Adventist Midwest Health (AMH) is a Christian healthcare leader committed to partnering with physicians and the community to provide whole-person care and promote wellness.

Every two years, AMH undergoes a Mission Peer Review to see how closely it is following its mission statement, goals, and objectives, and meeting the spiritual and emotional needs of its patients, visitors, employees, and the wider community.

In June 2005, the Mission Peer Review was conducted by team leader Benjamin Reaves, Adventist Health System vice president for ministries and mission; Connie Hamilton, Florida Hospital vice president; Michael Schultz, Park Ridge (Ill.) Hospital chief executive officer; and Art Slagle, Park Ridge Hospital chaplain.

In their report, the reviewers noted:

“It was quite evident that the senior leadership’s enthusiasm for mission and a spiritual presence was not only evident but also very contagious within the middle management group.”

“The regional pastoral team is to be recognized and commended for their ministry to patients and employees. There is good team spirit and diversity in make up.”

“The decision to implement the Spiritual Ambassador program two years ago is a significant achievement and seems to be building momentum throughout the region.”

“The system-wide events that are planned throughout the year certainly deserve recognition, such as the Adventist St. Thomas Hospice and Still Missed memorial services for the community, volunteer training, and National Day of Prayer activities with community participation.”

The reviewers commended AMH for the inclusion of Adventist in the names of the region hospitals and services, a change that occurred in Nov. 2004.

According to John Rapp, AMH regional executive director of ministries and mission, the reviewers were pleased to see spiritual life plans for each department throughout the region. In providing examples, Rapp said, “Some employees in human resources have regular devotionals with a chaplain and a very active spiritual ambassador who brings the department together for prayer during times of need. Another department funded placing Bibles in all the rooms on their unit. Many departments throughout the region were represented on the Ghana mission trip that AMH participated in this year.”

In a multicultural work environment, it helps to understand the mission and build team spirit. AMH uses a booklet distributed at orientation for new employees and a DVD for physicians (presented at credentialing orientation) to lay the foundation for the ministry of AMH. Rapp explained, “In a very diverse culture with competing agendas and different faith commitments, these tools remind us that AMH hospitals and ancillary care functions are doing healthcare as an expression of God’s love for each and every person. That is to say, we are not hospitals that have a ministries and mission department, but rather a spiritual/religious institution that happens to be in the work of healing. It is through the healing arts that we express God’s love and intention for each person. That goes directly to our identity and reason for existence.”

Lynn Larson, Adventist Midwest Health writer/media relations liaison

Possible Pull-Out Quote

“We are not hospitals that have a ministries and mission department, but rather a spiritual/religious institution that happens to be in the work of healing.”