02
July
2014
|
00:00 AM
Europe/Amsterdam

OhioHealth Takes 802 Long-Term Associates on Shopping Trip to Easton

Unusual recognition program celebrates service milestones

A record three associates to receive 50 year award

and 58 to receive 40 year award

COLUMBUS, Ohio – For the 25th year in a row, OhioHealth honored its long-term associates with a special day of shopping, recognition and celebration. It is one of the healthcare industry’s most unusual employee recognition programs.

“The Shopping Trip is not just a day of fun, food and shopping. It is a day of emotion, joy and celebration,” said Johnni Beckel, senior vice president and Chief Human Resources Officer. “When you see the honorees walking down the red carpet as hundreds of directors, vice presidents and presidents applaud their years of dedicated service to OhioHealth, it is really moving. They love it.”

“It’s my favorite day of the year,” says Susan Lapp, human resources consultant and business partner for OhioHealth Neighborhood Care, who helped plan the original Shopping Trip in 1989. “Everybody’s in a good mood. Everybody’s happy.”

This year, 802 associates celebrating 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50 years of service were recognized in a special event that included a monetary gift ranging from $300 to $675 ($15 for each year of service,) shopping at Easton, a rocking, red-carpet reception line, and topped off with lunch and a special program in their honor. Plus, each associate was given the day off and invited to attend the shopping trip along with a guest. 

This year’s shopping trip included three 50 year honorees;

  • Diane Cowan, RN, OhioHealth MedCentral Mansfield Hospital
  • Jane Reida, LPN, OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital
  • Wilda (Rae) Arnold, RN, BFN, MA, OhioHealth WorkHealth

“I’ve never had anything of that extreme given to me,” says Cowan who is participating for the first time since MedCentral joined the OhioHealth family this year. “I was really surprised and thankful.”

She says she plans to take her daughter and two of her grandchildren with her on the Shopping Trip but she’s not sure what she’ll spend the money on yet. Maybe a vacation. “I’ve never been to Vegas.”

“We used to purchase gifts for our associates,” said Tracey Clayton, system manager of Associate Engagement and Inclusion. “But one day we decided to recognize everyone on one very special day so we could all celebrate together. Many postpone their retirements so they can go on one more shopping trip.”

“Our associates make us who we are and embody our core values of compassion, excellence, stewardship and integrity,” said Clayton. “Their commitment and dedication to OhioHealth deserves to be celebrated in a grand way.”

Honorees and years of service: 

Years of Service

Number of 2014 Shoppers

20 Year

210

25 Year

270

30 Year

133

35 Year

122

40 Year

58

 45 Year

 6

 50 Year

3

 Total

 802

About OhioHealth

OhioHealth is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, charitable, healthcare organization with Methodist roots. Based in Columbus, Ohio, OhioHealth is currently recognized as one of the top five large health systems in America by Truven Health Analytics. It is also recognized by FORTUNE Magazine as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” and has been for eight years in a row, 2007-2014.

Serving its communities since 1891, it is a family of 28,000 associates, physicians and volunteers, and a network of 12 hospitals, 50+  health and surgery centers, a hospice, home-health, medical equipment and other health services spanning a 40-county area.

OhioHealth member hospitals include OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, OhioHealth Doctors Hospital-Columbus, OhioHealth Grady Memorial Hospital, OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth Doctors Hospital-Nelsonville, OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital, OhioHealth Marion General Hospital, OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital, OhioHealth MedCentral Mansfield Hospital, OhioHealth MedCentral Shelby Hospital and the OhioHealth Rehabilitation Hospital. For more information, please visit our website at www.ohiohealth.com.

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