April 13, 2023

This paid piece is sponsored by Avera.

For companies and businesses, mission is why we exist. It’s what we do and how we do it.

For Avera, keeping mission front and center is a priority. Physicians, leaders and employees alike report that they identify with the Avera mission and want to be a part of it.

“Our mission statement was developed over 20 years ago when Avera was founded – when the Benedictine and Presentation Sisters brought their health systems together in a co-sponsored model,” said Mary Hill, chief mission officer at Avera.

The Avera mission has stood the test of time. “It’s part of our culture. It flows forth from our very identity as a healing ministry rooted in the Gospel and the legacy of our sponsors,” Hill said. The foundation of Catholic health care is demonstrating Christ’s healing compassion in the world. “The way we continue that healing compassion is our response to Jesus’ challenge, ‘Go and do likewise.’”

As a health ministry rooted in the Gospel, the Avera mission is to make a positive impact in the lives and health of people and communities by providing quality services guided by Christian values.

Nurturing a culture of mission

How do you keep 20,500 employees on the same page when it comes to mission? “The Sisters are always bringing our conversations back to mission. Are our strategic plans in line with that mission?” said Bob Sutton, president and CEO of Avera. “Things we do as a matter of habit are designed to keep us on point with mission.”

Mission is effective only if it’s lived out, so Avera has established a framework of practices and programs to integrate mission throughout all aspects of the organization.

One practice is the Avera Daily Lineup. This is a 10-minute meeting that takes place in every unit and department across Avera every day so everyone hears a consistent message. The Daily Lineup began in 2006 and has become hard-wired as part of Avera’s culture. The daily message might be informational or inspirational. It’s also a time to share celebrations, wins or mission moments, and it always ends in a prayer.

Avera asks employees to begin all meetings with a prayer or reflection. “People who join Avera from other companies often say this sets us apart,” Sutton said.

“Prayer reminds us that God permeates all moments of human experience and that God is here working within us through the Holy Spirit and among us where two or three are gathered in God’s name,” Hill said. A collection of prayers and reflections is available on Avera’s intranet.

While Avera is a Catholic health care organization, people of all faith backgrounds or no faith background are welcomed as employees and patients. “Having that element of prayer reminds us of our identity and our ability to live out our mission through Christian values like love, empathy and honesty,” Hill said.

Mission development

Avera leaders annually participate in an eight-month Mission Leadership Development program, each year covering a different mission topic in an interactive way, similar to a book club.

“In order to advance our mission, leaders must know what it means for Avera to be ‘rooted in the Gospel’ and ‘guided by Christian values.’ Mission development opportunities help leaders understand how they are called to utilize their God-given gifts and resources within the healing ministry,” Hill said.

There are also mission takeaways that leaders can share with their staff, so these concepts cascade to all employees. “This creates avenues for discussions and commitment to mission at all levels,” Hill said.

Daily Reflection for all

Avera’s Daily Reflection is a daily devotional, based on a given Scripture passage, written by an Avera colleague or friend of Avera. Currently, 140 people take turns writing these reflections, and over 1,700 people receive them daily by email. Anyone can request to receive the Daily Reflection.

Within their units and departments, Avera employees creatively come up with other ways to live out the mission: food drives, hat and mitten trees, sock drives, sponsoring families for Christmas, serving at The Banquet and more. Since 2007, Avera McKennan has staged Harvest of Hope, collecting totes filled with everything needed to make a home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner, including a gift certificate for a ham or turkey. This program has delivered over 6,400 meals over the past 15 years.

Avera also collaborates with numerous organizations through sponsorships and donations to help carry out the Avera mission in other ways, including those that provide people with healthy food, decent housing, transportation, cultural experiences and more.

“We’re here for the greater good – to have a positive impact through our services,” Hill said.

Learn more about careers at Avera.