GHS Colleagues meet challenge; CEO shaves head

Jan. 1, 2010

GOSHEN, Ind. - On Jan. 4, 2010 - the first business day of the New Year - Goshen Health System CEO James O. Dague took care of his first order of business - shaving his head in front of GHS Colleagues as a result of a wager he made with the Colleague population early in 2009.

Colleagues were challenged to seek out cost savings ideas within their departments and their daily responsibilities. In 2008, Colleagues identified $3 million in cost savings ideas for the health system. For 2009, Colleagues were challenged to reach $3.5 million in savings. To add to the challenge, Dague pledged to shave his head if Colleagues reached their goal.

Despite the tough economic climate, Goshen Health System Colleagues came together and exceeded the $3.5 million challenge set before them - aiding Goshen Health System in achieving 16 consecutive years without any layoffs.

At the heart of Goshen Health System's culture is The Uncommon Leader Program, or TUL. Through this participative management program, developed by consultant Clayton Sherman, Colleagues have the power to improve the processes they do each day.

The health system and its 1400 Colleagues have embraced this culture, recognizing that great ideas can, and do, come from everywhere. Colleagues are empowered to submit ideas, including cost savings ideas that improve quality and patient care on a daily basis. Colleagues are rewarded for their ideas through a gainshare program, in which Colleagues receive a percentage of the savings their ideas generate.

Examples of colleague cost-savings ideas range from $900 savings in the Emergency Department for locating a grant to cover course tuition fees for Emergency Nurse Education to $4,000 savings for changing the type of napkins used on patient trays to $22,000 savings in the GI department for switching from disposable paper gowns to cloth gowns for patients.

Since the TUL program's inception in 1998, Goshen Health System Colleagues have saved over $30 million in cost savings ideas.

About Goshen Health System:

Goshen Health System is a not-for-profit provider of health care that includes Goshen General Hospital, The Goshen Center for Cancer Care, Park Home Medical Equipment, PrimeCare Physician Network, Team:Bariatrics, The Retreat Women's Health Center and Indiana Lakes Managed Care Organization. For more information about Goshen Health System, contact Bridget Levitz, Public Relations Coordinator at 574-535-2776 or visit www.goshenhealth.org.