We All Play a Part in the Mission


A couple of years ago I saw a video at an HR conference that has stuck with me ever since. It’s the story of Moses, a hospital janitor, who brought hope to a child struggling for life, and his family.

https://www.octanner.com/insights/videos/great-work-stories-moses-and-mindi.html

In the video, Mindi says, “It was Moses who treated us like a person, and gave me encouragement on those days when I had real fears and doubts, and didn’t know if my child was going to walk out with us or not.” She says, “Moses saw himself as part of the healing team…as critical, as important, as doctors and nurses…he understood the impact that he could have.”

In his book, Great Work: How to Make a Difference People Love, David Sturt looks at this story. He says, “Matt and Mindi looked forward to visits from Moses because as he made their hospital room clean, he also gave them hope.”

Sturt continues: “Moses was a good janitor. But he also added something extra with his job that made a difference – something outside his job description. He was more than a housekeeper. He made a serious individual contribution to the hospital’s mission: to offer hope. He had a higher goal than just keeping rooms clean, and it showed. Moses took his innate talents (his sensitivity) and his practical wisdom (from years of hospital experience) and combined them into a powerful form of patient and family support that changed the critical-care experience for Mindi, Matt, and little McKay.”

I love this story, because it reminds us that every role in our organization is important, that we are all part of the healing team. In the Called to Care booklet, the chapter Called to Care Behind the Scenes says, “Kettering Health Network is blessed to have such dedication and insight from all who work in support departments. Your work truly is sacred, and you have the power to lift the burdens of others each day.”

Called to Care Action

Discuss with your team the role they play in the patient experience. Ask how they can contribute to the patient’s and family’s healing, whether in a caregiver role, or in a support role.

Blessings to you and your team!

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