Following our Franciscan Values

Franciscan Physicians Hospital and the Franciscan Alliance center their everyday efforts around the Mission and Values of the organization. It's those items that help drive us to provide the superior care given every minute of the day, every day of the year.

To the internal employee or physician, the mission and values are clear and well-known. But, to an individual outside of our organization, these things might not be so clear. With that in mind, here's is a brief overview of what the Mission and Values of the Franciscan Alliance are:

Our Mission
At Franciscan Alliance, we carry on a mission that began more than eight centuries ago when St. Francis of Assisi left behind all his worldly goods and ventured out to care for those in need. His legacy of service has guided us for more than 135 years, and it continues to inspire us today.

Our mission is Continuing Christ's Ministry in our Franciscan Tradition. This means that it is up to each of us as Franciscan Alliance employees to maintain the values, traditions and good works of all those who have gone before us and who are currently working within the Franciscan Alliance.

Through living out this Mission, we are tasked with assisting in the healing process of our patients according to our own skills, expertise and profession.

Our Values
Five core values are predominantly exemplified throughout our organization. The five values represent a full spectrum of caring and compassion for our patients.

Father Henry blesses the Christmas crib in the lobby
of Franciscan St. Margaret Health in Dyer.

Respect for Life: The gift of life is so valued that each person is cared for with such joy, respect, dignity, fairness and compassion that he or she is consciously aware of being loved.

Fidelity to our Mission: Loyalty to and pride in the healthcare facility are exemplified by members of the health care family through their joy and respect in empathetically ministering to patients, visitors, and co-workers.

Compassionate Concern: In openness and concern for the welfare of the patients, especially the aged, the poor and the disabled, the staff works with select associations and organizations to provide a continuum of care commensurate with the individual's needs.

Joyful Service: The witness of Franciscan presence througout the institution encompasses, but is not limited to, joyful availability, compassionate, respectful care and dynamic stewardship in the service of the Church.

Christian Stewardship: Christian stewardship is evidenced by just and fair allocation of human, spiritual, physical and financial resources in a manner respectful of the individual, responsive to the needs of society, and consistent with Church teachings.

The Franciscan Alliance, in living out each of the above items, is striving to provide all with the best care possible. Our organization of over 18,000 doctors, nurses and employees is focused on healing you.

For more information on our mission, values, and organization, visit http://www.14hospitals.org/.

Franciscan Physicians Hospital wishes you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Family Values: Bringing Back the Bond

Families are the stronghold of society and they help define who we are as individuals. As we face an unprecedented amount of choices and situations everyday, it's imperative that we remember our values. By instilling the moral and ethical values we hold dear into those we love, we're striving to make the world a better place.

At Franciscan Physicians Hospital, we demonstrate our organizational values patterned after St. Francis of Assissi (who was devoted to Christ-like care)through our patient care and how we treat visitors and co-workers.

Family traditions help hold families together. In our society, we often long for less chaos and a slower pace. Some of the staff at FPH provide the following family traditions as ideas for you and your loved ones to consider doing:

Judy Elwood, EAP therapist, says "Go on a yearly camping trip. This creates time when the family is together by themselves. Do anything that promotes laughter and fun together. Family is important because it gives us the opportunity to love and be loved."

Sharron Catania, human resources director, says "once a year, at the end of the year, we go around the table and we make a list of what we've accomplished as both individuals and family that entire year. We keep going in a circle until there's no more left and we normally get at least a page full of accomplishments. It makes us reflect on what we've done as a family and what we've done individually."

Dennis Goulet, IT manager, says "growing up we had family gatherings on the weekends that were beyond belief with so many cousins running around my grandmother's farm. We all pitched in and shared everything. When I was a teen I woke one summer night to our home engulfed in smoke. Everything was lost but we knew we had grandma's house next door. It was amazing to see family, friends and neighbors come together in the rebuilding. These are things that are important and I'm thankful to share them with my young family."

Rosa Alvarado, administrative assistant, says "I insist on family dinners without any cell phones in the dining room. That way the kids can't be texting or peeking at the phone trying to read their messages. I've also taught my boys to put down their cell phones when they're with family or friends. If you're talking to someone, that person is much more important than a text. Human communication is more important than technology and technology is not a good excuse for rudeness or replacement for a smile."

Kathy Radinovic, financial analyst, says "we go boating often. Every year in June, right after school is out, we go to our time share in Marco Island. We always drive there which gives us time to bond."

Lisa Leckrone, risk management director, says "It's a Christmas tradition for us to decorate the tree together every year. We each put on our own ornaments and drink hot chocolate."

The employees of Franciscan Physicians Hospital hope that their family value thoughts can be of assistance to you and your loved ones this year. With warm weather just around the corner, it's the perfect opportunity to get out and about with those you love!