Catholic Health World
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May 2025Goal is to improve maternal and fetal outcomes. -
May 2025Foundation awards $51 million to 13 New York hospitals to increase number of well-equipped nurses
Two CHA member facilities are among the grantees. -
May 2025CHA is developing new resources to support the Catholic health ministry in recruiting, forming sponsors
The association is responding to members’ need to form sponsors throughout their tenure. -
May 2025Cancer center director with SSM Health in Oklahoma copes with own breast cancer diagnosis
Nikki Robinson was used to helping her staff support patients, but her own journey gave her a new perspective. -
May 2025Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital in California plans expansion with record $10 million donation
The money will be used to complete construction of a family care center and build a new women’s health center. -
May 2025Chief academic officers help ensure education infrastructure is in place to equip workforce
CAOs are focused on worker development, recruitment and retention. -
May 2025Healing Heroes program invites patients to honor Holy Cross Health caregivers with thanks, donations
The program started this spring as a way for patients 'to turn their appreciation into something enduring.' -
May 2025'Dangerous path': Catholic health care leaders warn Medicaid cuts could be devastating
The cuts would not only affect vulnerable people but also spread throughout the health care system, impacting everyone, leaders say. -
May 2025Budget plans could shrink enrollment in health insurance exchanges
More than 4.2 million Americans are projected to lose coverage if enhanced premium tax credits in place since 2020 lapse. -
May 2025Collaborative pairs nursing homes, nursing schools in mission to improve eldercare
As the initiative expands across Pennsylvania, it spreads expertise in Age-Friendly Health Systems practices. -
May 2025CommonSpirit's St. Anne Hospital near Seattle offers new moms vital support to ward off health problems
A physician created the program to address troubling trends in maternal mortality. -
May 2025SSM Health's Wisconsin hospitals give new moms alert bracelets to flag them as at-risk
The wrist wear is a quick indicator that a patient could be experiencing post-pregnancy complications such as a blood clot or hemorrhaging. -
May 2025SSM Health leader reflects on his time teaching the future Pope Leo XIV at divinity school in Chicago
Fr. Thomas Nairn, who was in 'absolute shock' after getting the news about the papal selection, recalls a thoughtful, smart student. -
May 2025CHRISTUS Health to build $84 million hospital in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
The 75-bed hospital will be in the coastal city’s high-growth tourist corridor. -
May 2025Saint Anthony Hospital's mental health program in Chicago opens doors for teens and children
The program, called SPARK, stands for Supportive Psychiatry and Resilience for Kids. -
May 2025Catholic health care ministry welcomes Pope Leo XIV with hope, joy
'We joyfully commit ourselves to doing all we can to uplift Pope Leo's work by being ambassadors for healing, peace, justice, and unity,' says CHA's president. -
May 2025Mercy begins construction of hospital campus in suburban St. Louis
The nearly $650 million project is Missouri’s first new acute care hospital campus in nearly a decade, and construction is expected to take four years. -
May 2025PeaceHealth's Women of Peace movement seeks to support, empower women caregivers
Wellness spaces, improved lactation policies and video profiles are among efforts across the system, which employs 14,000 women. -
May 2025Given multiyear growth strategy, CHRISTUS Children's now well equipped to provide top neurological care to kids
Neurosciences center in San Antonio offers multidisciplinary care, wraparound services -
May 2025Keeping Up - May Edition
Executive appointments and facility news from across the Catholic health ministry. -
May 2025CHA explores how to meet 'hunger and need' for resources on forming workers throughout ministry facilities
The association also is focusing on how best to demonstrate formation’s impact. -
AprilTrinity Health Mid-Atlantic names new regional leadership team
The strategic alignment with Holy Cross Health will help strengthen operations, enhance clinical programs, improve access and drive service line growth. -
AprilSr. Lilian Bernard Lynch was on FMOLHS board
Sr. Lynch, a member of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady, also held various leadership roles. -
AprilPoll finds strong support for Medicaid in battleground districts
'It’s important for policymakers to understand where the American people are on this important issue,' says a Catholic health ministry executive. -
AprilEldercare providers worry potential impact of Medicaid cuts to their services is overlooked
More than half of nursing home residents rely on the safety net program for care, and providers say even the current funding level fails to cover cost. -
April'A beautiful story': Collaboration helps Indonesian burn patients heal and flourish
With the community’s help, a Dignity Health hospital in California is providing culturally sensitive wraparound care. -
AprilThird season of CHA book club launches May 22
The club — 'Living Our Shared Identity' — will feature books and documentaries to interest people across ministries. -
AprilWhat are the risks of knowing more about risk? A theologian explores ethics of AI-aided precision medicine
Paul Scherz discussed the impact of the 'explosion of interest' in the use of predictive data in health care in a CHA webinar. -
AprilOur Lady of the Lake releases oral history of staff members' experiences of COVID-19
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, system partners with university to document staff testimonies for posterity. -
AprilVirginia Mason Franciscan invests in nonprofit that educates, empowers minority youth
Build 2 Lead exposes young people in northwest Washington state to a variety of careers, including in health care. -
AprilPope Francis leaves behind a legacy of 'compassion, inclusivity and humility'
The ministry joins mourners around the world in paying tribute to the late pontiff. -
AprilAs federal environmental policies change, Catholic teachings remain guideposts for CHA, members
Laudato Si’ is among church statements that are clear in calling for protecting creation, health care providers and others note. -
AprilRecord $50 million donation to support expansion at Providence Mission Hospital
Providence Mission Hospital Foundation has received a landmark $50 million gift to support a multiphase expansion of its main campus in Mission Viejo, California. -
April'A sacred place': Nebraska hospital opens waiting room for families of organ donors
Room is part of broader effort at CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center — Bergan Mercy in Omaha to encourage donations. -
AprilCHA's Theology and Ethics Colloquium explores technology, trauma and well-being in 'chaotic' times
Leaders gather in St. Louis for the three-day event, where nurturing spirituality and well-being was one area. -
AprilCHA and AHA jointly release analysis on ways nonprofit hospitals benefit their communities
Report illustrates importance of having a comprehensive understanding of community benefit. -
AprilAmid surge in deportations, ethicist makes case for protecting undocumented immigrants
Kuczewski of Loyola University Chicago says it’s necessary to flip the narrative about immigration. -
AprilNeed for heart surgery turns tables on longtime chaplain at Baylor St. Luke's
Rev. Mang Tiak shares her story of faith and recovery. -
AprilMinistry leaders describe their personal spirituality in new CHA podcast series
In separate episodes, eight executives explain what animates their work. Darren Henson, CHA senior director of ministry formation, developed the podcast. -
AprilKeeping Up - April Edition
Executive appointments and facility news from across the Catholic health ministry. -
AprilHoly Cross Health program helps low-income and minority women to access care for breast health
Partners in Breast Health program provides free screening and diagnostic health services for eligible women. -
AprilCHRISTUS Children's strategic expansion is improving pediatric care access in South Texas
Hospital's CEO says goal is to ensure patients get quality care close to home. -
AprilPublic health expert urges care providers to limit use of plastics to necessities
Dr. Philip J. Landrigan says production, use and disposal of plastics are a global threat to the environment and health. -
AprilCatholic Health invites staff to document sacred encounters
At hospitals, seemingly routine happenings, viewed in a spiritual light, can be recognized as sacred encounters. -
AprilCHA's sponsorship and mission services department revitalizes its programming
Goal is to better equip ministry for the future. -
AprilCHI Memorial Hospital gets to the heart of reducing readmission rates for cardiac patients
Program hinges on coordination within hospital and communication with patients. -
AprilSr. Barbara Schamber played key role in ushering in lay sponsorship for Providence St. Joseph
Sr. Barbara Schamber, SP, died March 23 at her home in Olympia, Washington. She had been a Sister of Providence for 62 years and had held multiple leadership positions in her congregation as well as governance and sponsorship roles with Providence St. Joseph Health. -
March 2025Grant helps staff at Massachusetts memory care facility learn how to better help patients
More than 50 staffers now certified through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners -
March 2025SSM hospital learns about, joins community aid efforts at Functional Friday events
ST. CHARLES, MO. — After they packed boxes with goods, loaded the boxes onto carts, pushed the carts across the street and carried their cargo down to the basement food panty at St. Peter Catholic Church, the three dozen or so SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital — St. Charles and Wentzville, Missouri, staffers looked around as if to say: “What next?” -
March 2025CHRISTUS Health to close 174-bed hospital in San Antonio
CHRISTUS Health is set to close its 174-bed hospital in San Antonio by April 25. The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word had opened CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital — Medical Center in 1869.
Health Progress
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Spring 2025Religious Communities Seek Paths to Long-Term Care for Aging Members
In 2004, the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary decided that they could not offer on-premises skilled care to their aging members. "We made the decision with our heads, and we're living it now with our hearts," said Senior President Sr. Mary Catherine Redmond, PBVM. -
Spring 2025Mission — Moving Beyond 'No Margin, No Mission' in Catholic Health Care
I recently had the opportunity to present and participate in the CHA-hosted Sponsorship Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This is a gathering that takes place every other year and is attended by CEOs, chief mission officers and sponsors from across the ministry. In one particularly engaging session, Sr. Tere Maya, CCVI, CHA's senior director for theology and sponsorship, used clips from the movie Cabrini to generate discussion about the future of Catholic health care. She also explored the vital role of sponsors in ensuring our Catholic identity as a ministry of the Church and the sustainability, growth and transformation of the ministry in reading the signs of the times. -
Spring 2025Community Benefit — Navigating Financial Assistance at Mercy: Compassionate Care for Patients
At Mercy, we are committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality care and understand that financial barriers should not prevent anyone from receiving the care they need. Accessing health care can be overwhelming, particularly for individuals and families facing economic difficulties. As part of our mission to bring the healing ministry of Jesus to life, we offer financial assistance programs to try to ensure equitable access to medical services for all. -
Spring 2025Aging — Preserving Catholic Health Care's Footprint in Post-Acute Services
In reflecting on my life and the profound impact that Catholic health care and the dedicated work of Catholic sisters have had on my journey, I find it fitting to introduce Carith Ministries, an organization born last year from a rich tapestry of experiences rooted in compassion, care and community service. -
Winter 2025Why You Need a Chaplain on Your Personal Board of Directors
For those who steward the Catholic health ministry, today's leadership demands constant assessment of how decisions strengthen or limit the influence of our Catholic identity. Whether on behalf of patients, their families or their communities, the decisions leaders make are inescapable and carry lasting implications. -
Winter 2025Reflection: Building a Playbook for Life to Inspire Joy, Overcome Challenges
I know from being an assistant football coach that there are endless formations, designs, schemes and combinations that can be part of an offensive playbook. Yet, it boils down to what a quarterback can do with a football, which is to run it, hand it off or throw it. Life, too, is full of a myriad of philosophies to follow. There are many ways you can run your life. You can fill your playbook with countless plays. -
Fall 2024Catholic Health: Healers and Bridge Builders in a Divided Society
The Catholic health ministry has long used its healing presence in communities to help build peace in society. Today, that presence and ministry are as critical as ever. It requires Catholic health providers and all those who support or work within the ministry to understand the unique role and opportunities that exist to help heal the political divisions in society, just as the ministry heals the physical needs of our communities. -
Fall 2024The Ripple Effect of 'WASH' in Catholic Health Care
When the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul first arrived in Ondo State in Nigeria in 1988, they found fertile agriculture as well as fertile ground for disease and severely limited health care. In 1995, they made a giant health care leap. They opened St. Catherine's Hospital and Maternity. The initial site and building, which were donated, grew to accommodate the remote community's needs. They do not charge patients. -
Fall 2024Bridging Religious Identity in Health Care: The Time Is Now
Anne Fadiman's book, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, tells the true story of a three-month-old girl, Lia Lee, in Merced, California, who began to shake uncontrollably. Her parents, immigrants from Laos, took her to a hospital where a team of highly committed doctors did everything you would expect: They stabilized the patient, drew blood and ran tests. They diagnosed little Lia with epilepsy and prescribed a complex cocktail of drugs for the parents to administer at set intervals. -
Fall 2024Mission Across the Miles: Mission Integration in Ambulatory Settings
Building community focused on the call and mission of Catholic health care requires thought and intention, and this feels particularly true when working with tens of thousands of care providers across seven states. How do you connect and inspire those often pressed for time, facing one another on a computer screen? -
Fall 2024
Finding a Path Forward Through Synodality
As I was preparing this column, I was still basking in the afterglow of CHA's annual Assembly, which was held in San Diego in June. The Assembly is the largest in-person gathering of Catholic health care leaders, which is convened by CHA every other year. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn, reconnect with friends and colleagues, and celebrate the good work being done by all our ministries in extending the healing mission of Jesus Christ. -
Fall 2024Ensuring Integrated Palliative Care for an Aging America
Spectacular advances in medical care have resulted in improved overall health and longevity. Combined with a surge of baby boomers, our population is now aging at an unprecedented rate. This demographic shift is anticipated to strain an already taxed post-pandemic health care system.
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Ethics | S5: EP16Technology Adoption with Patients and Community in Mind
Like all popular trends, it's easy to adopt the latest and "greatest" technology as soon as it's released into the world. But what responsibility do Catholic health systems have in evaluating what changes they need to make? What – and who – is top of mind when these decisions are made?Michael Sellers, Vice President of Facilities Management for Saint Anthony Hospital in Chicago, joins the show to discuss the facilities and operations perspective on changing health care technology. Sellers discusses Saint Anthony's recent innovations, their community-based strategy for making needed upgrades, and the importance of operations as a voice at the decision-making table.
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Ethics | S5: EP15
Using AI to Protect Caregiver Well-Being
Technological advances are nothing new for caregivers, who have been saturated with new tools to "help" them for decades. But are those tools actually helping? And what can the latest innovations do to alleviate the burden caregivers face on a day-to-day basis? Dr. Heather Schmidt, System Medical Director, Healthy Work and Wellness at SSM Health, and Dr. Ann Cappellari, Chief Medical Information Officer and System Vice President at SSM Health, join the show to discuss their findings on how artificial intelligence can assist caregivers in their well-being. They discuss how technology has often added to the administrative burden caregivers face, offer insight into tools that help caregivers connect with their patients, and share how AI can help with the workforce shortages that American health care faces.
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Ethics | S5: EP14
The Ethics and Philosophy of Pharmaceutical Technology
When we hear the word technology, we tend to think about computers, software, artificial intelligence, etc. But one form of technology that we tend to overlook has been a part of our lives for centuries: pharmacy.Jeffrey Bishop, MD, Ph.D, Tenet Endowed Chair of Bioethics and Professor of Philosophy, Health Care Ethics and Philosophy at St. Louis University, joins the show to discuss how we can think critically about pharmaceuticals as technology. He discusses the etymology of the word "pharmacy," shares how power dynamics play into the decisions we make and offers advice on how to make sound, informed decisions about the drugs we take.