Columbus, OH,
08
July
2019
|
15:00 PM
Europe/Amsterdam

OhioHealth Shopping Trip: A Day to Remember

Over 970 honorees, one throwback fashion show, multiple carpool karaoke rides and countless hours of shopping later, the record-breaking, 30-year anniversary of OhioHealth's annual Shopping Trip event was one for the books.

The Shopping Trip is a unique way WE celebrate our tenured associates — celebrating 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55 years — by treating them to an honoree breakfast and shopping experience at Easton Town Center, complete with a red-carpet arrival, lunch and fun-filled program at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. This event is one of the many ways we cultivate a culture of appreciation and recognition for our associates that make OhioHealth a great place to work.

There is always so much to celebrate at Shopping Trip, and this year is no different. Together, our 972 honorees have dedicated 4,820 years of service to OhioHealth. Of these 4,820 years, we recognized two 55-year honorees: Rae Arnold, OhioHealth Employer Services, and Diane Cowan, LPN, RN, OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital. Both Arnold and Cowan have seen OhioHealth grow to become the largest healthcare system in central Ohio and have comforted and cared for thousands of patients in the process.

 

Behind the magic

Rae Arnold knew she belonged in healthcare the moment she graduated high school, when her guidance counselor advised her to consider nursing at the White Cross Nursing School. Arnold took that advice, and 55 years later, her White Cross nursing uniform still hangs in the back of her closet.

After her graduation from White Cross, Arnold joined the staff of Riverside, where she served as head nurse in the ICU until 1996. When Riverside merged with Grant Medical Center, Arnold took on the added responsibilities of a charge nurse and headed the night shift for several units.

Later in her career, Arnold moved into Community Medicine and helped establish many of their programs. She still considers the opening of the ICU at Riverside Methodist one of her career highlights.

Diane Cowan also entered OhioHealth in nursing as an aide in Mansfield Hospital's nursery, back when there was no such thing as "disposable." Everything — from diapers, to bottles, to bedding — was washed, sterilized and used again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just two weeks after graduating with her LPN degree, Cowan started work in the hospital's psychiatric department and stayed there for 20 years. Cowan then became an RN and worked in neurology and urology, but eventually found her way back in psychiatry working nights, where she's happy to remain today.

"I have so many good memories with OhioHealth, but I think it's been getting to be around my patients and coworkers that's been my favorite part of working here over the years," said Cowan. "I started here when I was just 18 years old, and the people have always remained so encouraging and understanding throughout. It's truly been a great experience."

Over their years with OhioHealth, Arnold and Cowan have become recognized faces within their care sites and departments. However, everyone had the chance to get "up close and personal" with these two associates when they went for a little drive on their way to this year's Shopping Trip. Let's hop along for the ride and get to know these two ladies a little better.

This story was originally published in an internal OhioHealth associate publication.

 

About OhioHealth

OhioHealth is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, charitable, healthcare outreach of the United Methodist Church.

Based in Columbus, Ohio, OhioHealth has been recognized as one of the top five large health systems in America by Truven Health Analytics, an honor it has received six times. It is also recognized by Fortune as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” and has been for 13 years in a row, 2007–2019.

Serving its communities since 1891, OhioHealth is a family of 30,000 associates, physicians and volunteers, and a system of 12 hospitals and more than 200 ambulatory sites, hospice, home health, medical equipment and other health services spanning a 47-county area.

OhioHealth hospitals include OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, OhioHealth Doctors Hospital, OhioHealth Grady Memorial Hospital, OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital, OhioHealth Marion General Hospital, OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital, OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital, OhioHealth Shelby Hospital, OhioHealth Grove City Methodist Hospital and OhioHealth Berger Hospital. For more information, please visit OhioHealth.com.