September 29, 2008

Each year Ministry Health Care (MHC) sponsors a Circle of Excellence (COE) Recognition Program that pays tribute to employees across MHC who go the extra mile for patients, residents, and their co-workers. Awards are given to individuals, departments, or teams that show a strong commitment to the mission, vision, and values of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother. Hundreds of nominations are submitted cross the system and only five are selected to receive the top honors. This year, the Nutrition Services Department of Saint Elizabeth’s Medical Center was selected as a system-wide COE winner for demonstrating continuous improvement in quality and customer service.

The department’s creative and innovative efforts to provide healthy menu choices were lauded throughout MHC as an initiative to emulate. Saint Elizabeth’s Nutrition Services has made enormous strides in offering a wide variety of heart healthy options. Not only are these choices available within the cafeteria to staff and guests, they are being introduced to patients and residents and are featured at special events, meetings, and other catering venues.

The process to move a healthy menu item from a cookbook to the cafeteria is much more involved than one might think. “The staff tests recipes, changes ingredients to improve taste and flavor, revises recipes to meet our heart healthy nutrition guidelines, and searches extensively to find heart healthy ingredients in food service quantities. Our dedication to wellness and health improvement is driving these exciting enhancements,” says Paula Thompson, registered dietitian and director of Nutrition Services.

The department was recently honored at a Circle of Excellence Awards Banquet attended by board members, physicians, and senior management from across Ministry Health Care. Congratulations to the entire SEMC Nutrition Services Department for their outstanding achievements.