We Are Family

Employees can be found buying lunch for each other on a hard day or switching shifts for each other to accommodate family schedules and events, but really it’s the little things we do for each other that show most how we’re just like family here at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center.

Over the years, Hans Gebhardt of housekeeping and Ultrasound staff have developed a fun friendship. He came to visit Ultrasound staff a couple of weeks ago, and they noticed that his work shirt was missing a button. Staff jokingly gave him a hard time about being too “revealing,” so Kelli Centeno offered to sew a button back on the shirt if Hans brought the button, needle, and thread.

A few days later, Hans showed up wearing the old shirt with a new button! Kelli had followed through with her promise to mend his shirt.

This is just another example of how we’re more of a family, than group of peers – going above and beyond for each other on and off the job.

OSF Employees Grateful for Foundation

Jan Weaver RN, CNOR, and clinical manager of Surgery, e-mailed Pat O’Dell, executive director of Foundation, to relay how a Foundation purchase is helping surgeries in the medical center. Read the story below:

“Here’s my story of Dr. Brad Smith: He came to my office to thank me for the thorocoscopy instruments. He stated they are working beautifully, and the patients have an incision only an inch long versus the 4-5 inch incision on their back. He told me “Jan you just wouldn’t believe how well my patients are doing”. Their pain is considerably less, because he stated the incision is what gives them the most pain post op. The patients have done great! He is ecstatic, so thank you from the bottom of my heart for making my surgeon so very happy! We love the Foundation, thanks!”

- Jan E. Weaver RN, CNOR

Human Resources Receives Rave Reviews from Former Patient

One of our Human Resources employees received a kind e-mail from a former patient, it read as follows:

“I recently had a medical condition which required me to be a "resident" of your hospital from December to May 2009. During this time I was sent home for brief periods of time, but considered OSF St. Joseph Medical Center my home.

“I’m a teacher and it is in my nature to study occupations in order to enlighten my students. Since I had such a long stay in the hospital I had a chance to see lots of careers up close and personal. With marketing being my area of specialty, I am naturally very aware of customer service, both good and bad. I have to say that I am very impressed with everyone I came in contact with. The nursing staff was professional and top notch. The Radiology and Lab personnel were impressive. Housekeeping was great. But my favorite was the bright and shiny faces who delivered my food. When you think about it, there really isn't much to look forward to in the hospital. Meals are the highlight of the day. From the order takers on the phone to the delivery people, I was never disappointed in the "customer" service I received.

“Please share my personal satisfaction with your staff of professionals. I have completed all of the questionnaires that have been sent with high marks.”

- Former Patient

Employee Passes Along Positive Remarks

Bertha Jackson, cardiac screening assistant in the Center for Healthy Lifestyles, relayed us a story about a patient who chose to come to OSF St. Joseph Medical Center for brain surgery after hearing about all of the amenities in the Comprehensive Care Center.

The patient couldn’t rave enough about how great it was to have his son and wife with him the whole time he was here, especially when he woke up from surgery. The family went on to say how wonderful the nurses, doctors and housekeepers were at our facility.

“I have worked here 15 years and was a patient here five years ago. I can say the same thing,” Bertha said. “This hospital is the best!”

We love serving others with the greatest care and love!

We Are A Top 50 Blog!

This blog was rated seventh best hospital blog in the country by healthcare blog, “Nurseblogger.” Fifty other hospitals were rated in the latest post “Top 50 Hospital Blogs.”

The top 10 hospital blogs included: “Beyond Vermont State Hospital (VSH) Blog” in Vermont, “Porter Adventist Hospital” in Colorado, “Save Charity Hospital” in New Orleans, Louisiana, “Knoxville Hospital and Clinics Blog” in Iowa, “Lexington Medical Center” in South Carolina, “Morningside Hospital” in Alaska, and “OSF St. Joseph Medical Center: This is Health Care” in Bloomington, Illinois. Rounding out the top 10 was “Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley” in California, “Virginia Hospital Center” in Arlington, Virginia, and “Children’s Hospital and Health System” in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

OSF St. Joseph Medical Center started its blog in March of 2009 as part of a social media campaign that included the creation of a Facebook page and Twitter account. The blog was created to connect the hospital with its publics and spread awareness of the hospital’s culture and services through the stories and commentary of its staff and patients.

For more information about the Nurseblogger blog, visit http://onlinebsn.org/blog.