When it comes to measures of quality, safety and patient satisfaction, St. Luke’s University Health Network holds itself to the highest of standards – straight A’s. So it only makes sense that the Network would also aim for an employee vaccination rate of 90 percent or higher.
St. Luke’s, whose flagship campus in Bethlehem was recognized by IBM Watson Health just last week as THE #1 Major Teaching Hospital nationally, is proud to once again make the grade: As of Thursday May 6, 97% of St. Luke’s physicians are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The physicians’ stellar example has inspired St. Luke’s advanced practitioners, nurses and other staff to do their part to establish the Network’s herd immunity. As of Thursday, 87% of St. Luke’s employees have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Every day the rate inches higher as more employees are vaccinated.
“Our employees recognize that COVID-19 is a public health crisis,” said Jeffrey Jahre, MD, St. Luke’s Vice President of Medical & Academic Affairs and Section Chief Emeritus of Infectious Diseases. “In order to protect our patients, families and communities, our employees stepped up to perform their civic duty – they got the shot.”
As our nation and world strives to defeat COVID-19, St. Luke’s believes it should lead by example. To drive up the employee vaccination rate, the Network launched an extensive, sustained internal communications campaign to educate employees on the importance of vaccination to achieve herd immunity.
This communications campaign included regular town hall meetings led by St. Luke’s CEO & President Richard A. Anderson and other senior leaders, who provided detailed vaccine updates based on science, not myth. Messaging also featured powerful testimonials and heart-felt stories from employees who were sickened by but survived COVID -19, and also from employees who were able to resume normal activities and interactions after being vaccinated.
Additionally, vaccination has been made easy and accessible through vaccination sites across St. Luke’s 12-hospital Network (which, also last week, IBM Watson Health identified as one of the top 15 health systems nationally).
Members of the community who have not received the vaccine can self-schedule through St. Luke’s MyChart, or by calling 1-866-STLUKES (785-8537), option 7.
