It’s one thing to build a hospital (thousands of organizations have done that.) It’s quite another to create a healing facility and healing culture at the same time! That’s what CEO Laurie Eberst and her partners have done in planning, developing and bringing into being the recently opened Mercy Gilbert Hospital (click on photo to enlarge) just outside Phoenix, Arizona. And they got to do that because of the leadership & support of Catholic Health West & its President & CEO Lloyd Dean…
Ms. Eberst describes the excitement best in a note dated the last day of June. If you’re wondering how to create to create a Healing Hospital from the ground up, read these comments from a CEO who is creating magic!
"I am proud to announce that our hospital, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, is now three weeks old and we are growing each and every day. We are so proud of the culture that has been started at our new beautiful hospital thanks to Erie Chapman and his book Radical Loving Care. Each member of our leadership team has received a copy of the book and we review a chapter each and every month.
"Included with the chapter review are shared ideas on how we can instill this culture into our every day work. We had 430 new employees gathered under a huge circus tent for their orientation that was started with the [Healing Trust’s] video titled: Sacred Work. There was not a dry eye in the crowd and everyone commented that the video reminded them of why they went into healthcare."
Like George Mikitarian, CEO of Parrish Medical Center in Florida, Laurie Eberst understands that a new hospital, to be truly healing, has to be more than just bricks, mortar, and glass. When Parrish opened their new facility in Titusville, George warned his staff about what he called: the new car syndrome. "When you get a new car, it’s fun for awhile and then the thrill wears off," he said when the new Parrish hospital opened. "We don’t want it to be like that with our hospital. We have to build a culture that’s even stronger and better than the building."
Accordingly, George and his team have established a true healing organization in which the standard of excellence is constantly being raised. Certain practices that once seemed okay are no longer acceptable because Parrish wants to create healing experiences for everyone all the time.
Laurie Eberst is one of the true visionary leaders in American healthcare. She has chosen to create a culture that will make Mercy Gilbert a magnet for loving caregivers and a haven for patients and their families. Mercy’s caregivers will create the best possible experience for all who come to them in need.
Mercy Gilbert is a stunning facility. And Laurie is wise enough to understand that the culture is more important than the building because it’s the culture that determines successful patient-centered experiences.
Congratulations to the entire team of care givers in this special organization. You are setting a shinning example for the entire country!
Journal of Sacred Work 
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