Crouse Carepassion: It’s the Right Thing to Do

At Crouse Health, we listen more closely, treat more skillfully, trust more completely and care more deeply — with the respect and dignity each individual deserves. We call it Carepassion®.

As we look to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. this Monday, Jan. 20, we affirm the natural link between Carepassion and Dr. King’s legacy of bringing people together by moving the world toward one community.

Crouse Health values diversity among its physicians, providers, employees, patients, families and the communities we serve. Dr. King said, “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” This is further reflected in our Diversity and Inclusion initiative at Crouse.

Diversity is the combination of human differences we are born with, such as age, gender identity and ethnicity. Diversity recognizes that individuals are unique in many ways. We strive to create a welcoming environment in which every person who walks through our doors feels a strong sense of belonging.

While we each may be different, an unexpected visit to the hospital or a healthcare practice can make any one of us feel extremely vulnerable. Carepassion allows us to look deeper. Coupled with inclusion, we are able to put the concept and practice of diversity into action.

In his “I Have a Dream” speech, delivered during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on Aug. 28, 1963, Dr. King called for civil and economic rights and an end to racism in the United States that resonates even greater today.

Every day, Crouse team members work to create an environment of respect, involvement and connection. Through this inclusive environment, we are able to add a richness of ideas, backgrounds and perspective to our culture that, in turn, brings value and success to our organization and better serve our community.

Dr. King stood for dignity and respect for all — regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender or religion. Every person is entitled to human rights without discrimination. We embrace and support this basic right within the Crouse healthcare system and in our beyond.

Treating each individual with respect and dignity is part of the Crouse mission, vision and values. The philosophies and values of Carepassion parallel Dr. King’s profound statement: “The time is always right to do what is right.”

Fifty-seven years later, the Crouse family has come together to live Dr. King’s “dream” through our D&I initiative. It’s evidenced by how we’ve come together, rowing in the same boat as Dr.King inspired and challenged us to do, by collecting personal items to help those in need in our community. We will present the donations to United Way of CNY President Nancy Eaton and Al-Amin Muhammad from We Rise Above the Streets on our Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service.

It’s just the right thing, at the right time, for us to do.

Twiggy Eure is the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Crouse Health. She is a graduate of SUNY Oswego and earned her master's degree at Syracuse University.