Volunteers receive Most Valuable Team award

Franciscan Physicians Hospital congratulates its volunteers as the winners of this quarter’s MVT (Most Valuable Team) award.

This award is a Service Excellence initiative to honor those who demonstrate outstanding team services. The award is determined by previous winners; last quarter, the Outpatient Surgery Team won the award and nominated the volunteers this quarter. The winners have their picture taken and are on display in a large award board in the main lobby.

From assisting patients in the hallways to answering phones, guiding family members to their loved ones in pre-op and recovery, and helping with hospitality, there is nothing that the FPH volunteers cannot do to brighten someone’s day and add a valuable piece to our health care puzzle. Their generous dedication to helping others Makes a Difference!

THANK YOU, Volunteers, for your outstanding service here at Franciscan Physicians Hospital and for winning the MVT Award.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities with Franciscan Physicians Hospital and Franciscan Alliance, visit FranciscanAlliance.org/volunteer.

Outpatient Surgery latest to be named Most Valuable Team

Congratulations to Outpatient Surgery for winning Franciscan Physicians Hospital’s Most Valuable Team award!

Outpatient Surgery is a great example of what MVT is all about. The staff in this department have gone above and beyond in their everyday jobs to make FPH a better place. Patients and other staff members alike have been positively affected by the Outpatient Surgery team. From the Friends in Need luncheon to the surprise Founders Circle donation, the employees in Outpatient Surgery have truly pulled together to Make a Difference.

Thank you, Outpatient Surgery. Way to go!

Franciscan Omni Health’s Crozier receives Indiana Chamber Volunteer of the Year honor

Marci Crozier’s dedication to sharing her inspiring wellness journey and her work on behalf of the Wellness Council of Indiana earned her an Indiana Chamber of Commerce 2012 Volunteer of the Year award during a recent ceremony at the Indiana Convention Center.

Wellness is more than a way of life for Crozier – it’s a passion. When the Wellness Council of Indiana was established in the 1980s, she was an early contributor and volunteer. She’s spent nearly 30 years working at Franciscan Omni Health & Fitness - Schererville, currently as regional director of marketing and sales. After chronicling her nearly 80-pound weight loss on the popular NBC television show, The Biggest Loser, she began empowering others with the story of her path to physical and spiritual health at speaking engagements and to Wellness Council audiences.

“There’s a word many people to use to describe Marci – compassionate. Combined with her wellness knowledge and experience, the sky is truly the limit when it comes to making a positive impact on people’s lives,” says Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar. “Her dedication to helping others improve their well-being is simply inspiring.”

Crozier said the recognition extends beyond her, to Franciscan Alliance.

“It was my privilege to accept this recognition on behalf of the Sisters of Saint Francis, each and every one of them, and our Franciscan Alliance organization. When you are surrounded by such compassionate people, it just seems natural to want to give back. I am grateful for the opportunities that my position at Franciscan Omni Health & Fitness has given me to encourage and motivate Northwest Indiana and the state of Indiana citizens to want to live a healthier lifestyle.”

Franciscan Physicians Receives Community Safety Award!

On November 17, Franciscan Physicians Hospital received one of three Community Safety Awards for their work in emergency preparedness.

The awards were given by the Lake County Local Emergency Planning Committee, which serves as the liaison between industry and the local community and is accountable to the State of Indiana’s Emergency Response Commission.

A plaque of recognition, given by the LEPC, is located in the hospital’s west lobby.

The District 1 Hospital disaster drills took place on September 24, 2011. The full-scale exercise is designed to test the operational capability of multiple response functions, such as resource coordination, mental health, continuity of operations and risk communication.

Franciscan Physicians Hospital utilized volunteer participants, staged as patients, to simulate a variety of medical conditions relevant to the specific mocked disaster. The September drill scenario involved the detonation of a dirty bomb in three geographic locations in Northwest Indiana.

“We worked hard to ensure that our staff and physicians were prepared for a real life disaster, which was displayed during the scenario played out on September 24,” says Lori Postma, RN and medical care branch director at Franciscan Physicians Hospital.

Barb Greene, hospital president, states, “I’m very proud of our team for executing the plan in full detail as they’ve been trained to do. I am confident that in the face of a real disaster, their expertise and organization would prove successful in protecting our patients and staff to the fullest of their capabilities.”

Kevin Doolin, LEPC president, presents Lori Postma with the hospital's Community Safety Award.