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Archived Featured Champions

Dr. Edgardo Pérez

Ask Dr. Edgardo Pérez where organizations should begin to successfully foster quality worklife (QWL) issues in health care settings and he’ll no doubt tell you at the top. “You need to systematically work on the culture of the organization and senior leaders must be the one leading the parade,” says Dr. Pérez.

As the head of a health care organization that’s been in business since 1883, it’s clear this philosophy has proven effective over the years, and Dr. Pérez is determined to lead by example to ensure this exceptional legacy evolves to meet the challenges of today’s health care landscape.

Dr. Pérez is President & CEO of Homewood Corporation and Homewood Health Centre in Guelph, Ontario. The Homewood name has been synonymous with effective and innovative treatment of mental health and addictions since its inception well over a century ago.

Led by Dr. Pérez, Homewood’s continued success in this field is grounded in the conviction that quality care for those outside the organization starts with a healthy workplace inside for its employees.

“I strongly believe that for a health care organization to achieve success, those who care for our patients must also be healthy, both mentally and physically,” says Dr. Pérez. “Everyone wants an improved quality of life and our staff and volunteers are no exception.”

Staff at Homewood look to senior managers and executive for leadership, and they are not disappointed. The organization’s reputation for sound leadership is based on a foundation of ethics and values that serve to reinforce the development and sustainability of a healthy workplace. The result is a culture of respect, compassion and ethical practice where those at the top lead the charge by ‘walking the talk’.

Dr. Pérez himself is an active member of the Homewood Healthy Workplace Committee – a role he takes seriously and feels is critical for the CEO to be involved.

“It’s our responsibility to provide a workforce that fosters a feeling of satisfaction, contentment and potential for personal growth,” he explains. “Our staff are the backbone of what we do and without adequate investment into their well-being quality will deteriorate.”

His conviction is formally backed up by the organization’s ‘Philosophies of Excellence Policy’, which states that Homewood’s “friendly and professional services are what make us the best.”

Dr. Pérez and his senior leadership team feel strongly that without the incredible skills and expertise of employees, along with their caring and compassionate attitudes, Homewood could not provide the services it does and enjoy the level of success it has.

“We strive at all levels of the organization to provide a workplace that focuses on every aspect of health: physical, social and spiritual,” he says. “We are actively working to reduce the stigma of mental illness through public education and educating employers about their role in, and the benefits of, creating and maintaining a healthy work environment.”

The corporation has number of branches to draw upon to fulfill these goals, including the 312-bed Homewood Health Centre, the Centre for Organizational Health and Homewood Employee Health, which collaboratively provide results-driven, cost-effective workplace solutions.

Homewood employees are offered a range of QWL programs and services that set the standard for excellence in healthy work environment initiatives (please check out the Featured Practice: Homewood Corporation story for specific details of the organization’s award-winning approach to fostering a healthy workplace).

Dr. Pérez’s passion and expertise in leading an organization with such exceptional commitment to QWL made him a natural choice for membership on the Quality Worklife Quality Healthcare Collaborative (QWQHC) Steering Committee.

“I believe we need to improve our work environment in health care settings and the QWQHC provides a comprehensive model to help organizations plan and implement initiatives,” he says. “It conveys a strong message when so many professional associates and organizations are the sponsor of this initiative!”

Dr. Pérez is keenly aware that the road ahead for human health resources presents some unique challenges to remaining a competitive service provider and being an employer of choice, not just for Homewood but for all Canadian health care settings.

“It’s no longer enough to expect potential employees to come looking for us; we must develop outreach strategies that will help us look for them, and a healthy workplace strategy is one of these,” he says.

“In our case, offering a rewarding and challenging career at Homewood in an environment where one’s efforts are recognized and valued by other team members and the public will help us keep our current employees longer, and will encourage other skilled and empowered individuals to choose Homewood,” he maintains.

Clearly Dr. Pérez is on the right track. Not only can Homewood boast a roster featuring staff with well over 40 years of service, the organization has also been formally recognized by the National Quality Institute with a Canada Award for Excellence Healthy Workplace Award.

But don’t expect Dr. Pérez and his team to rest on their laurels after receiving such a prestigious national honour.

“Although winning awards is always gratifying, we believe the day-to-day individual and team efforts of our staff and volunteers, and their dedication in caring for patients are, and always have been, fundamental to Homewood’s success.”

For more information on Homewood and its range of services for employers, individuals, investors and seniors, please visit www.Homewood.org.