Catholic Healthcare believes healthcare shouldn’t be complicated. Yet, certain barriers and challenges seem to prevent access to care. We think you’d agree that in a perfect world, healthcare should be compassionate and accessible, and have a positive effect on the community. We’re doing our part to keep things simple; the way things should be. We believe anything is possible when healthcare really cares.   

When healthcare really cares, it considers the whole person.

We treat the person — the whole person. This means, when healthcare professionals consider the whole person, the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of each patient, we achieve improved health results. And part of our approach to treating the whole person is ensuring every individual and their family feel recognized, listened to, and understood. We’re sure you’re on the same page when we say, when we treat the whole person, everyone heals.  

Catholic health systems provide whole-person care, which means they: 

  • Develop strong, authentic patient-provider relationships 
  • Recognize patient experience is of utmost importance 
  • Treat patients with dignity, respect, and authenticity 
  • Take a preventative, comprehensive approach to health 
care
Catholic hospitals employ more than 700,000 full- and part-time workers of different faiths and backgrounds.
Milwaukee's Ascension St. Joseph offers free child care so patients can get to appointments

Milwaukee-area mom Ajah Lott knows how important it is to get to her prenatal appointments as she nears the September due date for her twins' arrival.

Mercy 65 Prime+ clinics give more time, resources to older patients

FESTUS, Mo. — Pat Niemeyer, 76, had been seeing Dr. Joanne Waltman for 14 years for primary care. Recently, at her first visit with Waltman at Mercy's new 65 Prime+ clinic . . .

When healthcare really cares,
it prioritizes the well-being
of communities. 

Communities matter. We’re serious about this. And it's why we put such a strong emphasis on the health and happiness of the wider community. We recognize the positive effect that a thriving community can have on the health of each of its individual members. With Catholic Healthcare, our treatment will always extend past the doors of our exam room.  

Catholic health systems believe the health and well-being of the community strongly influences the health and well-being of everyone. This is why we combine healthcare with other services to provide economic stability by addressing poverty, food security, and housing stability.

community
In some states, more than 40 percent of the hospital beds are in Catholic hospitals.
CHI Health and Omaha Fire Department partner to give essentials to people who are homeless

CHI Health of Omaha, Nebraska, recently partnered with the Omaha Fire Department to pack bags of essential supplies that they call blessing bags . . .

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CHRISTUS hospital joins with nonprofit to offer remote food locker for people in need

CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System in eastern Texas has partnered with a Marshall, Texas, food pantry to open a remote food locker. Community members...

When healthcare really cares,
it ensures every person has access.

Every person deserves access to healthcare. We wanted to make that clear. We are guided by the principles of compassion, dignity, and justice in our mission to provide quality healthcare to all individuals. We will always strive to ensure every person, regardless of their background or means, has access to the care they need to maintain their health and well-being.  

We support efforts to bolster U.S. healthcare legislation and insurance programs. For instance: 

We believe all people deserve quality healthcare and that good health is necessary to live a full and productive life. To put this belief into practice, we: 

  • Benefit the greatest amount of people, often by partnering with non-Catholic Healthcare organizations 
  • Defend people in need and provide services and resources to people who lack access 
  • Leave no one behind by welcoming and respecting people of all ages, races, beliefs, and traditions 
access
Catholic Healthcare provides short and long-term care across the continuum of healthcare delivery. The six categories of care are: 
  • Acute care 
  • Subacute care  
  • Skilled nursing  
  • Adult day care/assisted living/residential care  
  • Home health  
  • Hospice 
Why put Catholic in healthcare

Why put Catholic in healthcare?

The roots of Catholicism in healthcare can be traced back to a humble beginning. As the world evolved and flourished, so did the Catholic Church’s belief in caring for the sick and the vulnerable. With a deep commitment to serving the marginalized and the suffering, the Church established hospitals, clinics, and charitable institutions to provide solace and relief to those in need.

Through the centuries, Catholic Healthcare has adapted and transformed, embracing advancements in technology and medicine. From the ancient apothecaries to the modern hospitals equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, the mission of Catholic Healthcare remains steadfast — to alleviate suffering, promote healing, and uphold the dignity of every human life. 

Today, Catholic Healthcare stands as a beacon of hope and compassion in a world plagued by illness and uncertainty. It continues to evolve and innovate, guided by the timeless values of love, mercy, and service. As we look to the future, let us remember the origins of Catholicism in healthcare and the enduring legacy of faith-inspired healing that continues to inspire and uplift us all.

FACTS - With 665 hospitals, U.S. Catholic Healthcare is the nation’s largest group of not-for-profit healthcare providers. These hospitals, plus 1,600 long-term care and other health facilities across the nation, join in the Catholic Health Association of the United States. More than one in seven patients receive care in a Catholic hospital each day.

Stay Informed

Milwaukee's Ascension St. Joseph offers free child care so patients can get to appointments

Milwaukee-area mom Ajah Lott knows how important it is to get to her prenatal appointments as she nears the September due date for her twins' arrival.

CHI Health and Omaha Fire Department partner to give essentials to people who are homeless

CHI Health of Omaha, Nebraska, recently partnered with the Omaha Fire Department to pack bags of essential supplies that they call blessing bags . . .

SSM Health uses screenings to connect maternal care patients to social services

SAN DIEGO — SSM Health is replicating across its four-state footprint a screening program to identify and address social needs that affect health among maternal care patients.

CHRISTUSHospital_flourish
CHRISTUS hospital joins with nonprofit to offer remote food locker for people in need

CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System in eastern Texas has partnered with a Marshall, Texas, food pantry to open a remote food locker. Community members...

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Intermountain Health's First 1,000 Days helps families, babies navigate first years

Lacey Starcevich was 19 years old when she showed up at the emergency room at St. James Hospital in Butte, Montana, with a bladder infection. She didn't have a home...

Mercy 65 Prime+ clinics give more time, resources to older patients

FESTUS, Mo. — Pat Niemeyer, 76, had been seeing Dr. Joanne Waltman for 14 years for primary care. Recently, at her first visit with Waltman at Mercy's new 65 Prime+ clinic . . .

Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic joins anti-violence collaboration

Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic and The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth have formed a collaboration to implement the Violence Intervention and Prevention Program. . . .

Tenant of Healthy Village at Saint Francis Hospital provides services for previously incarcerated women

Saint Francis Hospital of Wilmington, Delaware, is helping to support a local nonprofit called the HOPE Commission in its efforts to aid women who have been released from prison . . .

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Caregivers of people with chronic conditions get support, resources at eastern Iowa center

When Bob Kazimour and his wife, Jan, were honorary chairs of a fundraising effort about a decade ago to raise capital to start the Family Caregivers Center on the Mercy Medical Center campus in Cedar Rapids...

After successful starts, Mercy and Avera Health are looking to expand hospital-at-home care

After successful starts, two Catholic health systems are diving deeper into hospital-at-home care. Mercy launched Mercy Hospital at Home in September, offering the acute care option . . .

Mercy Cedar Rapids partners on hub for dementia care programming, innovation

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Four years ago, Susie Winkowski and her husband left the resort they'd owned on the West Coast because his dementia was making it too difficult to keep up with . . .

Obstetrics ED is Ascension Wisconsin's latest effort to address maternal crises

One of the first patients at the new Obstetrics Emergency Department at Ascension St. Joseph hospital in Milwaukee was in drug withdrawal and having an acute mental health episode. . . .

Oklahoma City respite facility ensures care for unhoused patients after discharge

Catholic hospitals in Oklahoma City are partnering with a nonmedical respite care facility to help unhoused adult patients recover safely as they build a more stable life. . . .

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