As Omaha residents, we are fortunate for the abundance and quality of health care that is available to us. Many researchers, physicians, students, and other health care professionals are attracted to our area for this reason. Innovative work is benefiting our community that is based on a tradition of outstanding care, which can be traced back for many years.

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Marie Knedler from Alegent Health about her background in health care, the innovations Alegent is making today, and what they are looking forward to in the future.

Marie is the vice president and Chief Operating Officer of Bergan Mercy Medical Center in Omaha and Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs. Originally from northwest Iowa, Marie’s background is in nursing. She received her initial training in the early 1970s in Sioux City, but upon graduating, there weren’t any jobs available in the area. One of the places Marie and her colleagues visited was Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, where all six of them were interviewed and hired. “Four of us are still employed somewhere in the Alegent Health system today,” says Marie. For the first 15 years of her career, Marie worked in bedside nursing and nursing management.

When Alegent formed in 1996, Marie was tasked with putting together its home health care delivery system, behavioral health delivery system, and cardiovascular department. Today as she oversees Bergan Mercy and Mercy Hospitals, Marie says the original vision that started these hospitals more than 120 years ago continues to serve as part of their guiding principles today.

One of the unique and driving characteristics behind Alegent’s work is that it is a faith-based organization. Its mission reads in part: “Faithful to the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, our mission is to provide high-quality care for the body, mind, and spirit of every person. To achieve this mission, we pledge to be creative, visionary leaders committed to holistic health care in the region.”

From medical to surgical and behavioral health services and beyond, this commitment to faith translates to each member of the team, recognizing the importance of the body, mind, and spirit, Marie explains. Although it has a Christian background, Marie tells me, “We are always aware of where people are at, and we consider their own individual values. Our work is centered around patients and their families.” She adds, “To be very clear, our role is that of servant leadership.”

Alegent’s Web site states, “We are founded on the traditions of the Sisters of Mercy of Omaha, Regional Community of Omaha, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Nebraska Synod.” Originating from work done by the Lutheran deaconesses of Immanuel and Sisters of Mercy in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Marie says that today Alegent benefits from their sense of purpose. She adds that they now have “temporary stewardship” of these principles. “We have to grow it for the next generation, behave according to these principles, and keep a sense of responsibility,” she says.

So how do patients and families benefit from this mission? It is hard to identify specifics because every patient comes with a different set of needs and experiences, Marie says. People tell her that they know something is different, that they sense a higher level of compassion, and that their needs are met in a more holistic way.

Marie adds that the mission also comes into play when they hire new members of the team. “Our mission is on the application, and we ask, ‘Do you want to be a part of this?’” At orientation it is addressed again, and there is discussion on how each individual will be a part of Alegent’s commitment to service. “Employees help shape behaviors,” Marie says. “What does respect look like? What does compassion look like?”

Marie goes on to say that Alegent is supportive of infusing dollars for improving technologies, work spaces, and patient spaces. One current example of this is that there is a system-wide effort in all five Alegent hospitals to change the double-patient rooms to private rooms. In addition, each baby in the NICU will also have its own private room. Maternity wards across the Alegent system are being updated. The cardiovascular program at Bergan Mercy will have four new operating rooms outfitted with technology that will improve patient treatment and minimize the length of their recovery, Marie says. She adds that the impetus behind this is, “What is best for the patient? What is best for the nurses, the doctors, the pharmacists, and the rest of the staff?” The answers include changes to make the working environment comfortable, ergonomic, and efficient, which are benefits for the staff that in turn also benefit the patient.

This dedication to patient-centric care has come with many rewards for the individual hospitals and clinics within the Alegent system. For the second time, Mercy Hospital has earned Magnet status from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This prestigious status was first awarded to Mercy in 2005, and was again awarded in March 2010. The honor is reserved for those facilities that display consistent excellence in nursing services, and Marie tells me it is a credential they are very proud of. Another recognition received is that Bergan Mercy Medical Center has been named for the second year in a row one of the nation’s top 100 hospitals according to Thomson Reuters.

Alegent is committed to the health and well-being of their employees as well. Marie continues, “We have a wellness program that 9,000 employees take part in. It works to help them manage their health and stress, and they are rewarded for their participation through our health plan.”

Community wellness is another facet of the service mission for Alegent. They partner with other organizations across Omaha to improve public health and combat problems such as childhood obesity. Another example of their commitment to the community is the parish nursing program, which is also known as the Faith Community Nursing Network. Volunteers from 46 Omaha congregations work within their own neighborhoods to “educate, advocate, and motivate people to take positive action regarding their mind, body, and spirit,” according to the Alegent Web site.

One can hardly have a discussion about the future of any health care organization without addressing the government’s health care reform mandates. Again, Alegent’s mission and history are helping to plan for these changes, Marie says, as well as to take advantage of innovations being made across the country. For example, although it may seem counterintuitive, they are trying to minimize patient stays in their hospitals, Marie says. Alegent is working to provide alternatives such as wider use of home health care, shorter hospital stays, and advances in outpatient procedures. “We are connecting people with care in a better, different, and more efficient way,” she explains. For more information about Alegent Health, visit www.alegent.com.