RMHC Wins Award for Innovation
Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha (RMHC) is truly honored to have been awarded the Business Excellence Award for Innovation by the Greater Omaha Chamber. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for new protocols, RMHC remains committed to the practice of continuous innovation when planning for the future, always seeking to improve the quality and delivery of supportive care. The staff of RMHC believes that forecasting the unique needs of guest families enables the House to be well-positioned to have these resources in place when that need arises.
Understanding the population that the House serves by way of data collection and analysis has led to innovative and ambitious projects. In an effort to reduce the need to transport many of the patients staying at the House for routine treatment, construction continues on a large onsite treatment/infusion center. As the last component of RMHC’s recent expansion, this facility will house treatment bays where medical partners can tend to their patients. In addition, special infusion bays will be an important component to the facility where patients can receive infusion treatments without leaving the House. This is a legitimate need as throughout 2019, the percentage of pediatric patients that were candidates for infusion therapies whose families were staying at the House remained steady at 42%. Such an arrangement will relieve some of the emotional anxiety and physical distress of families and patients enduring daily travel and medical procedures at their respective hospitals. This innovation is totally unique, having never been attempted before. No other RMHC in the world has this type of facility.
Jack Welch, former Chairman and CEO of General Electric, once said, “No company, small or large, can win over the long run without energized employees who believe in the mission.” This is the very philosophy of senior leadership at RMHC. As future needs of House guest families are forecasted, the same innovative approach is taken with staff care, believing it essential to care for those who care for others. While the daily challenge to provide top-quality services has intensified commensurate with the expansion of the facility, what has not expanded is the exceptional staff that continues to meet the demanding new needs of the House. The success of this organization rests not with additional employees, but by looking after its existing staff who are dedicated to their contribution to the operation of the House. The work is challenging, fast-paced, but infinitely rewarding. To ensure that staff remains fresh and focused, unlimited paid vacation and the “Infant at Work” program are extended to full-time employees in addition to “Flex Fridays,” which are strongly encouraged. Daily care is a priority which has led to the “Power Hour,” where time is allocated for whatever activity provides a mechanism by which staff can recharge to effectively tackle the remainder of their day. These innovative benefits permit the RMHC team to achieve success in providing exceptional services. This invaluable human resource must be cared for just as intentionally as the families they serve.
Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha is pleased to be recognized for its innovative practices with this prestigious award. RMHC will continue to pursue innovative methods in its mission to provide the best home-away-from-home environment possible for critically ill children and their families.