When Corrine Holston started working in the nutrition department at HCA’s Ogden Regional Medical Center (then called St. Benedict’s) on March 5, 1951, she says “it was just so nice” that she decided to stay. Fifty six years later, and counting, she’s still there. And she has never missed a single day of work.

Not one. Ever.

“As far as we know, no one anywhere has come close to her record,” says Ogden Regional CEO Mark Adams. “When you consider all the things that can cause a person to miss or be late for work, it really takes extreme determination to have achieved such an accomplishment. We are so fortunate to have her.”

A Daily Inspiration

A decade ago, Ogden Regional established the Corrine Holston Award to recognize the annual attendance achievements of her fellow employees, and those who share her work ethic and dedication are regularly referred to as “Corrines” around the hospital’s halls.

“She is an icon of our hospital,” says HCA Ogden HR Director Chris Bissenden. “She quietly commands more respect than anyone I know, and she is the kindest, most pleasant woman you would ever want to meet. She is highly respected and a wonderful mentor to our employees.”

Holston’s fellow employees showed their respect and admiration for her by honoring her at the hospital’s most recent Service Awards Banquet. A limousine transported her to the ceremony, where she received flowers and a long, heartfelt standing ovation.

“That was very beautiful,” says Holston. “I was surprised. I couldn’t believe it. It was a really nice, beautiful night.”

Holston, who reports to work at 5 a.m. every day, is renowned for her sweetness and humility, which are also hallmarks of the now-legendary sticky buns, rolls, pies, cakes, breads and other tasty treats she has served up as the hospital’s baker for the last 40 of her more than 56 years on the job.

“Oh, I don’t know,” she says bashfully when asked about her baking skills. “Somebody else would have to tell you about that.”

Corrine’s Secret

So how, in almost six decades, has she managed to not miss even a single day of work? Holston has a simple answer.

“Well,” she pauses to chuckle, “I haven’t been sick.”

While Holston says she knows that, one day, she will have to leave Ogden, she says she gets along with everybody and has no plans to leave anytime soon.

“It’s like a family here,” she says. “Maybe that’s why I stuck with them. I’m blessed. I’m just really blessed.”

Above left: Corrine Holston

Current director of performance improvement and case management at HCA’s Henrico’s Doctors’ Hospital, Thomas M. Smith, RN, MA, CPHQ, was recently inducted as president for the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ).

With more than 25 years of experience in nursing administration, education, instruction, clinical bedside nursing, and utilization and case management, Thomas knows the meaning of quality in healthcare. In addition to his leadership role at Henrico’s Doctors’ Hospital, Thomas has served numerous positions at NAHQ, as president of the board of directors for the Virginia Association for Healthcare Quality, and, in 2004, he was named Outstanding Quality Professional in Virginia.

“I think my passion for quality really started when I began working in the managed care arena and had the chance to look at hospitals and identify opportunities to improve outcomes,” says Thomas. “In the past, quality was not at the forefront of healthcare; in today’s world, however, quality has to be a priority in any managed care arena or in the provision of healthcare.”

Thomas’ goal as president of NAHQ is to improve communication with members and member organizations to create networking opportunities that will allow NAHQ to grow. He is very excited to work with other healthcare providers to help them improve their organization’s quality of care, and, in turn, to improve healthcare quality nationwide.

For more information about the National Association for Healthcare Quality, visit the Web site at www.nahq.org.

Kwanzaa, a seven-day celebration of the values of African cultures observed this year from December 26, 2007, to January 1, 2008, originated during the American civil rights movement of the mid-1960s and is now recognized by 18 million African Americans. A cultural celebration rather than a religious holiday, Kwanzaa was inspired by ancient African harvest festival traditions and took its name from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” meaning “first fruits.”

A Traditional Celebration

Much like modern Kwanzaa, ancient “first fruits” celebrations offered a time for people to assemble, express thanksgiving for the blessings of life and consider the value of the community’s culture.

The modern Kwanzaa celebration is founded on seven principles—unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, collective economics, purpose, creativity and faith. Seven symbols of the holiday highlight aspects of African culture, and seven candles are used during Kwanzaa.

The Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary

Other standard objects take on special meaning and are used in observing Kwanzaa. Crops symbolize the traditional harvest celebrations and the fruits of shared labor. A mat represents the celebrant’s African roots. Corn stands for the children and their future. The unity cup symbolizes commonality of the people. Gifts, mostly given to children, testify to parental and familial love.

Kwanzaa’s seven candles—one black, three red and three green—represent the seven principles and more. The black candle symbolizes people of African heritage. The three red candles represent struggles; the three green ones, hopes for the future. The black candle is lit on the first night of Kwanzaa. One remaining candle is lit on each of the following six nights, starting with red and ending with green.

Celebrations of Kwanzaa have spread throughout the world, primarily among people of African heritage. In an interview posted on AfricanWithin.com, the originator of the holiday, civil rights leader and university professor Dr. Maulana Karenga, offered several thoughts about why Kwanzaa has grown among African people, among them, the holiday “speaks to our need and appreciation for its cultural vision and life-affirming values.”

In response to a question about the celebration of Kwanzaa by people not of African origin, Dr. Karenga wrote: “Any particular message that is good for a particular people, if it is human in its content and ethical in its grounding, speaks not just to that people, it speaks to the world.”

To learn more about Kwanzaa, visit www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org, www.holidays.net/kwanzaa or www.africawithin.com/kwanzaa/kwanzaa_intro.htm.