• Health & Wellness

    Mayo Clinic Health System – Franciscan Healthcare Honored for Diversity and inclusion

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) holds its annual State Conference for Wisconsin, at which the counsel gives a Diversity Award to an organization/company that they believe exemplifies excellence in fostering an inclusive work environment. Mayo Clinic Health System — Franciscan Healthcare was named the recipient of this award at the October conference in La Crosse. Joe Kruse, chief administrative officer, Franciscan Healthcare, accepted the award on behalf of the organization. SHRM seeks several criteria when choosing their Diversity Award recipient. Criteria include, but are not limited to, displaying diversity in their local community, being a role model for others in their advocacy of diversity, and demonstrating leadership in championing the cause of racial, cultural, ethnic, linguistic and other dimensions of diversity in the human resources department as well as the community.

MCHS Franciscan Healthcare honored for diversity and inclusion
Colleen Cudo, left, uses sign language to interepret, while Joe Kruse, chief administrative officer of Franciscan Healthcare accepts the Diversity Award on behalf of the organization.

"Franciscan Healthcare has been honored for being an exemplary model of diversity and inclusion," says Lisa Radtke, administrator of human resources in La Crosse. "In our mission/vision/value statement, we state that we 'respect the dignity, diversity, and God-given worth of every human being.' Franciscan Healthcare puts these ideas into motion every day. We have monthly meetings for human resource professionals, as well as any other interested personnel, that focus on learning about various cultures and topics related to diversity and inclusion."

"Franciscan Healthcare also has served as a role model for the advocacy of diversity. We participate in communitywide servant leadership learning communities, and are co-sponsors of two free clinics benefitting the uninsured and those who cannot afford out-of-pocket health care expenses," Radtke says. "Also, we have established an unparalleled Civil Rights Compliance Plan that has gained recognition from other health care systems."

"Franciscan Healthcare also has developed an outstanding interpreter and translation program that is revered by other Mayo Clinic Health System sites, as well as other local health care organizations for its excellence," says Radtke. "Mayo Clinic Health System — Franciscan Healthcare values diversity and inclusion, and is honored to be recognized for being a role model in these areas."

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