At the recent General Conference Session in San Antonio, Texas, Adventist Health hosted a large booth in the exhibit hall along with its sister systems: Adventist HealthCare, based in Maryland; Adventist Health System, based in Florida; and Kettering Health Network, based in Ohio.
The booth was designed to inform and educate attendees about how the four health care systems are an integral part of the church’s mission and represent the church in a positive way to the many communities served.
The towering display featured nine touch screens with options to learn about the history of Adventist health care, explore the hospitals and health services in the United States, and take a variety of health quizzes. Loma Linda University Health hosted its own booth in close proximity to the Adventist Health Care booth and other health-related ministry booths.
Sixteen Adventist Health employees helped to staff the booth. Participants included chaplains, marketing/communication and human resources staff, and several executives. Each day hundreds of small bottles of hand sanitizer were handed out along with small cards that featured fun health facts. The staff’s distinct green shirts made it easy for visitors to identify who could help answer questions and assist with the health quizzes.
Visitors to the booth were a cross section of people from around the world. Deanna Paxton, clinical performance specialist in Roseville, Calif., had the opportunity to visit with a couple from Ukraine who produce interviews for Hope Channel Ukraine. Helen Wilson, director of quality also based in Roseville, met a mission pilot from Venezuela who spoke to her about the current needs for rural health clinics. Many visitors from different African countries such as Botswana, Nigeria and Kenya were intrigued to learn more about health care in America.
A number of former Adventist Health employees stopped by to learn about the latest news from the system and to catch up with former co-workers. The General Conference Session is not only a great opportunity to share about Adventist Health but also serves as a crossroad for people from around the world.
As a part of the joint effort between the four health systems, a website (sdahealthcare.org) was created to help church members and others stay current about Adventist health care in the United States. Nearly 120,000 caring employees touch 10 million people a year in more than 79 hospitals, urgent care clinics, home health agencies, long-term care facilities and hospices.
Alan Soderblom, Adventist Health vice president and chief information officer, takes a moment to talk with a visitor from Africa.
Rita Waterman, Adventist Health assistant vice president for corporate marketing and communication, showcases the touch screens at the Adventist Health Care booth during the recent General Conference Session.
