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.
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“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.
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“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
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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
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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
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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.