Catholic Health Initiatives

Mercy's Community Commitment
Strengthened By National Ties

Mercy was a founding member of Catholic Health Corporation (CHC), based in Omaha. Its purpose was to pool resources and knowledge from many Catholic health care institutions to better meet the challenges of providing health services in a rapidly changing environment. It proved to be a highly successful alliance.

Fortified by this success, in 1996 Mercy and CHC moved to share resources with other Catholic, mission-driven healthcare organizations by becoming a charter member of Catholic Health Initiatives.

Catholic Health Initiatives

Catholic Health Initiatives was formed as a merger between CHC, Franciscan Health System, based in Aston, Pa., and Sisters of Charity Health Care Systems of Cincinnati. The new venture:

• spans 21 states;
• provides services to 72 rural and urban communities; and
• encompasses 63 acute care hospitals, 50 long-term care facilities, numerous medical clinics, and housing services.

In total, Catholic Health Initiatives members generate $4.5 billion in net revenue annually and comprise one of the largest not-for-profit health care systems in the nation.

Mercy is part of Catholic Health Initiatives' Western Region, which includes eight hospitals and 11 long-term care facilities in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California.

---

Mercy Yesterday . . . Mercy Today

If you were to take a snapshot of Mercy in Roseburg since the merger, you wouldn't see any overt sign that Mercy has changed much.

The mission remains the same. Says Bud Johnson, former chairman of the Mercy HealthCare Board, "Being a non-profit Catholic hospital, the mission and values of the Sisters of Mercy have always been a significant factor in determining our direction. We are pleased that the mission will continue to be important in going forward."

---

The Strength of the Whole

Catholic Health Initiatives' national presence will allow Mercy in Roseburg, as well as members throughout the system's five regions, to benefit from the strength of the whole.

Working together, each region will have the ability to measure its work against others in the system, learn from best practices, and share experiences and technological advances to improve clinical outcomes. Catholic Health Initiatives, as a unit, exhibits substantial financial strength that will provide each member with improved access to financial resources necessary to stay ahead of ever-changing technology and community needs.

Through Catholic Health Initiatives, Mercy will:

• build close working relationships with other facilities in the region and enhance resources by gaining additional expertise in certain areas, such as managed care;
  
  
• reduce costs through shared services such as information systems, purchasing, and insurance buying;
  
  
• be able to access state-of-the-art information systems without enormous start-up and development costs; and
  
  
• enjoy an ability to participate in regional managed care contracts and gain the advantages of a large national presence without sacrificing mission- and values-based orientation or local control.

Mercy Medical Center and Catholic Health Initiatives Mission Statement

The mission of Mercy Medical Center and Catholic Health Initiatives is to nurture the healing ministry of the Church by bringing it new life, energy and viability in the 21st century. Fidelity to the Gospel urges us to emphasize human dignity and social justice as we move toward the creation of healthier communities. Catholic Health Initiatives, sponsored by a lay-religious partnership, calls other Catholic sponsors and systems to unite to ensure the future of Catholic healthcare. To fulfill this mission, Catholic Health Initiatives, as a values-based organization and in partnership with others, will:

• assure the integrity of the ministry in both current and developing organizations and activities;
  
  
• research and develop new ministries which integrate health, educational, pastoral, and social services;
  
  
• promote leadership development throughout the entire organization;
  
  
• advocate for systemic change with specific concern for persons who are poor, alienated, and underserved; and
  
  
• steward resources by general oversight of the entire organization.

Other System Facilities

Other West Coast facilities that became a part of Catholic Health Initiatives are:

Holy Rosary Medical Center, Ontario, Oregon
Mt. St. Joseph Care Center, Portland, Oregon
St. Catherine's Residence and Nursing Center, North Bend, Oregon
Mercy Medical Center, Nampa, Idaho
Our Lady of Fatima Villa, Saratoga, California
St. Anthony Hospital, Pendleton, Oregon
St. Elizabeth Health Services, Baker City, Oregon
St. Joseph Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington
St. Francis Hospital, Federal Way, Washington
St. Clare Hospital, Lakewood, Washington
Franciscan Care Center, Bothell, Washington
Franciscan Care Center, Tacoma, Washington
Franciscan Care Center, University Place, Washington