which sustains and improves the health of individuals and communities. We are advocates for a compassionate and just society through our actions and our words.

“The more I visit with leaders and associates across Ascension, the more privileged I am to learn about the incredible stories we have to share.”

CONTENTS

FEATURES

14 Continuously improving digital access to care

How our advanced tools are elevating the consumer experience.

16 Medical Mission returns

Ascension Saint Thomas teams serve hundreds in Middle Tennessee.

17 Special nursing section

Giving back to the worldwide healthcare community through participation in global pressure injury study. ... Celebrating Ascension nurses during Nurses Week 2023. ... Nursing intranet launches. ... Daisy Award® winner Susie Adams, RN, of Ascension Saint Alexius, Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

21 Focus on formation

Formation programs impact work culture and associate well-being.

24 Display of gratitude

Leaders and associates used Ascension communication channels and collaborative spaces to share gratitude during multiple appreciation days.

26 Building resiliency

Ascension Texas Center for Resiliency supports healthcare workers to help prevent compassion fatigue.

28 Recognize and Rescue initiative optimizes patient outcomes

Collaborative approach shares best practices for quality and safety.

30 Supporting youth mental health

School-based healthcare services making an impact in New Orleans.

On the cover : Fahad Tahir, President and CEO, Ascension Saint Thomas, was among hundreds of associates who volunteered at an Ascension Medical Mission event in Tennessee to provide medical care/screenings, dental and vision care, select prescriptions, and foot washing.

DEPARTMENTS

4 Mailbox

Patients and families share letters of thanks to caregivers.

5 Inspiration

Making moments of delight.

6 Up

front

Consumers reflect on our Service Commitments. ... Ascension’s new President, Eduardo Conrado, is moving Ascension forward with purpose and a global perspective. ... Ascension St. Vincent Foundation’s fundraising campaign improves care for Indiana’s moms and babies. ... The annual Ascension 5K connects colleagues and promotes a healthy lifestyle. ... Provider/Associate Care Team program launches across all Ministry Markets.

12

Getting to know you

Raj Mohan, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer, Ascension.

13 Wellness now

A new SmartHealth app optimizes the member experience.

32 News from across Ascension

What’s happening around the ministry.

Back cover

Ascension St. Vincent Evansville Cancer Center oncologist Dr. Leslie Brown works side by side with the doctor who cared for her mother when Dr. Brown was a child.

THE GOOD DAY ASCENSION TEAM WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT WHAT YOU LIKE IN THIS MAGAZINE AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE EDITIONS. SEND YOUR LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TO GOODDAY@ASCENSION.ORG.

Messages from those we serve

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for all the patience and the loving way my dad was treated. I can’t tell you how much I thank you for the sweet nurses and all those that worked on the fourth floor taking care of my dad.

Family member of patient at Ascension Macomb-Oakland Hospital, Madison Heights, Michigan

The doctors, nurses, therapists and the entire staff are dedicated professionals who consistently show exceptional kindness and care. … Neither my husband nor I had ever been a patient in a rehab hospital. We didn’t know what to expect, but all of [our] expectations were exceeded.

Family member of patient, Ascension Via Christi Rehab Hospital, Wichita, Kansas

The clinic staff has helped my kids understand their diabetes and provide resources to help them have as normal a childhood as possible. That’s exactly what a mom could ask for!

Family member of patients at Pediatric Endocrinology Clinic, Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent, Indianapolis

The care that I received from the nursing staff is something I will never forget (nor will my husband). I was reminded why I became a nurse after my stay. I can definitely say this was one of my most vulnerable times and your staff provided me so much care and compassion.

Patient at Ascension Providence Hospital, Novi Campus, Novi, Michigan

We want to thank you so much for your care. … Each of you, in your own way, touched my heart and I will always remember you fondly and with thanks in my prayers.

Family member of patient at Ascension St. John Hospital, Detroit

Just a thank-you for the amazing care you all have provided my father. He is not an easy patient … and you guys always handled him with such care and compassion. Our family is very grateful for your team. My mom is convinced you are angels.

Family member of patient at Ascension Providence Hospital, Southfield Campus, Southfield, Michigan

This wonderful, professional and caring staff keeps you comfortable and safe your entire stay. Thank you to all, from the ancillary staff, nursing and anesthesia to the doctors.

Patient at Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside, Jacksonville, Florida

Every single nurse, physician, staff member, etc., that I encountered was kind, courteous and compassionate. It provided great comfort and made what was otherwise a stressful and scary circumstance a little better. It was a tremendous example of the culture you have built throughout the organization.

Patient at Ascension Saint Thomas, Nashville, Tennessee

I can say you did give me back a life I used to enjoy and for that I am sincerely in your debt.

Patient at Ascension Borgess Heart Institute, Kalamazoo, Michigan

I have been a patient of Dr. Ronald Slovick, a urologist at Ascension Medical Group Wisconsin, for more than five years. The counsel and treatment that I have received have been outstanding. Dr. Slovick always takes the time to explain my medical condition, identify treatment options and answer my numerous questions.

Patient at Ascension NE WisconsinSt. Elizabeth Campus, Appleton, Wisconsin

I would like to give a huge shout-out to Dr. Medley Larkin and her staff! … I have never felt more safe and taken care of. They are friendly and they truly care.

Patient at Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital, Saginaw, Michigan

We can create delight through courageous innovation

At Ascension, we define the Value of Creativity as “courageous innovation.”

That courage to innovate has been so visible in the ways our teams adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have seen this time and time again, in the ways our associates worked first and foremost to keep everyone safe, to help patients in isolation feel less alone, and to provide more light, whether that be sunlight or joy, in their rooms.

Recently, Ascension rolled out our new Consumer Experience vision, which is rooted in our Mission and ministry identity and will act as our guide as we continue to improve the consumer journey. Through our new Service Commitments, teams across Ascension are focusing on extending kindness, listening to understand and serving together. One of the cornerstones of that vision is “making moments of delight.” In fact, our Mission Week this past May focused on that principle.

Moments of delight are unexpected, unforgettable, positive moments for our patients and their families within their healthcare journey. These moments are observable, repeatable, tangible ways we live our Mission and Values, honor our ABIDE framework, and demonstrate our Service Commitments, and are often born out of the use of our Value of Creativity.

Consider:

Through your Creativity, have you created a moment of delight? What is something you could do today to create an unforgettable, positive moment for someone in our care?

Call to action:

Over the coming month, think about how you can practice Creativity, especially in creating “moments of delight” for those we serve, and put it into action.

Reflection:

Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the opportunity to serve others. Help us to demonstrate the Value of Creativity as we work to create positive moments for those in our care. Help us to bring joy and light to those around us.

In the voices of our consumers

OUR SERVICE COMMITMENTS ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE

The people and communities we serve are the reason we “do what we do.” And how we interact with our patients, their families and each other is the promise of exceptional service reflected in our unified Service Commitments — Extend kindness , Listen to understand and Serve together

“Our Service Commitments become the foundation for how we interact with our patients, their family and friends,

and our fellow associates,” said Eduardo Conrado, President, Ascension. “They are an active demonstration of our Mission, Values, identity as a ministry of the Catholic Church and ABIDE hallmarks of Appreciation –Belongingness – Inclusivity – Diversity – Equity.”

Already, consumers are telling us how well associates across Ascension are living out this shared service promise, as reflected in the accompanying examples.

“The nurse jumped into action when I began to cry because I needed a shower. He brought me a clean gown and towels, body wash and lotion. He even cleaned out the shower for me. He saved me at that moment.”

— ASCENSION TENNESSEE

“I walked into the cafeteria … your simple action of outreach and full embrace changed my trajectory. You allowed me to cry and I was able to offload that fear for a brief moment. Other staff members reached out and simply offered support. Staff asking how I was, asking about my daughter. Your work is so much more than simply feeding people. You, my friends, are feeding people’s souls.”

— ASCENSION OKLAHOMA

“The nurse who took me to my CT scan noticed I was shaking and gave me another blanket without even having to ask. Also, my check-in nurse took the time to find a small needle for my arm, and was super kind and understanding.”

— ASCENSION TEXAS

“My dad is 90, hard of hearing and almost legally blind. His doctor sat close to him, talked to him, touched him and looked at him. He made my dad feel like he was part of it and not just being talked about. The nurses did the same thing! They spoke to him, looked at him … and acknowledged with their eyes and listening. Thank you!”

— ASCENSION TEXAS

“A little thing as well, but it meant a lot. As I was leaving, the reception staff gave me and my husband a bottle of water for the drive home. That was very thoughtful, and I appreciated it.” — ASCENSION FLORIDA AND GULF COAST

“Every single day and visit was a delight to be met by smiles, caring comments and just plain good vibes the minute I walked in the door. Even staff coming and going in the elevator made eye contact, smiled and engaged in pleasantries, which during a time of pain and stress made all the difference in the world.”

— ASCENSION FLORIDA AND GULF COAST

Our Service Commitments

Extend kindness Listen to understand Serve together

“We all own the ability to create exceptional experiences in service to our Mission,” said Carol Campbell, Senior Vice President, Chief Experience Officer, Ascension. “No matter our role, how we interact daily with our patients, their families and each other will elevate our service culture and continue to empower us to deliver moments that truly delight.”

Leaders across Ascension are continuing to learn and recognize the specific behaviors and habits that effectively model our Service Commitments, and transferring that knowledge to associates through team meetings and one-to-one interactions. Associates are encouraged to work with their managers on ways they can continue to foster an exceptional service mindset.

“When we deliver great experiences that bring people back, time and again, we build relationships that deliver value to those we serve, our associates and our ministry,” Eduardo said.

See a colleague embracing our shared service promise and living out our Service Commitments in exceptional ways? Recognize and share gratitude through an e-card, a personal note or on the Service Commitments Kudoboard, located on the Good Day Ascension Intranet.

Show your support for our shared service promise — apply a removable Service Commitments sticker to your work device or display one where you and your colleagues gather during break time! See the sticker insert in this issue of Good Day Ascension.

Catching up with Ascension’s new President, Eduardo Conrado

MOVING ASCENSION FORWARD WITH PURPOSE AND A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

Aglobal perspective, an informal leadership style, a heart for Catholic healthcare, and dad to two daughters and two 6-pound dogs — meet Eduardo Conrado, Ascension’s President since early 2023.

“I’m excited about the opportunity we have at Ascension to continue to change U.S. healthcare and grateful for our Ascension associates,” Eduardo said. “The commitment, motivation and passion they bring to Ascension every day makes me proud and gives me hope in our ability to continue to perform our Mission, even as the U.S. healthcare environment changes.”

Eduardo joined Ascension in 2019 after serving on Ascension’s Board of Directors for five years. As President, he is working with our ministries and the Operations Leadership Team to establish the operational rigor that will ensure that we can continue to fulfill our Mission to serve all persons, for the long term.

Like many associates, Eduardo said he felt a calling to serve Ascension’s Mission. He’s inspired by the work and passionate about finding ways to continue to better serve our patients, especially vulnerable communities.

“I think the purpose of Catholic healthcare is probably one of the purest purposes in the world,” he said. “Catholic healthcare represents one of every five beds in the U.S., and Ascension is a big part of that. The role that we play in taking care of a large portion of the population who do not have commercial insurance is so important.”

Eduardo brings a broad global perspective to his role. He was born in Nicaragua, moved to the United States when he was 13 years old, studied in the U.S. and Spain, and has also lived in Argentina and Norway. Prior to Ascension, he spent 27 years at Motorola Solutions in a variety of leadership roles, including internationally focused positions.

“At Ascension, we have a group of people coming together from different backgrounds and cultures. We all shape each other a little bit by exposing each other to the way that we think, the way that we were brought up and our own backgrounds,” he said.

He appreciates Ascension’s tradition of telling our ABIDE (Appreciation - Belongingness - Inclusivity - Diversity - Equity) stories, about where we came from and the experiences that shape our approaches. “Every time someone tells their story, it has a small impact on every person in the room,” Eduardo said.

Eduardo’s leadership philosophy revolves around transparency, teamwork and accountability, paired with an analytic approach from his engineering background. He is urging the use of data-driven insights to help move Ascension forward with a focus on key priorities of supporting our communities as part of our Mission to serve all people; delivering quality, safe care; and improving operational excellence.

“I’m incredibly optimistic about Ascension’s future and strongly believe in the role we play in healthcare today, tomorrow and for a long time to come,” he said.

EDUARDO’S FAVORITES

Food: Thai to dine out, paella to cook

App: All Trails

Book: “100 Years of Solitude”

Saturday activity: Skiing, hiking, mountain biking

Binge watch: “Star Wars” series

Ascension President Eduardo Conrado, left, takes part in a nursing leader conference with Ascension CEO Joe Impicciche.

Care for tomorrow

ASCENSION ST. VINCENT FOUNDATION LEADS SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO IMPROVE CARE FOR INDIANA’S MOMS AND BABIES

Early last year, Ascension St. Vincent Foundation began planning a fundraising campaign to help Ascension St. Vincent offer an even higher level of multidisciplinary care for women and children in Indiana through a new, combined facility that will allow families to be together as they receive treatment and heal. This combined facility, the Women and Children’s Tower at Ascension St. Vincent, will relocate Ascension St. Vincent Women’s Hospital so it physically connects to Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent in Indianapolis.

The foundation team, led by Ann Haupt, Vice President, Ascension St. Vincent Foundation, recruited a campaign advisory committee to help lead the effort. The committee consists of foundation board members and donor volunteers who are also community leaders.

“Every member of this incredible committee provided strategic input, as well as access to strong resource connections across the Indiana market,” Ann said. “It is because of their active leadership that we’ve been so successful, so quickly. We launched the quiet phase of the Care for Tomorrow campaign in spring 2022 and by December had already raised $20 million.”

The committee is focused on raising funds to relocate the state’s largest pediatric emergency department, create an integrated neonatal and pediatric intensive care unit, and start a pediatric nurse navigation program.

“Donors have been inspired to support the Care for Tomorrow campaign because they see how these projects are vital to our Mission of providing the best care for all children and families we serve,” Ann said. “These units and programs are only happening because of their generosity.”

“Providing world-class, compassionate care for women, infants and children in a single location will further enhance the position of Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital as a leading destination for quality healthcare in Indiana and beyond. We are excited to see how this wonderful new facility will help so many families in the years to come,” said former NFL great Peyton Manning, Campaign Chair.

“This is the largest campaign our foundation has undertaken to date, and it has been incredibly rewarding for our team and everyone involved to see how much excitement it has generated,” Ann said. “Families with several generations born at our hospital heard about our campaign and immediately stepped forward to help. They, more than anyone, know how important making this level of care available to our community is, especially given Indiana has the country’s third highest maternal mortality rate.”

Fundraising efforts for Care for Tomorrow will continue until the Women and Children’s Tower opens in 2024.

Foundations across Ascension markets regularly conduct campaigns like Care for Tomorrow to support their ministries.

Ann Haupt

Ascension associates train together, serve together

THE ANNUAL ASCENSION 5K HELPS CONNECT COLLEAGUES AND PROMOTES A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

Associates, family members and friends took part in the fourth annual Ascension 5K this summer. Across the country, they ran, walked, biked and swam 3.1 miles (or more) as a way to demonstrate solidarity and promote a healthy lifestyle.

New this year, associates were encouraged to join together as teams to train for the 5K to further their sense of commitment and connectedness to their work and colleagues. More than 100 teams participated in all. The theme “serve together, train together” was chosen to reflect Ascension’s Service Commitment call to serve together.

Participants in the Ascension 5K included associates and others representing, above, Ascension Tennessee; and, right, clockwise from top, Ascension Michigan, Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast, Ascension Illinois, Ascension Living, Ascension Indiana, and Ascension Oklahoma; plus other associates, friends and family members in every Ascension market.

Supporting associates

PROVIDER/ASSOCIATE CARE TEAM PROGRAM LAUNCHES ACROSS ALL MINISTRY MARKETS

Each day, there is a possibility that an Ascension associate will be involved in, or in some way be emotionally impacted by, an unexpected patient outcome. Or be unable to stop the natural progression of a patient’s medical condition. Or encounter a form of workplace violence. Associates can receive help in those instances and other significant or difficult work-related experiences, confidentially and quickly.

PACT, which stands for Provider/ Associate Care Team, was developed in alignment with the principles of a culture of safety, high reliability and justice. PACT was founded in 2014 at Ascension Seton in Austin, Texas, as a performance improvement project, and other Ministry Markets have adopted similar PACT programs. Based on the success of these programs — and to serve as an additional resource alongside spiritual care services, Ascension’s Employee Assistance Program and other Ascension wellness programs — Ascension recently launched PACT across all Ministry Markets.

“The PACT program is a tangible example of living out our Service Commitments to Extend kindness,

Listen to understand, and Serve together to our own associates,” said Jennifer Darden, Senior Director, Ascension Risk Management. “There is comfort in knowing that when a difficult work-related experience occurs you don’t have to walk through it alone. Our workforce must be refilled after encountering a difficult work-related experience before they have anything left to give.”

supporter is deployed and connects, confidentially, with the associate in need of emotional support.

More PACT peer supporters are always needed. To become a peer supporter an associate first completes a myLearning module and then a virtual or in-person training, which counts toward 2.5 hours of continuing education credits. Part of the in-person training includes the opportunity to practice psychological first-aid skills so supporters are ready to listen and provide emotional support immediately when needed. For more information about the program, search for PACT on the Good Day Ascension Intranet. To become a peer supporter, visit the PACT site or use the QR code below.

PACT peer supporters are associates who volunteer to support other associates. They have been trained in psychological first aid, are committed to privacy and confidentiality, and can provide a listening presence and emotional support. Once trained, peer supporters can be activated quickly. How it works: If a significant work-related event occurs, and the need for PACT peer support is identified, a request is made. This can be done by any associate. A PACT peer

Whether you or a colleague has had an especially difficult work-related experience or just need someone to talk to, PACT peer supporters can provide a listening presence, a safe space to share feelings and resources to help.

“It really meant a lot to me that someone cared enough to check on me.”

— PACT PARTICIPANT

Getting to know you

RAJ MOHAN, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER, ASCENSION

Raj Mohan serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer for Ascension and oversees the Ascension Studio, an innovation and digital center that creates design-, data- and technology-enabled healthcare solutions and experiences. He leads the Studio’s acceleration of Ascension’s journey to transform healthcare for consumers, patients and their loved ones.

Q: You previously worked in the airline and hospitality industries. What drew you to healthcare?

A: I have always felt passionately that we already have the science, methods and talent to change the way people approach their health — especially if we leverage learnings from other industries. The drive to serve in healthcare was reinforced by the passing of my co-brother, who was found collapsed in a hospital parking garage elevator, just a few feet from potentially lifesaving care.

Q: What are the digital consumer trends you’re watching?

A: In healthcare, now more than ever, and like in other industries, consumers expect us to know them, anticipate their needs and deliver a personalized experience, whether online or in person.

Q: How does the digital experience support our Mission?

A: The history and mission of Catholic healthcare have always focused on serving others here and across the world. We went where people were in need. While our Mission of service remains the same, technology has allowed us to update our approach and expand our reach. Digital services allow us to serve people where they are — and we have a responsibility to meet people where they are.

Q: Was there a defining moment in your career?

A: Working in a university cafeteria, in 1994, I learned just how important it is to work as a team. I learned that “we win together or we sink together.”

Q: Who or what serves as inspiration for you?

A: What inspires me is our own people — how in the face of tremendous suffering and pressure, they still come back to work every day and try to do the best for the people in their care.

“Digital services allow us to serve people where they are — and we have a responsibility to meet people where they are.”

Mobile app supports healthcare journey

A NEW SMARTHEALTH APP OPTIMIZES THE MEMBER EXPERIENCE

Ascension is committed to the health and well-being of all associates by providing wellness information and tips through a variety of communications channels. One example is a new mobile app for SmartHealth members designed to help them get the most out of their benefits and support their health journey. Over 40,000 SmartHealth members have already downloaded the app.

The SmartHealth mobile app is part of Ascension’s use of transformational innovative solutions using good design and agile methodologies. The introduction of this app is part of SmartHealth’s focus on optimizing members’ experience while promoting health and wellness.

The app advances Ascension’s dedication to making benefits more accessible. SmartHealth now fits in your pocket — online and all in one place.

The SmartHealth app features:

• Details about a member’s plan and benefits, including pharmacy information.

• An electronic version of member ID cards.

• Claims information.

• Improved provider and facility search capability.

• Access for dependents under the member’s healthcare coverage.

“The features of the SmartHealth app really help members better understand how to use their health benefits to improve their health and well-being,” said Kerry Brunner, Vice President, Benefits, Ascension. The SmartHealth mobile app is available for Android and Apple iOS smartphones and mobile devices.

Visit mysmarthealth.org/smarthealth-mobile-app for more information on how SmartHealth members can start using the new app.

The SmartHealth app features:

• Details about your plans and benefits, including Rx benefits

• An electronic version of your ID cards

• Claims information within the app

• Improved provider search capability

• Improved facility search capability

• Access to the SmartHealth mobile app for dependents under your healthcare coverage

The SmartHealth app is available for Android and Apple iOS smartphones and mobile devices.

Ronica Williams, MD

All your care needs across Ascension sites and services—online and all in one place.

Ascension continuously improving digital access to care

ADVANCED TOOLS ELEVATE THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCE

The pandemic accelerated many trends in consumer behavior and heightened consumers’ expectations, expediting the need for a seamless digital experience that enables our consumers to find, receive, manage and pay for their care. Improving access to care is a key priority for Ascension, and significant progress has been made over the past year to improve performance across all digital access points.

APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING EXPERIENCE

Shifting Ascension Medical Group primary care physician (PCP) scheduling to the Ascension Contact Center (ACC) is a key first step in expanding our access to care.

The ACC is a centralized contact center with dedicated, mostly virtual teams that engage consumers through high-quality interactions, delivering convenience and care, while simultaneously allowing medical office staff to focus on their patients instead of answering scheduling-related phone calls.

The ACC now handles scheduling for 97% of AMG PCP practices, delivering a frictionless welcoming “front door” to our care offerings. Clinics supported by these teams have seen an increase in appointments per doctor (78% provider utilization, a sustained 4% to 12% increase over non-ACC-supported providers) and a lower rate of abandoned calls than clinics that schedule their own appointments (only 3% of calls abandoned prior to an associate answering).

EXPANDING ONLINE CHAT

Our focus on chat expansion and optimization is also vital to improving access to care for consumers.

“Consumer experience starts long before someone enters a site of care. It begins with a simple, efficient experience while finding and scheduling the care they need,” said Jalal Shawwa, Vice President, Consumer and Patient Experience, Ascension Contact Center Operations. “Consumers are becoming increasingly comfortable with live chat and have begun to expect it as part of their healthcare experience.”

Chat, the small box in the bottom right-hand corner on the Ascension website, enables consumers to “chat with us” from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, seven days a week, and immediately connect with a member of the ACC team who helps schedule, cancel or rebook appointments, or navigate finding a new doctor, among many other supports such as billing, etc.

“We expanded our chat capabilities to make them even more user-friendly,” said Carol Campbell, Senior Vice President and Chief Experience Officer, Ascension. “Through this channel, we can begin to build a relationship right away as a way to reinforce Ascension’s promise to provide personalized, compassionate care across the healthcare journey.”

Chat is currently available to consumers in the Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Maryland and Texas ministries, and it is anticipated to be available in most markets by the end of the year.

ENHANCING OUR ASCENSION.ORG WEBSITE

Offering a welcoming and easy-to-use website is key to providing better access for our consumers. Recent demographic data shows that 42% of those accessing the ascension.org website are from poor and vulnerable communities, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Social Vulnerability Index. This data highlights the importance of our collective efforts to ensure our digital services are as user-friendly and accessible as possible, especially for those who are poorest and most vulnerable.

Over the past year, Ascension has implemented several improvements to ascension.org, including search engine optimization enhancements to better surface Ascension services in search engine results and improve provider data quality, provider location and appointment availability filters when searching for care providers. Additionally, we started the journey to enhance hospital pages (e.g., Dell Children’s Medical Center in Texas) to better market the services we offer.

We will also be implementing several enhancements to help consumers more easily search for and schedule care on ascension.org, including a more powerful search bar with more intuitive functionality (such as searching for care by symptom and user-friendly, colloquial terms) and a simplified appointment scheduling experience.

“These changes represent just the beginning of the efforts underway as we improve digital access to care across the entire continuum,” said Raj Mohan, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer, Ascension. “We know digital often sets one of the first impressions, and we are continuing to enhance many other key aspects of how our patients access care when, where and how they need it.”

“Consumer experience starts long before someone enters a site of care.”

— JALAL SHAWWA, VICE PRESIDENT, CONSUMER AND PATIENT EXPERIENCE, ASCENSION CONTACT CENTER OPERATIONS

Ascension Medical Mission returns

Ascension Saint Thomas associates, volunteers, leaders and community collaborators in Middle Tennessee gathered in service together to deliver free medical care to those with limited access or who are struggling at the ministry’s first Ascension Medical Mission since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Services provided included medical care/screenings, dental and vision care, select prescriptions, foot washing, radiology, physical therapy, hair care, spiritual care, behavioral health care, and community services.

“The Medical Mission is a sacred part of our culture and our commitment to community that allows our essence and uniqueness as a ministry to come into sharp focus,” said Fahad Tahir, President and CEO, Ascension Saint Thomas. “It’s a magnifying glass on the work that goes unseen every day, in exam rooms, hospitals and care centers across the community. It’s who we are. I was honored and blessed to be one of the 339 volunteers who took part in this day dedicated to providing access to healthcare for 601 people in need.”

Continuing Medical Education Manager JeriSue Petrie was especially moved by a specific encounter with one of the participants. “After I washed the feet of a woman who did not speak English, she took a seat in a chair to the side,” JeriSue said. “When I passed by her a few minutes later, she reached out and stopped me. She showed me her phone on which she had typed a sentence into Google Translate. The translation in English read, ‘God will pay you for your work.’ She looked at me, smiled and nodded. I put my hands on my heart and nodded back to thank her for her gift, which touched me beyond words.”

Top: Ascension Medical Mission volunteers, from left, Nicole Skroch, FNP-BC, Ascension Medical Group; Mallory Schot, RN, Surgery Pre Admission, Ascension Saint Thomas West; Loany Ortega, Certified Medical Assistant, Ascension Medical Group; Bernedette Bridgman, RN, Pre Surgery Supervisor, Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown; Andrew Mikhael, MD, PGY2 Internal Medicine Resident, Ascension Medical Group; Tracey Doering, MD, Ascension Medical Group; and Tina O’Connor, RN, Risk Manager, Ascension Saint Thomas. Bottom: Michelle Pruett, RN, Nursing Director, left, and Jessica Darnell, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown.

ASCENSION SAINT THOMAS TEAMS SERVE HUNDREDS IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE

Giving back to patients and the worldwide healthcare community

ASCENSION NURSES PARTICIPATE IN GLOBAL PRESSURE INJURY STUDY

The compassion and expertise of Ascension’s nursing community are not limited to just those in their care.

During the 2023 annual International Pressure Ulcer/Injury Prevalence (IPUP) Survey™, nurses contributed to a crucial body of research that supports improved outcomes for patients all over the world.

Throughout March, nurses at over 100 sites of care across Ascension joined healthcare organizations from around the world in the survey, which collects important data to understand pressure injuries. Ascension sites of care have participated in the survey for more than a decade.

“Ascension’s historical participation in the survey is one example of how we live out our Mission to provide compassionate, personalized care that improves and sustains the health of communities — in this case, for patients around the world,” said Maureen “Mo” Chadwick, PhD, MSN, RN, NE-BC, Senior Vice President, Nursing and Chief Nursing Officer, Ascension. “During this study, nurses leverage their exceptional work at the bedside to drive high-quality care and transform the future of the profession.”

Pressure injuries — sores or wounds that develop on skin areas under pressure — can occur in vulnerable patients. These injuries may cause pain, functional challenges and social isolation, on top of clinical complications. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, more than 2.5 million people in the U.S. develop pressure injuries each year.

During the survey, nurses conduct additional assessments for each patient, over and above the clinical standard, to learn more about the prevalence and severity of pressure injuries as well as factors that influence the condition, including surgical history, nutrition, skin tone and more.

The data is entered into the world’s largest global pressure injury database, which is accessed by researchers internationally to determine the best ways to prevent and treat these injuries for improved patient outcomes.

“Skin can tell the healthcare team a lot about a patient’s overall health, and many factors contribute to skin injuries

and how they are detected and treated,” said Becky Hellrich, MSN, RN, NE-BC, NPD-BC, Vice President, Nursing Practice, Ascension. “By carefully examining the many elements surrounding skin injuries, our nurses are helping clinicians match patients’ individual needs with the best available knowledge of what works.”

For example, earlier-stage pressure injuries can be challenging to detect in patients with darker skin tones, and this delayed detection can contribute to healthcare disparities in communities of color. For this year’s survey, Ascension identified a new opportunity to measure the prevalence of pressure injuries in patients with darker skin tones.

“The IPUP Survey is a big undertaking, and we thank all nurses who took on additional responsibilities to complete it for their dedication to safe, high-quality care,” Becky said. “This work not only gives back to our own communities but also bolsters the entire healthcare profession by supporting evidence-based care that addresses social determinants of health.”

Jennifer Jandura-Wells, left, and Jacqueline Ouellette, members of the skin champion team at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit, are two of the nurses who participated in the 2023 International Pressure Ulcer/Injury Prevalence Survey.

Called to care, serve, lead

ASCENSION NURSES CELEBRATED DURING NURSES WEEK 2023

From massages to food trucks to contests and prizes, Ascension celebrated its nursing community during Nurses Week 2023 from May 6-12. This year’s Called to Care, Lead, Serve theme was on display as nurses received themed tumblers, colored pages in a variety of sizes and played the ICARE self-care bingo game.

Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit hosted daily theme shirt days, a T-shirt design contest and a nurses station decorating contest. There were raffles, prizes, Ascension swag giveaways and massage therapy offerings for nurses.

Nursing leaders invited different nursing schools to the hospital every day to educate students about the opportunities available to them when advancing their nursing degrees. The visits were so well received that the nursing schools asked to return in a few months.

In alignment with our ABIDE (Appreciation - Belongingness - Inclusivity - Diversity - Equity) hallmarks, Ascension St. John

brought in special guests from the Detroit Black Nurses Association (Detroit BNA) for recruitment and promotion and to recognize minority nurses.

“I wanted to recognize our nurses of color and let them know that there is a local nursing organization available to them as a resource for support, continuing education, scholarships, community service and more,” said Valerie Grobbel, Nursing Director, Ascension St. John Hospital.

“Detroit BNA are recognized nursing leaders here in southeast Michigan in many healthcare systems. They encourage black nurses into leadership and to have a voice.”

At Ascension St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the hospital participated in different movie themes and enjoyed a walk of fame among the nursing units. One unit celebrated by decorating in an “Alice in Wonderland” theme.

“We had so much fun seeing other areas of our hospital decorated and getting to pose for photos with movie theme

props,” said Sarah Johnson-McGill, CVICU RN Manager, Ascension St. John Medical Center. “There were also added perks, like having our leaders help serve breakfast to our front-line teams.”

“Hospital Week and Nurses Week is a big deal here at the Gulf,” said Tracy Ross, Volunteer Coordinator and Marketing Liaison at Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf, Port St. Joe, Florida. “In honor of Nurses Week, Rehab graciously partnered with us to give mini-massages. One nurse told us, ‘This is the best gift ever!’”

The hospital also worked with a local church to serve nurses a lunch of chicken sandwiches followed by ice cream for the day shift and night shift. Free food and celebrations followed all week long for the nursing community. Tracy also said the hospital honored Administrator and Vice President of Nursing Kelly Beach with its quarterly Heart of the Gulf Award.

“We are blessed to have our dedicated associates and thankful for the opportunity to celebrate their many accomplishments,” said Tracy. “They are all truly Called to Care.”

From left, Corey Kennard, Mary Natschke and Alison Leitch pass out treats and raffle baskets at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit.

“ We are blessed to have our dedicated associates and thankful for the opportunity to celebrate their many accomplishments.”

— TRACY ROSS, VOLUNTEER

COORDINATOR

AND MARKETING LIAISON AT ASCENSION SACRED HEART GULF, PORT ST. JOE, FLORIDA

From left, Niecy Cole, Alyssa Long and Harlie Hyde choose snacks from the care cart at Ascension Providence in Waco, Texas.

Ascension launches nursing intranet

Ascension has launched a nursing intranet site with a wide range of resources for the nursing community. Ascension remains committed to supporting nurses and nursing support professionals as individuals and as professionals, including developing resources to elevate their practice.

Go to gdaintranet.ascension.org/nursing to access the nursing intranet.

The Good Day Ascension nursing intranet is designed to be a go-to resource for front-line nurses and nursing support professionals from across Ascension to find information on:

• Recognition of our nursing community’s incredible work.

• Well-being tools.

• Nursing community news, upcoming events and announcements.

• Professional development opportunities.

• Nursing practice, quality, regulatory and research information.

• Case management information.

The site was developed primarily based on insights from Ascension National Nurse Affinity Group members, who contributed feedback on behalf of their clinical caregiver colleagues, as well as other stakeholders across Ascension, including Ascension Technologies and Marketing and Communications.

Honoring an extraordinary nurse

SUSIE ADAMS, RN, ASCENSION SAINT ALEXIUS, HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILLINOIS

Nurses know firsthand what exceptional patient care looks like. When one of Ascension Saint Alexius’ own nurses had an extended stay in the postpartum unit, she recognized those qualities in the nurse charged with her care, Susie Adams, RN. The patient nominated Susie for the DAISY Award®.

Throughout her stay, the patient noted how Susie’s advocacy and unremitting care changed the course of her recovery. Susie paid close attention to all details of her care, from providing expert breastfeeding coaching to arranging for a meal as soon as the patient was able to eat again after tests.

Susie make an impact on her colleagues and patients as an example of Ascension’s Service Commitments by Extending kindness, Listening to understand and Serving together. She demonstrates Ascension’s Values of Dedication,

affirming the hope and joy of our ministry in each of her interactions, and Reverence for the patients in her care.

“I make a conscious effort every single day to render excellent care by giving my very best,” said Susie. “The best gift is to use my personality in service as a nurse and to train and mentor new graduate nurses on how to provide inclusive care to all people, because all people have the right to the best quality care.”

Susie Adams, RN

Focus on formation

A VARIETY OF FORMATION PROGRAMS IMPACT WORK CULTURE AND ASSOCIATE WELL-BEING

If you’ve been around Ascension long enough, you’ve either heard the word “formation,” known someone who’s been through a formation program or been through a formation process yourself.

What is formation?

At Ascension, we describe it in a variety of ways.

Sometimes we focus on its outcomes: “Formation is an ongoing transformative process that opens us to God’s action and connects us more deeply with self, God, others and the world. Through practices grounded in theology and spirituality, formation enables us to consider our calling, find deeper meaning in our work, realize our gifts, develop our competencies, and grow as a community in service of human dignity and the common good.”

Other times we focus on its substance: “Formation is reflection on identity in community over time.”

“Reflection on identity in community means investing time together with others to consider what’s most

important to us and how what we value connects with Ascension’s deepest commitments and core Values as a ministry of the Catholic Church,” said Tom VanOsdol, MS, MA, FACHE, Executive Vice President and Chief

Mission Integration Officer, Ascension. “Who am I? Who did God create me to be? What do I care most about? What am I called to contribute to the world? How do I express what’s most important to me through my

Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast Roots of Ministry Leadership program participants volunteer at a Feeding Northeast Florida event during a solidarity immersion experience. Over the course of six months, participants engage in monthly retreats to explore core aspects of Ascension’s Mission and ministry identity through an applied learning model.

behaviors and actions in my role within Ascension? Exploring these questions together with others, repeatedly over time, makes space for the Spirit to reveal insights, truths and transformation at its own God-inspired pace. Even the reflections and prayers we share before huddles and meetings create the space and intentionality necessary for this kind of connection.”

Ascension offers a variety of in-person and virtual formation programs. The process of formation begins with new associate orientation, where associates are introduced to our shared Mission and Values and Ascension’s view of the human

person, made in the image of God and possessing inherent dignity. Another element of formation is weekly virtual small groups for meditation, creativity and prayer. Some formation activities designed for specific groups of associates, such as those in nursing residency, are available in person in the Ministry Markets and online.

Ministry Formation programs for leaders include Roots of Ministry Leadership for new or newly promoted leaders; Foundations of Ministry Leadership (Foundations) for tenured leaders; and Executive Ministry Leadership (EML) for executives. EML and Foundations are two of the oldest formation programs in Catholic

healthcare, having started in 2004 and 2009, respectively.

Two recent studies measured the impact of leader formation programs on Ascension’s work culture. These studies showed that associates on teams led by EML graduates were on average 16% more likely to recommend Ascension, and their reported engagement scores across the hallmarks of ABIDE (AppreciationBelongingness - Inclusivity - Diversity - Equity) were on average 19% higher than those of their counterparts. Foundations graduates are on average 10.5 times more likely than their counterparts to still be working in Ascension after two years, which shows how formation engages and connects associates and supports efforts to retain leaders and associates.

Formation also encompasses two associate well-being programs: Cultivating Reverence for Living, a stress-reduction program, and Spiritual Direction unique to Ascension.

“Reflection on identity in community means investing time together with others to consider what’s most important to us.”

— TOM VANOSDOL, MS, MA, FACHE, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF MISSION INTEGRATION OFFICER, ASCENSION

Ascension Texas Roots of Ministry Leadership program participants gather for a closing retreat. Roots cohorts, open to all leaders, form every six months in every Ministry Market with a virtual offering for System Office and remote leaders.

Cultivating Reverence for Living is a six-week program that includes weekly live virtual or in-person group sessions paired with web-based lessons and practices for personal well-being. Participants engage with the materials, others in the program with them, and personal practice for 20 minutes each day. The program’s most recent groups reported an average 29% reduction in perceived stress over the six-week program as determined by the Perceived Stress Scale, the most widely used psychological instrument for measuring the perception of stress.

“Spiritual Direction is for any associate who may be experiencing burnout, discerning vocation or needing support navigating life transitions. Spiritual Direction is not therapy, pastoral counseling or problem solving. Rather, these completely confidential sessions invite you to get in touch with the spiritual aspect of being human,” said Sarah Reddin, D.HCML, MA, Vice President, Ministry Formation, Ascension.

“In addition, all Ascension associates are invited to explore the Enneagram, a method for developing awareness of self and others including one’s patterns of behavior and underlying motivations. Ascension’s unique approach to facilitating the Enneagram nurtures culture, develops teams, and supports growth in ways consistent with our Mission and Values. Facilitated by the Ministry Formation team, Ascension’s Enneagram sessions focus on spirituality, motivations, dispositions and behaviors in a truly integrated

way,” Sarah said. Associates can request a facilitated Enneagram session and take an online assessment at ascensionmission.org.

For those associates who are looking for virtual formation options, the ascensionmission.org website provides many resources for individual and group prayer, reflection, growth, and development. The Good Day Ascension Intranet hosts daily reflections as well. And for those who prefer resources in print, the “Reflecting on Our Values” booklet offers a collection of prayers and reflections for individuals and teams. Formation opportunities can be made available whenever and wherever associates, leaders and board members gather. Team-based formation can be offered upon request. Members of the Ministry Formation team collaborate with

learning leaders across Ascension to create other hybrid experiences.

“Whatever form the specific offering may take, we consistently seek the same two essential outcomes: the flourishing of all associates in community and solidarity with others and the formation of our leaders, and Ascension’s wholeness — its integrity and fidelity — as a ministry of the Church, guided by our Mission, rooted in the loving ministry of Jesus as healer,“ Tom said.

Contact your Ministry Market Mission Integration department or email mission@ascension.org with questions or for more information.

Executive Ministry Leadership (EML) program Group 17 celebrates their graduation on May 3,

in 2004, equips executive leaders with the competencies needed to effectively lead Ascension.

2023. EML, founded

Display of gratitude

MULTIPLE CHANNELS OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR ASSOCIATES TO RECEIVE MESSAGES OF THANKS

Leaders and associates used Ascension communication channels and collaborative spaces to share gratitude through videos, huddles/meetings, emails, over 1,500 kudos on the Ascension Kudoboard, and nearly 4,000 e-cards circulated during multiple appreciation days earlier this year. In-person and virtual celebrations included those for Doctors’ Week, Employee Appreciation Day, Nurses Week, Patient Safety Week, Earth Day, Hospital Week, Mission Week and more. Here, associates share some of their messages of deep listening and quality care.

“I appreciate our NICU associates at Ascension St. Vincent’s Birmingham [Alabama] for the dedication and immense love they show daily to their tiny patients and their families. We recently recognized folks in Women & Children’s at Ascension St. Vincent’s Birmingham with a Mardi Gras celebration to thank everyone for the commitment they made to getting our newborn screening ‘unsatisfactory’ rate to below 5%. Their hard work got our rate to 2.75%! Thank you all so very much!” — MADONNA N.

Ascension Illinois Ministry Market Executive Polly Davenport’s heartfelt gratitude to her teams noted their continuous commitment to providing high-quality care. “Let us always remember to extend kindness, listen to understand and SERVE together,” she said.

“Just wanted to say how much you are appreciated for the work you’ve done in support of Clinical Informatics. … We appreciate your willingness to listen and the wisdom you brought to the group.” —

CHERYL R.

“Employee Appreciation Day always reminds me how lucky and blessed I am to have such outstanding, strong and valuable Ascension Texas Pharmacy employees like you.

“Despite all the challenges we faced during the last few years, including the dangerous times during the COVID-19 pandemic, you all, Ascension Texas pharmacists, technicians, pharmacy students and residents, as well as pharmacy support personnel, continued your hard work and efforts in providing our customers and patients with outstanding services.” —

AZIZ S.

Ascension Illinois associates get together in celebration of Black History Month and Heart Health Month. From left, Ma Gemma Esmalla, DM, MS, RN; Richard Trainor, RN; Zachary Zerrudo, BHT; Michelle Morell, BHT; and Maricel Pendon, RN Charge.

APPRECIATING WHEN IT MATTERS

Celebrating is easy when Ascension care teams are doing extraordinary things every single day. Leaders and associates can take advantage of special moments by sharing their gratitude.

Team celebrations: Create a special Event Kudoboard and invite others to share a note of gratitude or encouragement.

Work milestones: Hang a banner or sign a team card to celebrate the occasion together.

System-wide celebrations: Join others across the country on the Ascension Kudoboard or reshare social media posts that celebrate your Ascension co-workers.

Special recognitions: Send an e-card or pick up the phone to congratulate; share good news at your next team huddle.

Thank you, ASMCA [Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin, Texas] Rehabilitation Services! All of these smiling faces work hard to ensure our patients receive the excellent care they deserve. Your time and efforts help our patients get home safely to their loved ones sooner!

@STACIE JEMPTY

FROM MACKALAH GREEN, PT, DPT REHABILITATION SUPERVISOR

I want to give a HUGE SHOUT-OUT to the CSM-Ozaukee [Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital - Ozaukee Campus, Wisconsin] Surgery Services Team (Anesthesia/OR and PACU teams)!! They are by far the most talented and dedicated team I have had the pleasure and privilege of working with and I could not do my job without each and every one of them. KUDOS to each one of you for your devotion to our patients. You should be proud of all that you do. I know I am VERY PROUD of all of you and our department!

FROM JOE MCGRAW, MHA, BSN, RN SURGERY SERVICES MANAGER

Thank you to our awesome L&D [Labor & Delivery] team at Ascension Saint Agnes!! Although this picture only shows some of our team, I want to recognize everyone! It’s because of your dedication, commitment and passion that we are able to keep our patient satisfaction high and our safety concerns low.

FROM L&D STAFF

The Pharmacy Techs at MIROC [Ascension Providence Rochester, Michigan] are the BEST! They work hard every day to ensure that the nurses have the medications they need to give our patients. Thank you to all the Ascension Providence Rochester pharmacy technicians for all you do!

FROM LINDSAY SCHWALBACH DIRECTOR OF PHARMACY

Ascension Illinois Children’s Center of Chicago’s “February Extravaganza” in celebration of Black History Month, Valentine’s Day and Heart Health Month through trivia games with staff, raffle and pizza.

Thank you CCC team for all that you do!

FROM

MA GEMMA ESMALLA

Building resiliency

ASCENSION TEXAS CENTER FOR RESILIENCY SUPPORTS

HEALTHCARE WORKERS TO HELP PREVENT COMPASSION FATIGUE

Krista Gregory, founder and Manager of the Center for Resiliency for Ascension’s Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas in Austin, knows firsthand the challenges of healthcare burnout and what is commonly referred to as compassion fatigue — a secondary stress reaction due to the physical, emotional and psychological impact of helping others, often through experiences of stress or trauma. For more than two decades, Krista has served at the bedside of patients and helped meet the personal and spiritual needs of patients and their families.

“I personally experienced burnout several times. I thought, ‘There’s got to be another way to do this, where I can fully love the people that I care for and not lose myself,’” Krista said. “So we decided to do a deep-dive study of how we care for ourselves, how we care for members of our teams and what it means to make this work sustainable for all of us in healthcare.”

In March 2016, her vision to “care for those who care” came to fruition through the Center for Resiliency, which offers transformative support services for healthcare professionals.

HEALING PEOPLE, STAYING HUMAN

The tagline for the Center for Resiliency, “healing people, staying human,”

trauma associated with working in the field of medicine. “The mission is to equip our people in healthcare with practical tools to survive the challenges of our unique work environment and thrive in all aspects of our lives,” Krista said.

“This is so in alignment with the ABIDE [AppreciationBelongingness - Inclusivity - Diversity - Equity] framework — serving communities and really paying attention to the state of humanity and each individual person,” she said. “Our humanity is really where the magic is.”

While acknowledging that there are similar centers and organizations that study the concept of healthcare worker burnout and compassion fatigue, Krista said the Center for Resiliency looks beyond the concept of burnout and focuses on preventive strategies, personal well-being and the avoidance of compassion fatigue.

Krista found value in the personal requests and testimonies of healthcare workers.

“What we ended up creating as far as what the Center for Resiliency encompasses today came out of the voices of people at the bedside. It didn’t just come from a book or an expert,” she said. “The experts were the people doing the work. It’s always through the lens of people on the front lines. That’s been at the core of the Center for Resiliency.”

reiterates the humanity of those who serve and encourages healthcare professionals to reexamine the ways in which they process the stress and

Left: Krista Gregory hosts the November installment of Mortals in Medicine, held at The Rosette in Austin, Texas.

Right: From left, Tommi Reel, Center for Resiliency Administrative Coordinator; Alicia Hargrove, Social Media Consultant; Krista Gregory, Manager; Mya Murphey, LMSW, Staff Support; and Phoebe Long Franco, Research Scientist.

MORTALS IN MEDICINE

One piece of feedback that came from Krista’s for-thepeople-by-the-people approach was the need for collective sharing sessions and storytelling for healthcare providers. Mortals in Medicine, a night of off-site black-box theater storytelling, is a quarterly opportunity for healthcare workers to address compassion fatigue by sharing the complexities of working in medicine. During the sessions, which are often somber and tearful, clinicians share personal conflicts, some of which include caring for patients while being a caregiver or suffering losses in their own families. Ultimately, these sessions provide a healthy outlet and shared understanding of unique experiences.

In addition to Mortals in Medicine, the Center for Resiliency offers a variety of training programs and events to help healthcare professionals create healthy boundaries between healthcare and self-care. The center also offers one-on-one professional development coaching sessions for physicians and healthcare leaders. Whether one-onone, in dialogue sessions or in retreat settings, Krista and her team strive to provide practical resiliency tools for associates at the bedside or in the boardroom.

COPING IN COMMUNITY

Many of the center’s training sessions and retreats are designed with community and camaraderie in mind. Although there is emphasis on self-care, training also includes techniques to help colleagues who may be dealing with compassion and empathy fatigue.

“How can we help people not only with how they personally cope, but how they cope in community? We aren’t just asking what we can teach you about what you need personally or in your professional life, but how you are working with all of your team members,” Krista said.

“A lot of the research calls it compassion fatigue, but I call it empathy fatigue because it’s really about empathetically resonating with people around us — literally feeling what another person’s feeling,” she said.

TIPS FOR SELF-CARE AND COMPASSION

Deana Donovan, National Lead of Associate Well-Being, Ascension, suggests the following self-compassion and self-care practices to help healthcare professionals heal people and stay human.

Self-compassion

• Practice self-kindness: Avoid self-judgment. Understand and accept that what you’re experiencing is normal.

• Practice grace: Treat yourself with the same care and compassion you would a friend or loved one.

• Practice daily mindful meditations: Become more self-aware and reflective by practicing 30 Days of Meditation & Reflection, a monthlong journey that invites you to cultivate self-awareness and provides tools for self-regulation and more self-compassion.

Self-care

• Recharge your batteries. Get regular exercise, eat a healthy diet and practice healthy sleep habits.

• Take intentional time off. Rest and rejuvenation are essential to personal well-being. Read “Creating Balance and Boundaries That Work for You and Your Family” to learn healthy work/life habits.

• Do what you love. Take time for your hobbies and engage in something that is enjoyable for you.

• Utilize resources. Ascension offers a wealth of ways to support mental and emotional well-being. Visit the myCare site from the Good Day Ascension Intranet to find the best resources to support you and your family.

“This is so in alignment with the ABIDE framework — serving communities, and really paying attention to the state of humanity and each individual person. Our humanity is really where the magic is.”

— Krista Gregory, founder and Manager of the Center for Resiliency at Dell Children’s Medical Center, Austin, Texas

Recognize and Rescue initiative optimizes patient outcomes

COLLABORATIVE APPROACH SHARES BEST PRACTICES FOR QUALITY AND SAFETY

Clinical leaders across Ascension are redoubling efforts to improve clinical quality and patient outcomes.

“Healthcare as a whole was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mohamad Fakih, MD, MPH, Chief Quality Officer, Ascension. “Across the nation, hospitals experienced many challenges with a high proportion of patients presenting with respiratory compromise. We witnessed patients decompensating and requiring intensive care, a rise in healthcare-associated infections and increased hospital mortality. To help enhance our outcomes, we formed an Ascension comprehensive initiative called Recognize and Rescue.”

RECOGNIZE AND RESCUE

The goal of Recognize and Rescue is to optimize quality and safety across acute care sites through the prevention of negative events and the delivery of prompt support for decompensating, or functionally deteriorating, patients. The work underscores multidisciplinary partnership and the adoption of standardized procedures for patient care.

The initiative organizes its work into two components:

• “Recognize”: Recognize high-risk conditions, situations and medications and prevent negative events. Focus areas include: (1) Implementing risk-reduction strategies for healthcare-associated infections. (2) Mitigating medication risks. (3) Improving the management of sepsis. (4)

Optimizing the management of patients with respiratory compromise. (5) Practicing person-centered engagement.

• “Rescue”: Identify early and promptly intervene to support the decompensating patient. Focus areas include: (1) Standardizing rapid response team and code team protocols and processes. (2) Encouraging escalation and use of chain of command for concern resolution. (3) Prioritizing front-line healthcare worker education. (4) Promoting teamwork.

Each market established a team to lead this work with representation from multiple disciplines including physicians, nursing, respiratory therapy, pharmacy, analytics, education, consumer experience, environmental services, risk, and quality and patient safety.

Since its inception, Recognize and Rescue has had a major impact on improving patient outcomes. Its implementation of best practices to reduce healthcare-associated infection events led to lowering central line-associated bloodstream infections by 18%, hospital-onset methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream

“Recognize and Rescue has set a strong foundation for how we provide care to our patients.”

— RICHARD FOGEL, MD, FACC, FHRS, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF CLINICAL OFFICER, ASCENSION

infections by 29%, catheter-associated urinary tract infections by 21% and hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infections by 14%. In addition, it has helped reduce severe hyperglycemia by 14% and acute kidney failure by 35%.

Compared to the prior year and on a risk-adjusted basis, mortality also improved by 17%.

BEST PRACTICES IN ACTION

At Ascension St. Vincent in Indianapolis, the Recognize and Rescue team partnered with its educators to integrate best practices for resuscitation training including planning guides and mock code observations into the hospital’s simulation education program. They developed mock scenarios for a range of disciplines from progressive adult care to pediatrics.

“Simulation education allows teams to practice scenarios such as mock codes so they feel more prepared, comfortable and confident when they do occur,” said Stephanie Tooley, Vice President, Quality and Safety, Ascension St. Vincent. “Through training, our teams can better identify opportunities to improve how they work together and optimize patient outcomes.”

In addition to training and sharing best practices, understanding the important role each member of the care team plays is a key driver of this work.

At Ascension Via Christi in Wichita, Kansas, the Recognize and Rescue team applied the initiative to ensure the ministry was using its rapid response teams to their fullest potential.

Rapid response teams help units across the hospital recognize urgent patient needs and are used to help initiate response for assessment, intervention and patient triage. Examples of when a rapid response team would be called could include a concern about a change in a patient’s status such as heart rate, cardiac rhythm, blood pressure, respiration rate, oxygen saturation, level of consciousness and more.

“Some of our Ministry Markets’ rapid response teams may be solely nurse led while others may include physicians or advanced practice clinicians, emergency department personnel, respiratory therapists, chaplains and more,” said Missi King, MBA, BSN, RN, Director, Cardiovascular Service Line, Ascension Via Christi. “Our goal with Recognize and Rescue is to ensure we are practicing with a purpose and sharing the latest best practices so we can draw out the best in each team member.”

REAFFIRMING OUR COMMITMENT TO HIGH-QUALITY CARE

“Recognize and Rescue has set a strong foundation for how we provide care to our patients,” said Richard Fogel, MD, FACC, FHRS, Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer, Ascension. “Through this coordinated approach, we have made tremendous strides in optimizing patient outcomes. From introducing new training to reducing healthcare-associated infections, our cumulative efforts are making a difference and saving lives. This is an incredible testament to our care teams’ resiliency and commitment to deliver high-quality, safe care to the patients we serve.”

Supporting youth mental health

SCHOOL-BASED HEALTHCARE SERVICES MAKING AN IMPACT IN NEW ORLEANS

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly taken a toll on Americans across all demographics, but one group that appears to have suffered more than most is children.

Recent studies of emergency department visits found that mental health visits increased 24% for children ages 5 to 11 and 31% for those ages 12 to 17 between 2019 and March-October 2020.

The pandemic also made disparities in mental health services more significant. Students who needed access to school-based services the most, particularly those with lower socioeconomic backgrounds, had lower rates of counselors and school psychologists in their districts. These conditions have helped fuel what U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA, has called “a mental health pandemic for youth.”

At DePaul Community Health Centers (DCHC) of New Orleans, one of five Ascension Community Health Ministries nationally, leaders and clinicians have found a way to address the critical need by working with local public and private school systems to provide behavioral health services to elementary, middle and high school students. DCHC operates 11 health centers throughout metro New Orleans.

DCHC has provided school-based health services since 2016, well before the pandemic. With the help of two local grants,

Above: DePaul Community Health Centers of New Orleans offers behavioral health services that address behavior and attention problems; depression; parent-child relationship issues; medication management; grief, loss and other traumatic events; and more. The school-based program has expanded its services with a mobile health unit and telehealth services.

DCHC has expanded the program to include behavioral health services at the same time the need is growing.

“The need for behavioral health services was already evident following Hurricane Katrina in 2005,” said Kawana Ripoll, DCHC Executive Director of Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse and School Based Programs. “Our ‘Katrina babies’ — children who were infants to 5 years old when Katrina hit — are now in high school. We are starting to see that these teens are dealing with the delayed trauma of living through the hurricane.”

For many students, school is a respite, but following the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of students continue to have issues navigating stress and many are lacking positive coping skills.

“In order for us to truly meet the needs of students, we must first understand what the needs are,” said Stephenie Marshall, Executive Director, DCHC. “So we have representatives who are in the schools engaging with school staff who are dealing with students that are having behavioral health concerns. Unfortunately, we are seeing an uptick in the number of suicidal students.”

Today, DCHC offers behavioral health services in 25 schools and has expanded outside brick and mortar with a mobile health unit and telehealth services. Services address behavior and attention problems; depression; parent-child relationship issues; medication management; grief, loss and other traumatic events; and more. Depression assessments and counseling are also available for individuals, groups and families.

DCHC’s telehealth program uses a team care model, bridging the gap between social workers and counselors. The team includes a licensed psychiatric clinical provider who works in collaboration with a school nurse. The school nurse completes an initial assessment and then hands off care of the student to a therapist. Depending on the level of need, the therapist can develop a full treatment plan or simply work with a parent over the phone to make changes to a child’s medication dosing.

“While most services are still provided on-site, the expansion of telehealth services has allowed us to serve even more

students, removing geographic barriers and offering more convenience for working parents,” Kawana said.

Parents also play a critical role as part of the care team. “It’s a great feeling to be able to collaborate with parents to assist the mental health needs of children within schools in New Orleans, and in the community,” said Tobias Robertson, MA, LPC, a DCHC counselor. “The parents are always grateful to have a partner, and they know we are here for them.”

Behavioral health services are just one of the many services DCHC provides. Other health services include dental care and vision and hearing screenings, all free of charge. These services are currently provided through three school-based clinics.

“DCHC’s Mission has always been to serve the needs of our most vulnerable,” said Michael G. Griffin, President and Chief Executive Officer, DCHC. “Our collaboration with local schools is a true amplification of our Mission and our goal to improve the health of communities, and there’s no better place to start than with our youth.”

Charette Thomas, BSN, RN, CCHC, NPD-BC, School Based Health Services Nurse Coordinator, DCHC

DePaul Community Health Centers of New Orleans offers behavioral health services in 25 elementary, middle and high schools.

ALABAMA

Sister recognized by senate

When state Senate President ProTempore Greg Reed introduced a Senate joint resolution to honor accomplished Alabama women during Women’s History Month, Sister Chrysostom Moynahan was recognized as the state’s first registered nurse; for creating the state’s first nursing school, St. Vincent’s Nursing School; and for leading nurses in Italy who treated soldiers during World War I.

BALTIMORE

Focus on women’s health

Ascension Saint Agnes Health Center Columbia opened this spring with a special blessing, ceremony and celebration. It is one of the most comprehensive ambulatory centers in the area, offering primary care; OB-GYN services; and surgical, medical and ancillary specialty services. “This will be another location where our patients can come and receive comprehensive care,” said Bill Cook, MD, FACP, Internal Medicine, Ascension Saint Agnes. “This new location will bring primary and specialty care, along with ancillary services, all under one roof for one-stop personalized and compassionate care from our top-notch medical team at Ascension Saint Agnes.”

BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK

Bariatric reaccreditation

The center focuses on pre-surgery and post-surgery care to ensure the best possible outcomes and features dedicated weight-loss facilities and equipment, including two patient classrooms. Hospital trains medical students

Ascension Sacred Heart Bay in Panama City, Florida, is now an official core site for the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine. This designation will allow the hospital to receive and host medical students for education and training. The first group will consist of five students scheduled to arrive this fall.

ILLINOIS

Substance use disorders workshop

Surgical milestones reached Ascension St. Vincent’s Birmingham clinical teams completed their 300th transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure. “Reaching 300 TAVRs is certainly a milestone that could only have happened through teamwork, hard work and dedication of all participants,” said Cathy Smith, RN, Structural Heart Coordinator. “The true heroes are our patients, whom we have the privilege and honor to serve. We are truly blessed to give patients back their quality of life through such an amazing procedure as the TAVR.”

Lourdes’ Bariatric Surgery Program received reaccreditation through 2026 from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, a joint program of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

Kathy Connerton gets community award

Kathy Connerton, Lourdes President and CEO, received the 2023 Distinguished Citizen Award from the Baden-Powell Council of the Boy Scouts of America for the positive influence she has had on the Binghamton community.

FLORIDA AND GULF COAST

Weight-loss center opens

Ascension St. Vincent’s Southside in Jacksonville, Florida, opened a weightloss services center to offer patients the convenience of having all appointments, including surgery, in the same facility.

Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital collaborated with Harper College on “Collaborative Care in the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders,” a live workshop featuring addiction and behavioral health experts from across Ascension Illinois. More than 700 in-person and virtual participants heard about the latest addiction medicine research from leading Ascension Illinois physicians. Micro food pantry opens

State legislators and local elected officials joined Ascension Holy Family at the opening of its micro pantry. This is the eighth micro pantry established at an Ascension Illinois facility. Micro pantries provide a private source of food for anyone who might need it. These pantries provide easy, 24/7 access and are funded through community benefit programming and donations.

Superhero visits

The Ascension Saint Alexius Women & Children’s Hospital staff put on their capes and celebrated National Superhero Day in the spring. Batman, Batgirl, Captain America and others made the rounds

From left, Drs. Monica Hunter, Parvez Sultan, Michael Parks, Panayotis Vardas and Hassan Alkhawam at Ascension St. Vincent’s Birmingham.

cheering our youngest patients. The heroes brought activity kits and lunch to the children and their families.

INDIANA

Nurse co-authors article

Sarah Nicholson, BSN, RN, Ascension St. Vincent Women’s Hospital in Indianapolis, co-authored an article, “The Eat, Sleep, Console Method: A Literature Review,” in Neonatal Network®.

Patients participate in plane pull

Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent was a beneficiary of the Republic Airways 11th Annual Plane Pull in Indianapolis, where teams of 10 were challenged to pull a 24-ton jet 15 feet. This event honors the life of an Ascension St. Vincent patient who died at the age of 9 in 2004 while battling leukemia. Sixteen patient ambassadors, who have all been treated at the hospital at some point in their lives, showed off their strength during the ceremonial “first pull.”

Top 50 heart hospital

Ascension St. Vincent Heart Center was recognized in the 50 top cardiovascular hospitals list by Fortune | PINC AI™ and named the No. 1 hospital in the top community hospitals category. Those listed operated at a lower cost and had better outcomes and significantly higher

inpatient survival rates, fewer patients with complications, and lower readmission rates than their peers.

KANSAS Hospital offers specialized therapy

The Cancer Institute at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita became an approved site for four CAR T-cell therapies, offering new hope to patients with certain blood cancers that have returned or stopped responding to treatment.

Care closer to home

Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg expanded its ultrasound and echocardiogram services to its nearby rural Fort Scott clinic, increasing access to close-to-home diagnostic cardiology, obstetrics and general imaging services.

MICHIGAN

Dr. Darla Granger elected United Network for Organ Sharing representative Darla Granger, MD, FACS, MBA, Section Chief, Transplant Surgery, Ascension St. John Hospital, was elected by peers to serve as Region 10 Associate Councillor for the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). Dr. Granger will serve on the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network’s Membership & Professional Standards Committee for two years as the Region 10 representative. Then she will transition to Councillor and serve on the UNOS Board of Directors for an additional two years.

Elliott Breast Care Center reopens Elliott Breast Care Center at Ascension Providence Hospital, Novi Campus, reopened following the completion of a renovation and expansion project to care for a growing patient base.

Halfway house opens

A new, 8,600-square-foot Ascension

Brighton Center for Recovery Halfway House replaced two separate housing facilities and doubled its capacity to 32 individuals. The $3.4 million, donor-funded project was completed over two years. Amenities at the new sober-living residential facility include eight bedrooms, three laundry areas, a large kitchen, a community dining room, four group/ lounge spaces and outdoor patios.

OKLAHOMA

Afghan refugees find work

Refugees from Afghanistan have found work at Ascension St. John after many fled their home country during the Taliban takeover. Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma, which aids with refugee resettlement, said 14 Afghan women and men work at Ascension St. John facilities through food service and support services provider TouchPoint.

Rehabilitation hospital opens

Ascension St. John and Encompass Health Corp. opened a new joint venture rehabilitation hospital in Owasso, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The 40-bed inpatient hospital is the second joint venture between Encompass and Ascension St. John; a 60-bed facility is located in Broken Arrow.

TENNESSEE

Neighborhood hospital opens Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Westlawn opened as Tennessee’s first neighborhood hospital. Operating as a satellite campus of Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford, this 32,000-squarefoot facility will improve access to care for residents of Murfreesboro’s Westlawn, Blackman and surrounding

Ascension Saint Alexius Women & Children’s Hospital staff celebrate National Superhero Day.

neighborhoods. The hospital includes eight inpatient hospital rooms and an emergency department staffed with board-certified ED physicians that will serve the community 24/7. Diagnostic imaging, laboratory, pharmacy and telemedicine services are offered on-site.

First open-heart surgeries

Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford reached a significant milestone by performing the county’s first open-heart surgeries and advancing the level of heart care in the community to include artery bypass grafting, aortic valve surgery, mitral valve surgery and treatment for ascending aortic aneurysms.

TEXAS

New hospital opens

Bishop Joe S. Vasquez, Diocese of Austin, marked the opening of the Dell Children’s Medical Center North Campus in North Austin with a blessing of the doors. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and police department heroes, Williamson County first responders, and hundreds of others joined together for a community celebration.

Expanding women’s health

Ascension Seton broke ground for a women’s tower on Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin’s campus as part of an ongoing plan in collaboration with Dell Medical School at the University of Texas and UT Health Austin.

New nerve injury clinic

Ascension Seton opened a multidisciplinary nerve injury clinic for adult traumatic injuries to the nerves, including stretch, crush, stab and gunshot wounds. The clinic’s team includes neurologists, neurosurgeons, plastic surgeons with subspecialty training in hand surgery, nursing specialists, rehabilitation specialists and more, allowing patients to be seen by multiple specialists in a single visit.

WISCONSIN

Associate featured as Everyday Hero

Tricia Burkett, the state coordinator for Safe Place for Newborns, was featured as an Everyday Hero on Spectrum News. Safe Place for Newborns, with support from the Ascension Wisconsin Foundation, provides education and awareness across the state about the Safe Haven Law in Wisconsin, which allows a parent to leave their newborn in a safe place in certain circumstances with certain individuals.

Families celebrate babies’ 1st birthdays

Ascension Wisconsin’s Blanket of Love program celebrated the first birthday of babies whose moms participate in the program, which provides prenatal and parenting education to families with the goal to help more babies reach their first birthday by reducing preventable causes of infant death including premature births and unsafe sleeping environments.

ASCENSION FOUNDATION

Diversifying the healthcare workforce

The Ascension Foundation, Community Impact team and DePaul Community Health Centers of New Orleans worked together to bring #GOALS (Go Out And Love Science) to New Orleans as part of an initiative designed to diversify the future healthcare workforce. Nearly 500 middle school students took part in hands-on activities — including learning CPR and building robots — and were encouraged to study science and pursue careers in healthcare by current medical students and professionals.

ASCENSION LIVING

Memory support centers open

To better meet the needs of seniors and their loved ones, Ascension Living Bethlehem Woods Village in LaGrange Park, Illinois, and Ascension Living Providence Village, in Waco, Texas, opened assisted living memory support residences where care is designed around what is familiar and comforting to residents in a cottagelike community.

ASCENSION RX

Accreditation achieved

Ascension Rx received a six-year accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. The program has grown from providing approximately 1,500 continuing education hours in FY19 to nearly 25,000 hours so far in FY23. This program offers online and live study free of charge to Ascension Rx pharmacists and pharmacy technicians/advocates.

ASCENSION TECHNOLOGIES

Teams make sure digital tools work for vulnerable populations

About 42% of people who use Ascension’s digital tools are members of vulnerable

Bishop Joe S. Vasquez, Diocese of Austin, blesses the doors of the new Dell Children’s Medical Center North Campus in North Austin.

communities. So data analysts from Ascension Technologies work with cross-functional teams to ensure digital services are as user-friendly and accessible as possible, including monitoring and analyzing users so product strategies can take into account all populations.

COMMUNITY HEALTH MINISTRIES

Louisiana welcomes new center DePaul Community Health Centers (DCHC), which operates 11 health centers throughout metro New Orleans, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new, 9,400-square-foot health center in Harvey, Louisiana. This was the first of three new health centers DCHC plans to open through 2024.

MEDXCEL

Employee engagement recognized

Medxcel received the 2023 Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces® Award and attributes much of its success to dedicated associates who live out its values each day. For the past six years, Medxcel has been recognized for demonstrating leadership in leveraging innovative employee engagement and recognition tactics. Medxcel was rated on “Eight Elements of Employee Engagement”: Purpose & Leadership, Culture Alignment, Manager

Empowerment, Recognition & Rewards, Professional & Personal Growth, and Well-being.

THE RESOURCE GROUP

Welcome 2023 interns

The Resource Group welcomed a new intern class of 22 bright, diverse and dynamic students representing 18 universities. These future leaders will

contribute significantly across the organization through participation in initiatives including but not limited to ABIDE, the Responsible Supply Chain pillar of Ascension’s sustainability vision, and ongoing supply resiliency efforts. Last year, 100% of the subsidiary’s interns reported they had a valuable experience and 97% would recommend the program to others.

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Participants at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for DePaul Community Health Centers’ new facility in Harvey, Louisiana.

At 7 years old, Leslie Brown knew she wanted to be an oncologist and work at Ascension St. Vincent Evansville Cancer Center in Newburgh, Indiana, the facility where her mother, Karen, received treatment for breast cancer.

Anthony Stephens, MD, the oncologist who cared for her mother, remembers the first time he met Leslie and her brother.

“I remember two very quiet, very young kids with dark hair, bright eyes and visible anxiety,” Dr. Stephens said. “That is now at least 25 years ago.”

That was the start of their relationship.

“I remember telling him I was going to come work for him when I grew up,” Dr. Brown said. After her mother’s death, the

Dr. Leslie Brown

Oncologist, Ascension St. Vincent Evansville Cancer Center, Newburgh, Indiana

two stayed in contact. Dr. Stephens provided support and job shadowing opportunities while Leslie was in school.

Now, they work side by side. Dr. Brown said it feels like a dream come true.

“It still feels like home. I feel like I stepped back into where I left,” Dr. Brown said. “I see my mom in the face of every new patient I treat.”

In her work, Dr. Brown takes a special interest in caring for patients who are at a higher risk for cancer. She is able to connect with them on a personal level and provide support for the whole family.