Community service makes a positive difference in people’s lives, and the
employees of the Cleveland Clinic — West Region are responding to those needs in
their individual communities.
The Clinic’s West Side health care organizations — Fairview, Lakewood and Lutheran
hospitals — have responded to community
needs for decades with clinical services and
community outreach programs.
“I am proud of our management and
employees, as they have put service above
self and have come together for the common good of our community,” says Fred
DeGrandis, CEO of the Cleveland Clinic —
West Region.
As part of the hospitals’ Volunteers in the
Community program, each member of the
senior leadership team is expected to do a
minimum of 50 hours of volunteer service
every year. Middle management is expected
to provide 25 hours of community service
annually. Last year, the employees and medical staff of Fairview, Lakewood and Lutheran hospitals volunteered with more than
315 Cleveland-area organizations.
“Our volunteers have faith that miracles
can happen, a quiet, clear understanding of
what can be done, and the passion, conviction and perseverance to do the right
things,” DeGrandis says. “They are heroes
because they take the time to provide service to help make their community, schools,
churches and businesses or homes a loving, caring and serving place.”
To understand and respond most effectively to community needs, the hospitals conduct
ongoing formal community health assessments and frequently solicit input from community representatives. Each hospital maintains its own community advisory board —
which includes school superintendents, parents, clergy, safety personnel, health care
providers and politicians — to enhance communication in the community.
The members of these boards use their
quarterly meetings to generate ideas, discover and establish mutually beneficial community partnerships, and build innovative clinical and community outreach programs.
“I know that this type of service is not put
on a pedestal,” DeGrandis says. “But I know
that service that comes to life through small
acts of fellowship roots deeply and allows
our organization and this community to
grow with strength of purpose.”
HOW TO REACH: Cleveland Clinic — Western Region, (216)
476-4926 or www.cchswest.org
