Journal of Sacred Work

Caregivers have superpowers! Radical Loving Care illuminates the divine truth that caregiving is not just a job. It is Sacred Work.

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Former President & CEO of multiple hospital systems and founding president & CEO of 20-hospital OhioHealth, best selling author, film artist, ordained minister, composer, published poet, syndicated T.V. host, trial attorney, federal prosecutor and Municipal Court Judge. Erie is internationally known as the founder of the Radical Loving Care(R)movement. He also heads Erie Chapman Foundation, Dane Dakota Productions, LLC, and Chapman Health International, Inc.

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HHN: Mercy Magic! – Mercy-Gilbert Builds Healing Culture with New Hospital

July 12, 2006

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!

Posted in Healing Hospital Network (HHN)

11 responses to “HHN: Mercy Magic! – Mercy-Gilbert Builds Healing Culture with New Hospital”

Diane Berg

July 12, 2006

Wish we could build hospitals like this in the east. It looks beautiful. Meanwhile, Beth Israel has a terrific culture started under the leadership of Dr. Mitch Rabkin in the late seventies early eighties and continuing today.
Diane Berg

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Karen York

July 12, 2006

How wonderful to begin the very first day meeting staff and patients with a sacred encounter! Congratulations to this team of loving leaders for setting this example.
Karen York
Alive Hospice,
Nashville

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Robert Hanson

July 12, 2006

What a remarkable story this is. I wish I lived near enough to visit this hospital and I hope what you say about their culture is true (or comes true). Congratulations to Ms. Eberst and her team.
Robert Hanson
Portland, ME

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Joanna Miller, R.N., M.S.N.

July 13, 2006

It’s great to see a hospital paying attention to culture and not just construction. I particularly congratulate these leaders at Mercy. Most bosses get so caught up and so impressed with the building they forget about the caregivers inside.
Joanna Miller, R.N., M.S.N
Chicago

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Kweku Arko-Gilbert

July 13, 2006

Diane, I definitely agree with you; wish we had hospitals like these on the east coast but Mercy Gilbert truly is a great place to be. As an intern at this new hospital, there could be no better way to learn about such a healing culture than from its inception. From the ground floor doors to the units on the fourth floor, the healing aura permeates and affects us the workers and our valued patients. Laurie, I am proud of you and your team for such a magical environment. I pledge to do my part to uphold the healing mission.

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Jane Sirac, RN., MSN

July 13, 2006

This is a great comment from Dr. Kweku Argo-Gilbert and indicates the kind of impact culture can have on caregiver’s energy.
Jane Sirac, R.N., M.S.N

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Nancy Hicks-Arsenault

July 14, 2006

I am blessed to work at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center. Having a healing culture has me with a waiting list of nurses and EDtechs. The patients relax when they come through the door and allow us to care for them. The staff feel great being able to give back rubs and hold patients hands “like the old days”. It is the best experience in my 24 years as an Emergency Nurse.

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Judy Esway

July 14, 2006

I think we all feel extremely blessed to be able to come to work every day in this remarkable environment. The sense of excitement in our staff is palpable. I interviewed a chaplain candidate from Louisiana, and here is what she said: “Even though you described the beauty of the surroundings, especially the chapel, one really has to experience it. I found beauty also in the upbeat sounds of the staff as Anne and I made our brief tour. That sound says so much.”
There is nothing better than doing work that you love, except maybe doing it in an environment such as what has being created at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center in the beautiful desert of AZ.
Judy Esway, MA, NACC Certified
Manager, Spiritual Care

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Joanna Miller, R.N., M.S.N.

July 15, 2006

Judy: Thank you so much for sharing the comment of the candidate you interviewed from Louisiana. She’s right. The overall ‘sound’ of the staff says so much.
Hope you hired that candidate!
Joanna Miller, R.N., M.S.N.

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Denise McGinley

February 3, 2008

It is now 2008…2 1/2 years later…and Mercy remains an amazing testament to the power of Radical Loving Care! The focus remains the sacredness of each encounter, whether between patient and nurse, or housekeeper and CEO. The hospital environment is one that can’t help but foster “healing” of both body and spirit for patients and staff alike. It is an honor to be part of this amazing organization.

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D Hagerman

February 17, 2009

I just recently joined this wonderful team of healing hearts. I can truely see the differance in the culture here compared with other hosiptals I have worked at. Although, it has only been a couple of weeks,I can truely see this could be the place I would spend my remaining 20 + years of employement. This culture is truely low stress and high healing!

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