Archive for month: September, 2020
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at Northwell Health
September 15th through October 15th marks Hispanic Heritage Month throughout the United States and Northwell Health is proud to celebrate our Hispanic team members alongside our LatinX Bridges Business Resource Employee Group (BERG). At Northwell, we know the power of our team members being Truly Ourselves and the importance of recognizing their contributions to history, our communities and our organization not just during one month but throughout the year.
Our LatinX Bridges BERG has started their celebrations by focusing on gratitude, asking all of their BERG members to send “thank you” cards to team members they are grateful for within the organization. It’s a nice way to share thanks within the health system, especially during these difficult times where small moments can make a difference. At the end of the month, there will be a virtual panel discussion held highlighting some of Northwell’s Latino leaders titled, “It Can Be Done.” Panelists will be speaking about how they accomplished their career and life goals, despite challenges they may have experienced along the way. Beyond inspiring our Latino team members, the panel also provides an opportunity for them to connect and feel together throughout their own journeys.
“We are a proud people,” says Josephine Guzman, senior director, Physician Relations and co-chair of the LatinX Bridges BERG. “Most of us as individuals or our parents have come to this country in search of a better life, understanding the value of hard work in order to reach our goals. We should celebrate and salute our own diversity and color that exists within the “ Latino” culture, as well as the beauty, compassion and passion that we bring to our colleagues, patients and community!”
Hear from some of our LatinX Bridges BERG team members on how the BERG connects them to their culture year round:
“Being a BERG member brings a sense of community and fellowship with my Northwell teammates. It is important to build both professional and personal connections with people and celebrating our diversity is key to driving the organization in a direction that promotes all backgrounds.”
“As a member of the BERGs I am able to collaborate with a group of intelligent and diverse change makers that challenge me to a higher degree of excellence. Together we are able to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of the Hispanic community locally, regionally, and nationally.”
“The LatinX BERG has given me the opportunity to collaborate on meaningful projects and events that serve our Latino Communities alongside talented people outside of my department. This has helped me not only in developing professionally but also in learning new skills and being exposed to different facet of our organization. It is important to recognize the contributions made and large presence of the Latinos within our organization.”
“As a BERG member, I am able to have a voice and share ideas in an inclusive and diverse environment that allows me to partake in activities to help improve the health disparities in our communities. We celebrate the efforts and contributions that our Hispanic workforce have made to their teams, departments, and the organization to deliver culturally appropriate quality care and enhance the patient experience.”
“I am proud to be part of an organization that values and honors diversity and the contribution that our background differences bring to the workplace. Here, we can be Truly Ourselves and join the organization in fulfilling its mission to deliver the best care possible to our patients and to our communities. My experience here at Northwell has been enriched by the colleagues I have met through the BERGs.”
Join a team that celebrates the power of being Truly Ourselves. Learn more about Northwell Health’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
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Northwell Heroes Challenge promotes team member well-being while giving back
When our team members need help, you can expect everyone to rally behind them. The culture of giving runs strong at Northwell. That shined through during our first Northwell Heroes Challenge.
Inspired by a team member hoping to run a marathon to raise money for Northwell colleagues in need, a cross-functional team created the Northwell Heroes Challenge. This challenge was a way to encourage team members to focus on their well-being while raising funds in support of their colleagues.
Participants were encouraged to choose an activity and distance that fit their lifestyle, whether it be bicycling, running, swimming, walking, lifting, dancing or more. Over the next four weeks, team members trained and tracked their activity and movement on Northwell’s myWellness platform to meet their goals leading up to the first weekend in August when the challenge took place.
Partnering with Northwell’s Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Services (STARS) rehabilitation team, stretching and recovery exercises were shared throughout the challenge. Training materials were also provided including goals for beginner, intermediate and advance levels from the New York Road Runners, a Northwell non-profit partner that helps and inspires people to run the New York Marathon. Northwell’s wellness team also curated a nutritional guide featuring recipes for training and race day. These resources and more helped take care of our team members have fun and achieve their well-being goals.
“During the height of the pandemic, the well-being of our team members was something that we passionately invested in as an organization,” says Pat Flynn, assistant vice president, Employee Wellness. These trying times only brought to the forefront the importance of physical, psychological and emotional health, and it was inspiring to see our team members using all forms of movement to improve their own health and well-being goals while so generously supporting our Caregiver Support Fund.”
490 team members rose to the challenge, raising $54,850 for our Caregiver Support Fund. This fund provides rent relief, mortgage relief, money for food and other necessities for team members who need it most. Big or small, every contribution helped to make a true difference in the lives of colleagues in need.
“The enthusiasm and generosity of the Northwell team is incredible. Providing support through the Northwell Heroes Caregiver Support Fund is a critical and timely need, and we are grateful to everyone who has donated to this important initiative,” says Brian T. Lally, senior vice president and chief development officer, Northwell Health Foundation. The Northwell Heroes Challenge is an extraordinary example of our mission and values coming to life through the Northwell team.”
And while giving back is a reward on its own, those who fundraised had the ability to reach three different goals with rewards including a certificate, points on our team member reward platform myRecognition, Northwell branded swag, and the chance to win the grand prize – a Peloton bike and one-year Peloton digital membership!
Julie Argueta, a unit service associate at Huntington Hospital was the lucky winner of the grand prize. “I joined the Northwell Heroes Challenge to honor the heroes who work with me at Huntington Hospital,” says Julie. “Their bravery and courage during the height of the pandemic inspired me to take challenges and reach goals with pride. What an honor for me to win this, I only wish I could get one for all the heroes on my unit. My daughter Alexus and I cannot wait to cycle to nowhere!”
Hear from some of our Northwell Heroes Challenge ambassadors, who led the way throughout training with motivational posts and tips:
“Having the honor of being ambassador for the Heroes Challenge, I witnessed firsthand how team members supported and motivated each other to meet their fitness goals. It was so inspiring and outcomes of the challenge surpassed my every expectation I had at the beginning of this journey. If we keep moving forward together, anything is possible!”
“When I learned about the challenge, I knew I had to take this opportunity to give back to Northwell to say thank you for investing in me, my co-workers, and my family. I also used it as a platform to encourage my friends and family to continue to invest in self-care by living a healthy lifestyle. I always tell them that you only fail when you stop trying.”
“Under normal circumstances, I’m a very active person. However, during the pandemic, I lost motivation. And seeing how our front line workers battled the virus, I wanted to help as much as I could. The challenge was an excellent opportunity for me to help my fellow Northwell coworkers and get back on track. It was a great feeling to raise money for a good cause, train together, and support each other.”
“I participated in the Northwell Heroes Challenge because I felt it was the right time to challenge myself. After months of just going into the hospital for work and returning home, I needed something to get me back into a healthier regimen and this good cause was the perfect motivation.”
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Rebecca’s experience during COVID-19 in Northwell’s Reassignment Reserve
As COVID-19 peaked throughout New York, Northwell Health took the initiative to create a Reassignment Reserve team. This team was comprised of healthcare heroes from a variety of clinical and non-clinical backgrounds who were temporarily reassigned to other facilities that needed extra assistance.
Meet Rebecca Reinold, a practice registered nurse at Family Medicine of Lindenhurst, Long Island, who was redeployed as a nurse practicing bedside patient care for six weeks at Plainview Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a change from her day-to-day activities as a practice nurse but a role she embraced. “I felt an obligation to help as many people as I could—staff and patients alike,” says Rebecca.
Rebecca’s career journey before COVID-19
Rebecca started her career at Northwell as a practice office associate at General Pediatrics of Garden City in 2014. After graduating college as a registered nurse, she started working at Lenox Hill Hospital on the Orthopedic Unit. She then transferred to North Shore University Hospital to the Orthopedic Trauma Unit and has since left bedside nursing to be a practice nurse at one of our many physician practices. She is also currently pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, at the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies with the assistance of Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program.
Career development during a critical time
During a pandemic, learning opportunities and professional skills development is not top of mind, yet Rebecca’s growth came in many ways at this critical time. Before going back to bedside care, Rebecca attended a refresher course that Northwell provided for those who wanted to brush up on their in-patient skills. Rebecca says, “My fellow nurses were very supportive if I had any questions regarding current protocols and practices.”
To ensure our team members and patients were safely cared for, all team members were fit tested and Northwell had ample personal protection equipment (PPE) available. Because of this, Rebecca stated that she never felt that her safety was compromised whenever she was at work. This created a safe work environment that allowed team members to feel comfortable.
During her reassignment, Rebecca held many duties but one stood out in particular. “One of the most significant roles that I held during my reassignment at Plainview Hospital was being able to help patients communicate with their families through video on an iPad,” says Rebecca. She felt a strong connection to her patients in this role because she also had a family member hospitalized at Northwell due to COVID. Rebecca was extremely grateful knowing her family member was provided the utmost care and that she was able to connect with them in the same way she connected her patients to their families to ensure they were not alone.
Once her reassignment at Plainview Hospital ended, Rebecca was temporarily reassigned to another internal medicine office in Woodbury, Long Island. Once again she had to adapt to a new location and policies due to the pandemic. She was grateful to be supported by leadership and her new team was very welcoming. Her role resumed as a practice registered nurse where she worked alongside the lead nurse and together they completed daily tasks such as medication refills, hospital follow-up calls, immunizations and assisting patients in the practice and by phone.
On the last day of her reassignment, Rebecca was surprised with balloons and treats for a sweet goodbye. “During my last day at Woodbury, the staff thanked me with a beautiful card and balloons.” This was an experience that Rebecca will never forget. “I would highly recommend joining the Reassignment Reserve team. It is a great way for healthcare providers to show how dynamic and versatile they are.”
Northwell is an organization that offers endless opportunities to its employees for pursing personal and professional development. Rebecca says, “I cannot say enough about how this organization has given me every opportunity to be the best version of myself.”
Get moving with an exceptional nursing career like Rebecca’s. Learn more about nursing at Northwell Health.
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