Catholic Health World

Alexian Brothers Health System retools its vision statement

Significant changes are afoot at Alexian Brothers Health System, as the number of Alexian Brothers dwindles, lay leaders take on greater responsibility for the ministry and the organization adjusts to a health care delivery system in transition.

It is a dynamic time for the Arlington Heights, Ill., system — and the organization's decades-old vision statement did not accurately reflect the new reality or where the system is heading, organization sponsors decided early this year. They spent much of 2010 reworking the statement and recently debuted the new version to health system leadership and staff.

The new vision (see sidebar) emphasizes how important Alexian staff members and affiliates are in carrying out the Alexian Brothers' mission, explained Stan Kedzior, mission integration director for the Alexian Brothers Hospital Network, a division of the system. He explained, "The brothers are saying (to health system leaders): 'We're asking you to embrace what we've shared with you by way of our vision. Can you tell us how you see your role in taking what we're offering to you and making it real, making it meaningful in the decisions you make, to make the ministry thrive?'"

The vision updating process began at the prompting of Br. Jim Classon, CFA, provincial of the Immaculate Conception Province of the health system's sponsors, the Alexian Brothers. He said he wanted to ensure the brothers and the system had identified their goals for the health system and documented that. His directive prompted discussion among the brothers, including about whether the existing vision statement (see sidebar) accurately captured the brothers' ideas on where to head.

The consensus among leaders in the province and at the system was that the vision statement was a dud. "The vision statement we had just said nothing. It was a bland bunch of words that were strung together and sounded nice but that really didn't affect a preferred future and where the brothers wanted to be," explained Kedzior.

Br. Classon and two other brothers, along with Kedzior and another health system executive, formed a workgroup early this year to develop the new statement. Consultant Dominic Perri, the principal of the Essential Conversations Group, facilitated the process.

The workgroup sought input from brothers involved with the system and others in communities around the U.S. It drafted a statement and vetted it in an iterative process with the brothers and with health system leaders, board members and people outside the system.

Kedzior said several themes emerged: Stakeholders wanted brothers and system leaders and associates to be inter-connected; they wanted the health system to provide person-centered care, particularly to the underserved, and to provide those services in a holistic and prophetic way. Respondents were concerned that stewardship of resources be a priority. The workgroup wove these themes and others into the vision statement and a set of six priorities defining how to carry out that vision.

Kedzior noted that the process took place in the wake of some intentional changes meant to correct problematic relationship patterns that had emerged by the early 2000s, with many in the health system working in silos and not consulting the brothers much, and with others becoming too dependent on the brothers. The dynamics led to poor decision making in some cases, and some of those decisions made it more difficult for the health system to weather the economic downturn when it hit, Kedzior said.

Over the last several years, the system and its sponsors have been improving how they work and how they relate to one another. A focus for the sponsors is to form lay leaders in the 800-year-old tradition of the Alexian Brothers. The reworking of the vision statement is part of this realignment process, said Kedzior.

The facilitator, Perri, said the Alexian Brothers' concern for having a meaningful vision statement is reflective of what is happening at many not-for-profit organizations: They want a vision statement that is deep, fulfilling and meaningful, not a wooden statement. "They're savvy — they want more out of their vision statement. They want to know how to apply metrics, how to measure how well they're achieving their vision."

Alexian is rolling its vision statement out at retreats, through its newsletter and intranet, in town hall-style forums and on signage. Matt Wakely is director of public relations for Alexian Brothers Health System. He said after this initial awareness-building, the health system will look into how it can help ensure staff understand, embrace and live out the vision. For instance, the system may find ways to recognize individuals, departments or groups whose work exemplifies the vision.

Br. Warren Longo, CFA, is assistant general of the congregation of Alexian Brothers. He said that throughout the Alexian Brothers' centuries-long tradition, they have been asking laypeople for their input and engagement in the brothers' ministries. What's different now, he said, is that the brothers are being more intentional about documenting what they've examined, debated and decided upon.

He said, "The Alexian Brothers have always had to adapt and reinvent ourselves to meet new needs facing our ministries and the communities we serve in. Innovation and creativity are a constant for us."

New vision statement
Alexian Brothers Health System will engage all our associates and partners in a prophetic, holistic approach to healthcare, rooted in Gospel values and the 800-year legacy of the Alexian Brothers. We seek to bring healing to a broken world through collaboration with others.

We will fulfill this vision through emphasis of:

Person-centered, quality healthcare that addresses the physical, mental, spiritual and social needs of the people we serve

Caring for those at the margins, especially the poor, the dying and those who are overlooked by society

A prophetic approach that is daring in addressing the true healing needs of our society

Local engagement that addresses the needs of the diverse communities we serve by meeting people where they are

Formation of those who work and minister in our healthcare system to ensure that all have a deep commitment to our mission and values

Wise stewardship of resources that achieves both fulfillment of the vision and fiscal responsibility

Old vision statement
Inspired by the Alexian Brothers' rich history and Christian values, Alexian Brothers Health System will be the premier innovator and provider of healthcare and housing services that address the needs of its communities.

Copyright © 2010 by the Catholic Health Association of the United States
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