Values: a visible habit?
Catholic hospitals and multi-institutional systems continue to seek effective ways of implementing their values, particularly as health care has grown more complex and diversified. St. Joseph Health System, Orange, CA, has found that five principles are critical for the implementation of values: Values must permeate everything we are and do. Leadership must demonstrate commitment to values. Values must be communicated in a simple and memorable fashion. Everyone must repeatedly be exposed to values. People must be recognized--with both social and financial rewards--for effectively implementing values. Specific actions have been developed around each of these factors. Plans for the future include the creation of multi-institutional teams to review hospitals' performance and learn from each others' experiences. Moreover, means are being explored for implementing values throughout the new types of relationships that frequently characterize growing alternative delivery systems.