ICERT

A few years ago, the acronym of ICERT was developed to easily remind employees of our five core values: Integrity, Compassion, Excellence, Respect and Teamwork. Today, we hear from Sutricia Johnson, Leslie Harrison, Jay Walters, Michelle Pitts, Jennifer Hunt and Falanda Maddox on what these core values mean to them.

INTEGRITY – Sutricia Johnson (Case Management Director)

For me, having integrity is having the ability to do what is right as second nature. Doing the right thing should be the first option and never the last. How would I react if my everyday actions were on a billboard for everyone to see? I let this simple question drive even the smallest choices I make daily. Having this as a rule of thumb for the choices I make, keeps me mindful that all choices have consequences, so I must do my best to make the right one, not only with me in mind, but with others as well. We should always stay in tune with our character and not allow circumstances or people move us too far from our true selves. Having these internal regulators sure does help me sleep better at night and keep my integrity intact. Because it is true that “your name” proceeds you and we should all want a good name to go before us.

COMPASSION – Leslie Harrison (Perioperative Manager at East Alabama Ambulatory Surgery Center)

“People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel”-Maya Angelou. This sums up the meaning of compassion to me. May we never forget why we chose healthcare.

EXCELLENCE – Jay Walters (Plant and Maintenance director)

The apostle Paul instructed the church in Philippi to set their minds on things that are excellent and praiseworthy. Excellence doesn’t happen randomly; it starts with setting our mind on things that are excellent and then putting those things into practice.

RESPECT – Michelle Pitts (Revenue Cycle Director) and Jennifer Hunt (Director of Nursing at EAMC-Lanier Nursing Home)

I demonstrate respect by taking the time to listen to customers’ needs and concerns. Listening leads to asking open-ended questions that lead to more positive interactions and feelings of courtesy and respect. Remember, while it takes many consistent positive interactions to create a great customer experience, it can take only one bad interaction to create a bad experience. –Michelle Pitts

Respect is one of the most important values a person can demonstrate. I try to treat all people, whether it’s a resident, patient, visitor, or employee, with respect. While working in the nursing home, I try to remind our staff that this is not just a nursing home or place of employment, but it is our residents’ homes. I try to always demonstrate respect by knocking before entering, keeping the resident and family informed, listening without judgement, and provide our residents with privacy. I’ve always heard the saying to get respect, you have to give respect. However, I look at it like you should always give respect and maybe your actions and words will rub off on those around you and they’ll also demonstrate the important value of respect. –Jennifer Hunt

TEAMWORK – Falanda Maddox (Patient Flow director)

Teamwork is working in unity for the greater good. In our case, “good” means our patients, our employees and our community. Unity creates a foundation of love, respect, compassion, and integrity that will create countless friendships, which leads to working together in unity.