Employees make a 20,000-hour pledge — for results that will last a lifetime.
- Swedish employees publicly commit to promoting community health.
- Who’s involved? Everyone from doctors to therapists to clerks.
- Swedish caregivers are making a difference in their communities.
[3 MIN READ]
Caring is personal. It’s as personal as reaching out to a family that doesn’t know where their next meal is coming from. And as personal as encouraging a Boy Scout looking to earn his first badge. It’s as personal as a doctor who cherishes the extra hours spent caring for the homeless, and as personal as a group of individuals who feel fulfilled when they become part of a team.
Health for Good means caring gets personal — for the good of all
Knowing that healthcare can meet the most personal needs in the community, Swedish introduced the Health for Good campaign. It’s based on the idea that true health is more than just taking care of yourself. It’s using your mind and body’s strengths to care for others. With a wholehearted belief in that mission, Swedish employees made a public commitment to promote and drive health in the Seattle community by serving a total of 20,000 caregiver volunteer hours.
Swedish employees made a public commitment to promote and drive health in the Seattle community by serving a total of 20,000 caregiver volunteer hours.
Here’s what makes Health for Good so very good
The Swedish volunteer list is large. Doctors, nurses, therapists, registration clerks, program managers; the number of Swedish employees who have raised their hands is in the hundreds (and keeps growing).
No need is too small. Some Swedish employees volunteer at food banks. Others hold clothing and food drives, or sort baby clothes for organizations that collect kids’ items for families. Every need receives the same caring attention, no matter its size.
Caring takes many forms. Swedish volunteers know that reaching out and making a difference in the community isn’t just limited to physical healthcare and sharing medical expertise.
For example, a Swedish volunteer may oversee the budget for a local Boy Scouts organization, make sure leaders are trained and that all yearly health forms are filled out correctly. Another volunteer will offer financial advice to people in the community who have had their ID stolen or lost. Others pitch in to provide breakfast at local churches who serve the impoverished or homeless community.
Teamwork makes for good works. Our volunteers not only offer help individually, Swedish caregivers also join together as a team to take part in other community events, including:
- The American Heart and Stroke Association’s Heart Walk
- MS Society’s Bike MS
- Seafair’s Torchlight Run
Health for Good gives back to the givers, too
Swedish employees are quick to say they gain as much as they give. Their volunteerism is not only good for the people they’re helping, it’s also good for them. A recent study by United Healthcare about employees who volunteer supports this, stating that employees are generally healthier for it.
- 93 percent note an improvement in their mood
- 75 percent feel physically healthier
- 79 percent experience lower stress levels
Not only do Swedish employees find volunteering fulfilling, they appreciate connections and learning new skills that translate to the workplace.
Swedish employees are quick to say they gain as much as they give.
Every minute matters when caring for community
The Health for Good campaign lets employees capture the time spent caring for their communities. But they won’t stop at 20,000 hours. Being a community health partner is a lifetime commitment for Swedish — a commitment we’ve been proud to make since 1910.
In short: Feel good. Do good. Health for good.
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Related resources
Five things your nurse wants you to know
Breakfast and kids: Why this meal matters
Doing Good Can Make You Feel Good, Study on Volunteerism Finds
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