Community Benefit Annual Report 2011

3805 West Chester Pike • Suite 100Newtown Square, Pa. 19073610.355.2000 • www.che.org

To effect this mission:• We treat all persons whom we serve and

with whom we work with respect and compassion, calling forth their best human potential;

• We provide a full range of services that support healthy communities, including quality medical care and holistic approaches to healing body, spirit and mind;

• We collaborate with others who share a common mission and vision;

• We continually seek ways to assure access to services to persons most in need;

• We identify and develop leaders in Catholic health ministry; and

• We advocate public policies and initiatives, particularly those in the area of healthcare, that ensure quality of life for all.

Catholic Health East is a community of persons committed to being a transforming, healing presence within the communities we serve.

Reverence For Each Person We believe that each person is a manifestation of the sacredness of human life.

Community We demonstrate our connectedness to each other through inclusive and compassionate relationships.

Justice We advocate for a society in which all can realize their full potential and achieve the common good.

Commitment To Those Who Are Poor We give priority to those whom society ignores.

Stewardship We care for and strengthen the ministry and all resources entrusted to us.

CourageWe dare to take the risks our faith demands of us.

IntegrityWe keep our word and are faithful to who we say we are.

Inspired by our Mission and committed to our Core Values, Catholic Health East will achieve excellence in all we do, creating a system that empowers communities and individuals to achieve optimal health and quality of life.

Catholic Health East SponsorsCongregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Scranton, Pennsylvania

Franciscan Sisters of Allegany Allegany, New York

Hope Ministries Newtown Square, Pennsylvania

Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Sisters of Providence Holyoke, Massachusetts

Sisters of St. Joseph St. Augustine, Florida

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas:

Mid-Atlantic Community Merion, Pennsylvania

New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific West Community Buffalo, New York

Northeast Community Cumberland, Rhode Island

South Central Community Belmont, North Carolina

Catholic Health East Regional Health Corporations and Joint Operating AgreementsBayCare Health System Clearwater, Florida

Catholic Health Buffalo, New York

Holy Cross Hospital Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Lourdes Health System Camden, New Jersey

Maxis Health System Carbondale, Pennsylvania

The Mercy Community West Hartford, Connecticut

Mercy Health System of Maine Portland, Maine

Mercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Mercy Medical Daphne, Alabama

Pittsburgh Mercy Health System Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Saint Joseph’s Health System Atlanta, Georgia

Saint Michael’s Medical Center Newark, New Jersey

Sisters of Providence Health System Springfield, Massachusetts

St. Francis Hospital Wilmington, Delaware

St. Francis Medical Center Trenton, New Jersey

St. James Mercy Hospital Hornell, New York

St. Joseph of the Pines Southern Pines, North Carolina

St. Mary Medical Center Langhorne, Pennsylvania

St. Mary’s Health Care System Athens, Georgia

St. Peter’s Health Partners Albany, New York

Catholic Health East Supportive Health CorporationsAllegany Franciscan Ministries, Inc.Global Health MinistryStella Maris Insurance Company, Ltd.

Our HealthMinistry: O ur Mission ...

O ur Vision ...

O ur Core Values ...

2 Catholic Health East Community Benefit Annual Report 2011

Sr. Barbara Wheeley, R.S.M.Coordinator,

CHE Sponsors Council

Dennis A. FitzpatrickChairperson,

CHE Board of Directors

Judith M. Persichilli, R.N., B.S.N., M.A.President and CEO,Catholic Health East

It was a year of tumultuous change around the world. Pushing for democracy, the phenomenon known as “Arab Spring” involved uprisings and demonstrations that spread across the Arab world throughout 2011. Occupy Wall Street, a protest focusing on social and economic inequalities, took root in cities across the United States and eventually spread to dozens of countries around the world.

Observers of these events agree that people were motivated to participate due to a compelling desire to change the “status quo.” Whether you agree with the protesters or not, their willingness to get involved with issues they believe in shined a spotlight on their causes and, in some cases, changed the world.

That is the main purpose of Catholic Health East’s Community Benefit Annual Report. We didn’t publish this document simply to give an account-ing of how our actions benefit people in need in the communities we serve. We are not highlighting these programs and services just to fulfill a commitment or to satisfy a require-ment.

More importantly, we choose to use this vehicle as a way to shine our own spotlight on the causes that our colleagues and volunteers get involved with in our local ministries. Each and every one of the 22

vignettes you will read about in the coming pages involves someone’s world being changed by the kindness and actions of others.

Kimberly was living under a bridge in downtown Pittsburgh before Pittsburgh Mercy Health System’s Operation Safety Net® intervened, connecting her with its new residential facility for individuals who previously were chronically homeless. As a result, Kimberly’s world has changed.

Otis, a Vietnam veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, heeded the advice of a resource specialist at Saint Joseph’s Mercy Care Services by seeking help for his recurring cardiac symptoms. He has since received a cardiac stent, as well as treatment for his stress disorder and addictions. As a result, Otis’ world has changed.

Kristina was 21, pregnant and unmar-ried. Eight months into her pregnancy she was laid off and evicted. Fortunately, she found out about St. James Mercy Hospital’s transitional housing program for single mothers. As a result, Kristina’s world has changed.

Catholic Health East’s Mission calls for us to “… continually seek ways to assure access to services to persons most in need.” Likewise, one of our Core Values is Commitment to Those Who Are Poor. As a ministry, we are committed to giving priority to those whom society ignores. In a nation where millions of people still have no health insurance, and millions more are jobless, homeless

and without hope, our Mission and Core Values are tested every day.

Stretching across 11 states from Maine to Florida, our ministries range from large teaching hospitals in urban centers to small nursing homes in rural locations. Without exception, every one of our ministries has neighbors and community members like Kimberly, Otis and Kristina who are in need … and our colleagues find innovative and effective ways to help. From free cancer screen-ings to mobile outreach vans to school-based interventions to transi-tional housing and more, CHE colleagues, caregivers and volunteers are making a difference in their commu-nities every day.

Our hope is that the spotlight we are shining on these representative programs, services, initiatives—and people—will help inspire others to get involved, and to make a difference. There are so many ways to help. In addition to the wonderful initiatives highlighted in this report, there are neighborhood food banks whose shelves need to be stocked … children who need to be read to … and seniors who need companions.

We are so grateful to all members of the CHE family whose time, talents and resources are devoted to improving the lives of those who are poor and underserved in our communities. Thank you for helping us change the world … one person, one family and one community at a time. God bless you!

Message from...

Dear Friendsand Colleagues,

S ponsorsCouncilCoordinator,Board Chairand CEO

3Catholic Health East Community Benefit Annual Report 2011

Manuel began experiencing random seizures that made it impossible for him to drive or maintain employment. Even though his wife Gema worked, they still could not afford the medications he needed to control his seizures.

God bless everyone who contributes to the Community Health Center and to those who volunteer and have

helped me and my family.“ ”Manuel, a husband and father of two little children, had suffered an accident in the spring of 2009 that left him needing brain surgery. After his discharge from the hospital, Manuel did not have the financial resources to see a physician for follow-up care or to pay for his medications. So the seizures began.

Gema was in constant fear—wondering if her husband would have another seizure and if the children were left unattended and frightened.

“I worried that Manuel would have a seizure while I was working,” said Gema. “He would run out of his medication because we couldn’t afford it every month; and that’s when the seizures would come back.”

They had no place to go for help … they had nowhere to turn …

Until someone in their community told them about the Community Health Center of West Palm Beach.

Community Health Center is a free clinic providing primary health care to uninsured and underinsured individuals and families in West Palm Beach, Fla. Often, the individuals and families that visit the Center become a blessing to the staff and volunteers.

Thanks to funding for the Community Health Center from Allegany Franciscan Ministries, Manuel received treatment for his seizures and is once again able to provide for his family.

“I met Gema when I started working at the Center back in 2009,” said Alida Bostwick, administrative assistant at the Center. “Her spirit of optimism and hope encouraged me. They are a beautiful couple who love each other and their children. No matter how hard their situation is, they always have a smile on their faces.”

At the Center, Manuel connected with clinicians, including Donna Adair, ARNP, who helped him manage his condition. He also received the medications he needed to prevent his regular seizures. The family’s situation, which once seemed hopeless, was now transformed. Manuel was able to recover at home and safely care for his children while Gema worked … worry-free.

“Thanks to the clinic, I’m feeling and doing much better,” said Manuel. “I want to give thanks from the bottom of my heart to the foundations that help

the Community Health Center continue to provide care for me and my family.”

Without the services and care from the Community Health Center, this family’s future was uncertain. However, with funding from Allegany Franciscan Ministries, and the commitment of the Center’s staff and volunteers, Manuel and Gema’s future, and that of their young children, is full of possibilities.

“God bless everyone who contributes to the Community Health Center and to those who volunteer and have helped me and my family,” said Manuel.

Since 2004, Allegany Franciscan Ministries in Palm Harbor, Fla., has partnered with Community Health Center to provide primary health care services to the West Palm Beach community. They have awarded grants totaling close to $300,000 to the Center to provide this critical safety net service.

—Manuel

ALLEGANY FRANCISCAN MINISTRIES


F romHopeless toHopeful

Courage Community Justice IntegrityCommitmentto Those Who Are Poor

So often at Saint Joseph’s Mercy Care Services, in Atlanta, Ga., it is the personal connection between staff and client that launches the healing journey.

I can only say I’m overjoyed with the way thingsare right now. But I don’t think I’d be here without

Mr. Reid’s kind and encouraging help. He and Mercy Care have saved my life.

“”

Otis, a Vietnam War veteran experi-encing homelessness and undiag-nosed post-traumatic stress disorder, had been receiving various services from Mercy Care for several months. Often he would see Gerard Reid, a resource specialist, to receive referrals that assisted him in meeting his basic daily needs.

During one of those visits, Otis confided to Gerard: “I have this funny, kind of racing heartbeat sometimes and a little pressure and pain in my chest.”

Gerard advised that this could be a serious problem and asked if he would consider seeing a provider at Mercy Clinic Downtown (MCD). Otis was not quite ready to commit to that.

“I was really in denial,” said Otis. “I knew there were other things like my drinking and drug addiction that would come up and I didn’t want to deal with that.”

About a week later, Otis started to feel sharp chest pains and cramping down his arm and remembered that Gerard had cautioned him about the serious-ness of these symptoms. The pain

Otis credits Saint Joseph’s Mercy Care Services and Gerard Reid, resource specialist, with saving his life. “I’m grateful from the bottom of my mended heart,” said Otis.

worsened and Otis went to a local hospital emergency room.

“Before I knew it, I was on a gurney, having tests run and … bam, I was in an operating room,” said Otis. ”They put a stent into my heart to open up an artery that was almost completely blocked! By the time I left, they found I had emphy-sema, cataracts, glaucoma and arthritis in both hips.”

Between the hospital staff and Gerard’s continued assistance, Otis is enrolled in programs to help control pain, his post-traumatic stress disorder and rehabilitation for his alcohol, drug and cigarette addictions. The MCD staff continue to monitor his other health issues.

“Thanks to Mr. Reid’s help and others, I’m now on a list for permanent housing after 10 years of living on the streets!” said Otis. “And this program I’m in teaches me skills to enter the job force. I can only say I’m overjoyed with the way things are right now. But I don’t think I’d be here without Mr. Reid’s kind and encouraging help. He and Mercy Care have saved my life. I’m grateful from the bottom of my mended heart.”

For more than 26 years, Saint Joseph’s Mercy Care Services has delivered integrated primary health and dental care, education and social services to thousands of persons in need each year throughout Atlanta. Mercy Care Services is sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy and Saint Joseph’s Health System.

—Otis


G rateful fromthe Bottomof My Heart

SAINT JOSEPH’S HEALTH SYSTEM

Stewardship Reverence Couragefor Each Person

Justice Commitmentto Those Who Are Poor

In her second floor apartment in Newark, N.J., Jannette picked up her three-year-old nephew and gave him a squeeze.

I feel so good. Going to Saint Michael’s has givenme a new chance at life.“ ”

“I feel so good,” she said. “Going to Saint Michael’s has given me a new chance at life.”

Jannette said the hospital’s In The Pink program saved her life.

Jannette was fearful of having her annual gynecological examination and delayed getting a Pap smear for more than six years. She lacked health insurance and said doctors and hospitals made her uncomfortable.

But eventually, realizing that she had put it off for far too long, she went to the In The Pink program, where she said the doctors held her hand and the nurses put her at ease.

Since 1999, the In The Pink program at Saint Michael’s Medical Center in Newark, N.J., has provided cancer screenings and medical services to more than 20,000 low-income and uninsured men and women. The program screens for breast, cervical, colorectal and prostate cancer. So far, the program has diagnosed more than 100 people with cancer—giving them the opportunity for life-saving early treatment.

Jannette, a 44-year-old grandmother, was one of those people.

Jannette, with her three-year-old nephew, Aaden, thanks God that He sent her to Saint Michael’s. “Going to Saint Michaels has given me a new chance at life,” she said.

“It was so hard when they said ‘cervical cancer’,” Jannette recalled. “I thought, ‘Okay. This is it. This is the end. I won’t see my grandchildren grow up’.”

Her doctors disagreed.

“I remember Dr. Norma Rae Layne; she hugged me and told me, ‘No, this is not the end’. She worked with me and explained everything. Everybody there cared about me,” she said. “They called me at home to check on me. They answered all my questions.”

Today, five months after Jannette was referred for follow-up chemotherapy and radiation, she is well and looking forward to her future. Without the program, her cervical cancer likely would have spread and her prognosis could have been dire.

Many women who come to In The Pink have not received a mammogram or

Pap smear for years, even decades. Some get their first screening ever. Aretha Hill-Forte, director of the program, recalled a patient with a tumor visible through her clothes.

“We don’t want anyone to die because he or she could not afford cancer screening,” Hill-Forte said.

In addition to support from Saint Michael’s Medical Center, In The Pink receives support from the state of New Jersey Cancer Education & Early Detection program and the Avon Breast Health Outreach Program.

Jannette recently spoke to a friend who had not had a mammogram or Pap screening for many years.

“I told her, ‘Call them!’ They help anyone who needs their help,” she said. “I thank God that He sent me there.”

—Jannette

SAINT MICHAEL’S MEDICAL CENTER


C ancer Screening Program Saves Lives

Courage Community Justice IntegrityCommitmentto Those Who Are Poor

Rafael is a familiar face in many South Jersey communities, providing education and treatment information to HIV/AIDS patients and promoting safe needle exchange programs. Yet while looking out for the well-being of others, he ignored symptoms of a disease that could have claimed his life ... until it was almost too late.

I want to serve as an example for people whoare going through what I did.“ ”A drug abuser in his youth, Rafael, 55,

believes he contracted hepatitis C as a teenager. He wasn’t diagnosed, though, until 1996, well after turning his life around and working for the health department in Allentown, Pa. “It got to the point where I was so sick I couldn’t go up a flight of stairs or tie my shoe,” said Raphael. “I was used to dealing with people who needed help. For the first time, I was in that situation.”Rafael received a liver transplant at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, Camden, N.J., in November 2011 and is an active member of Lourdes’ liver transplant support group. Lourdes is the only hospital in southern New Jersey to provide liver, kidney and pancreas transplants.Started in September 2011, the group

The liver transplant support group attracts pre- and post-transplant patients from Lourdes and other area hospitals. Transplant recipient Rafael poses with support group team members (left to right) Nona Dawson-Land, M.S.W., L.S.W.; Luvi Torio, B.S.N.; and Kathy Gabriele, R.D.

consists of pre- and post-transplant patients at Lourdes as well as transplant patients from Philadelphia area hospitals, their families and friends who are all dedicated to battling liver disease together. “It’s important for the patients to see that they all have the same concerns. Each of them has a story and each of them has had dark times,” said Nona Dawson-Land, M.S.W., L.S.W., a liver transplant social worker who founded the group in response to a perceived community need. “Here, they can share in a safe, respectful environment.”Attendance at the bimonthly meetings has more than doubled. Topics have included living with liver disease, the stress of waiting for a transplant, what to expect after a transplant, hepatitis C treatment and outcomes, and providing care to caregivers. Lourdes physicians,

pharmacists, dietitians and transplant coordinators are often guest speakers.“Through education and group support, members find comfort at every stage of the transplant process,” said Dawson-Land. She and her team also help patients with a spectrum of psycho/social needs, which can include case management, rehabilitation, obtaining nutritional meals and transportation.“You can’t get any better staff than at Lourdes,” said group member John. “They will do anything for you.”Rafael hopes to impart his experiences to other group members, including how he overcame substance abuse and worked to rebuild relationships.“I want to serve as an example for people who are going through what I did,” he said.

—Rafael


Support Group Provides Care and Support to Transplant Patients

LOURDES HEALTH SYSTEM


Justice Community

When it comes to staying healthy, Kay, a Carbondale, Pennsylvania resident, keeps herself on the right track. The independent 88-year-old was one of the nearly 275 attendees of Marian Community Hospital’s 2011 spring health and wellness fair, “Celebrate Your Health.”

The health fair was a great way to demonstratehow we, as a group of health care providers, can work

together for the benefit of those we serve.“ ”The event was the first of its size for the Carbondale community. The four-hour assembly of free health screenings, educational lectures and vendor booths was co-sponsored by Marian Community Hospital, the Carbondale Nursing and Rehabilita-tion Center and the Greater Carbon-dale YMCA.

Participants were able to take advan-tage of free screenings ranging from non-fasting glucose checks to balance checks used to detect vertigo. Many elderly residents just like Kay, who prefer to only drive locally, were grateful for the opportunity to have easy access to a diverse collection of tests.

“Whenever there is a free health fair I go,” said Kay. “You see your doctor on a regular basis; but he doesn’t have time to check for everything. I had all of the screenings and everything came out good.”

In addition to free screenings, several half-hour breakout sessions covered topics including adaptive home health equipment, advanced wound care and fighting heart disease. More than 25 independent health care organizations were represented at vendor booths and donated door prizes to be raffled.

“The event was such a success,” said Krista DiRienzo, director of community programs and volunteer services, Maxis Health System. “From the amount of

vendors who responded to participate to the number of local residents who came out to attend, it was just overwhelming.”

Because the health fair was a collabora-tive effort co-sponsored by three organizations, it was important to begin the planning well in advance. The decision to use the newly expanded YMCA building was credited as one of the main factors contributing to success of the event.

“The health fair was a great way to demonstrate how we, as a group of health care providers, can work together for the benefit of those we serve,” said DiRenzo. “Pooling our resources and talents allowed us to bring a memorable, large-scale event to those living within our own community.”

—Krista DiRenzo


W ellness FairGives Small Community Access to Large Array of Information

Courage Commitmentto Those Who Are Poor

Justice IntegrityCommunity

Susan Wallis, L.P.N., explains the technique used in screening non-fasting blood sugars to Kay, a local resident. The “Celebrate Your Health” event, co-sponsored by Marian Community Hospital, attracted close to 275 attendees and more than 25 vendors.

MAXIS HEALTH SYSTEM

After 87 years of service to the Carbondale community, Marian Community Hospital closed on February 28, 2012. CHE thanks the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Scranton, Pa.) and all of the staff, physicians and volunteers for their dedication and support over the years.

When Tawana, mother of five-year-old Kareem, learned that physicals would be offered at her son’s school, she said, “Yes, please!” At the time, she worked two jobs and up to 110 hours per week, sometimes with double shifts.

By making this a fun learning experience,it causes the children to not be afraid

to go to the doctor in the future.“ ”“It’s hard to juggle it all and even harder to work a doctor’s appoint-ment into the schedule,” she said.

Kareem’s mother is not alone in her struggle to find the time and resources to fulfill this annual require-ment at the Head Start Learning Tree Center in West Philadelphia, a fully comprehensive child and preschool development program to help meet the needs of lower income children.

When leaders at Mercy Philadelphia Hospital, part of Mercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania, heard about this gap they could fill, a team and resources were assembled and traveled to six Head Start locations around the city, providing 72 children with free physicals.

Not only were the on-site physicals a way to provide additional support to parents, but the teachers and clinicians from Mercy Philadelphia Hospital and Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital (Darby, Pa.) made it an educational and enjoyable group activity.

Kay Stephens, Mercy Philadelphia Hospital director of community and ambulatory services, explains to Kareem how the blood pressure equipment works before she puts the BP cuff on his arm.

At the Head Start in West Philadelphia, the physicals were scheduled on “Fun Friday.” A group of three- to five-year-olds filed into the auditorium where clinicians set up a makeshift doctor’s office.

The clinicians were motivating and approachable. Before proceeding, they explained what needed to be checked and why. One physician gave her patients the stethoscope first and let them listen to their own hearts. Children got a high five if they told the doctor about a good health habit, such as brushing their teeth twice a day.

“By making this a fun learning experi-ence, it causes the children to not be afraid to go to the doctor in the future,” said Asha Rooney, health assistant at Head Start.

With bright eyes, Kareem moved eagerly from one station to the next for dental, blood pressure and vision screenings as well as height and weight measure-ments. The blood pressure equipment intrigued him most. Kay Stephens, Mercy Philadelphia Hospital director of community and ambulatory services, was happy to explain how the machine worked and answered all of Kareem’s questions.

Tawana saw the excitement still in her son’s eyes later that day. “He came home from school that day and exclaimed ‘Mom, they had all this stuff!’”

Of the 72 children examined, 11 required follow-up care for health conditions found during the exam.

—Asha Rooney


A n Environment for Health and Fun

MERCY HEALTH SYSTEM OFSOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA


Justice Community

When NBC Connecticut approached The Mercy Community in West Hartford, Conn., about providing a free service to the greater Hartford population at its annual October Health & Wellness Festival, colleagues discussed many possibilities.

The girls thought it was cool. For them, just to think about what the brain looks like, what goes on in this organ they

can’t see—it was an unforgettable learning experience.“ ”“We recognized the unique forum this event provided for us to educate the public about senior health care,” said William J. Fiocchetta, president and CEO of The Mercy Community. His team took a decidedly innovative approach to the challenge.

More than 22,000 people of all ages, ethnicities, education levels and economic statuses from within and beyond Connecticut attended this free community event at the Connecticut Convention Center. Vendors provided health screenings, immunizations, blood pressure checks and other health and fitness analyses. For many families who cannot afford office visits, the festival serves as a one-stop means of assessment and preventive care each year.

For the festival, The Mercy Commu-nity leased “MEGA Brain®,” a 12-foot tall, 20-foot long inflatable walk-through replica of the human brain. Through artistry and academics, MEGA Brain left an indelible impres-sion on the families, pharmacy and

medical students, teachers, and senior citizens who toured it.

Susan from Enfield, Conn., came to the festival with her husband Sean, and daughters Leah and Amy. “The girls thought it was cool,” said Susan. “As first and third graders, they haven’t yet studied the brain in school. For them, just to think about what the brain looks like, what goes on in this organ they can’t see—it was an unforgettable learning experience.”

MEGA Brain enlightened Susan and Sean, too. Before they came to the event, Susan said that they had not been aware of The Mercy Community.

“When I understood all the services it provides, and then found my whole

family learning things they didn’t know about the human brain, we made a connection,” she said. “The Mercy Community’s exhibit was much more attention-getting than it would have been if it were just somebody with pamphlets at a table. We have a new resource if we should ever need it.”

When they exited MEGA Brain, several visitors asked questions of The Mercy Community’s professional caregivers.

“MEGA Brain also opened up so many other conversations about medical conditions that affect the brain,” said Fiocchetta. “The festival gave our colleagues ample opportunity to shine for their expertise as well as for their compassion.”

—Susan


A LittleBrain Power Makes a ‘Mega’ Impact

Courage Commitmentto Those Who Are Poor

Justice IntegrityCommunity

THE MERCY COMMUNITY

Susan, her husband Sean, and daughters Leah and Amy, tour The Mercy Community’s MEGA Brain exhibit at the Connecticut Convention Center.

Myriam is a healthy, vibrant, articulate woman, mother and grandmother. She never expected to find herself at age 53 with a diagnosis of breast cancer. She never imagined that she would find herself in a situation of desperation—without a health care provider to attend to a breast mass she found that suggested trouble.

My tears … If I cry, they are tears of joybecause I am alive. Life is a gift—

every day is a gift.“ ”This was the situation Myriam found herself in last summer when she learned of the Holy Cross Hospital Community Outreach’s Mobile Health Outreach program.

The day the Mobile Unit pulled up to the Minority Development and Empowerment site was the day that Myriam began her journey back to health.

The Mobile Health program brings health care services to the community and holds routine hours at community agencies for uninsured, eligible clients. Its purpose is to respond to the unmet health needs of those individuals lacking access and/or experiencing barriers to health care.

Myriam was first seen by the commu-nity agency’s case manager, then triaged by the Mobile Health program’s nurse and immediately scheduled to be seen by Holy Cross

Medical Group physician, Patricia Aurelien, D.O.

Myriam’s next two months were a whirlwind of doctor appointments, screenings, tests and procedures.

“When the diagnosis is cancer, no one wants to hear it,” Myriam said. “But I knew I was in good hands.”

Myriam’s eyes filled with tears as she spoke. Myriam was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer and had a double mastectomy in October.

“Tomorrow I have my fifth chemo treatment with only one more to go,” said Myriam. “The fourth one went well. I’m okay … I’m fighting.”

Myriam is grateful to be alive thanks to her treatment by the Mobile Health Program team.

My tears … If I cry, they are tears of joy because I am alive,” said Myriam. “Life is a gift—every day is a gift.”

Her message to everyone? “Keep on doing the good work; God is watching.”

“It’s because there is a God … and because I came here,” she said. “My care has been more than I ever expected. Now, I need to give back what I’ve received as much as possible.”

The Mobile Health Outreach program at Holy Cross Hospital (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) began in October 2009, thanks to funding from Catholic Health East’s Heritage Fund. Two years later, it has quickly gained community popularity and requests for services continue to increase as the availability of public health access continues to decrease.

—Myriam


HOLY CROSS HOSPITAL

Stewardship Reverence Communityfor Each Person

JusticeCourage

Myriam benefitted from the Holy Cross Hospital Community Outreach’s Mobile Health Program and vows to give back as much as possible.

M obile Health ProgramImprovesAccess to Care

At 17 weeks gestation, Dimitra learned that her unborn daughter had micrognathia, a condition creating a small lower jaw. It wasn’t until after Cali’s birth that the family realized the severity of her deformity, which included a severe cleft palette.

Mercy’s Guardian Angel made a difference for our family. Having Kim come to our home meant not worryingabout Cali catching a cold from germs in a doctor’s

office or at the hospital. “

”Cali was diagnosed with Pierre Robin’s Syndrome and had great difficulty breathing and eating. She couldn’t lie on her back without suffocating as her tongue would block her airway.

“I was the only one who could hold Cali,” explained Dimitra. “Everyone was so afraid she would stop breath-ing, which she did a lot. When I changed her diaper, she stopped breathing.”

While pregnant, Dimitra had researched the latest surgeries and health care options for her daughter. She discovered an advanced proce-dure called mandibular distraction that would increase the length of the jaw bone. Distractors, surgically placed on each side of the jaw, would correct the jaw and help her baby breathe.

The hospital where Cali was born did not offer this surgery. The neonatolo-gist recommended a tracheostomy (surgical insertion of a tracheal tube via the neck) to help her breathe and an abdominal gastrostomy tube (G-tube) for feeding. Dimitra, concerned about the risk of infection, chose against the recommendation.

And after a month in the hospital, Cali went home.

Dimitra’s husband had recently lost his job and they had three other children to support. Financially stressed, they were referred to the pediatric home care program at Mercy Medical (Daphne, Ala.), supported by Mercy’s Guardian Angel program. Guardian Angel provides care to any critically or termi-nally ill child in need, regardless of the family’s ability to pay.

Mercy’s pediatric home care nurse, Kim, became an invaluable liaison with the doctors. When Cali’s breathing became shallow, Kim called the pediatrician who readmitted her to the pediatric intensive care unit. This became a pivotal time for decision.

The hospital couldn’t help Cali if she didn’t get the trache tube. But Dimitra felt mandibular distraction was her best

option. So despite huge obstacles and criticism, she scheduled Cali’s surgery at a hospital in Atlanta that pioneered the use of resorbable distractors and did not require a second surgery for removal.

Against the odds, Dimitra fought for what was best for her baby. Today, Cali is thriving and there is little evidence of her congenital deformity.

“Mercy’s Guardian Angel made a difference for our family,” said Dimitra. “Having Kim come to our home meant not worrying about Cali catching a cold from germs in a doctor’s office or at the hospital.”

Mercy’s Guardian Angel program provided a travel grant for Cali’s surgery and continues to help fund Cali’s pediatric home care. In addition, the Guardian Angel annual Christmas party provided gifts for Dimitra’s four children.

—Dimitra


M otherReallyKnows Best

Community Commitmentto Those Who Are Poor

Justice IntegrityCourage

MERCY MEDICAL

Cali, now seven months old, shows little evidence of her birth deformity. Dimitra pursued the best care for her baby with the support of Mercy Medical’s Guardian Angel program.

Below: Cali, after her surgery in Atlanta.

Kristina’s story began in 2002. She was 21, unmarried and pregnant, with a good job and an apartment; but eight months into her pregnancy she was laid off, then evicted.

My heart was here at St. James Mercy.I wanted to share, help and do what I could ...

like paying it forward.“ ”

Kristina sought help at Catholic Charities where she learned of the Almond House—a St. James Mercy Hospital (Hornell, N.Y.) transitional housing program for single mothers—and the hospital’s MOMS (Medicaid, Obstetrical and Maternal Services) prenatal program for low-income women.

Kristina moved into the Almond House two weeks before her son was born. “I had things that I needed there,” said Kristina. “It was comfort-able and safe ... a clean slate ... a chance.”

After Caleb’s birth, Kristina wanted to go to college.

“There were a lot of choices of what I could study,” she said. ”But in the first semester I knew that I wanted to get a human services degree.”

Her curriculum included an internship with the MOMS program, helping women who had many of the same challenges she had faced.

“I wanted to give something back, because St. James was important to me,” said Kristina.

Kristina lived at the Almond House for three years, during which time she finished her associate’s degree and met her husband-to-be. They married, had another son, and moved into their own home.

Kristina landed a job at WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, and became a certified lactation consultant. She then decided she wanted to pursue a bachelor’s degree, which included another internship with the MOMS program.

“My heart was here at St. James Mercy. I felt a connection,” she said. “I wanted to share, help and do what I could ... like paying it forward.”

An opportunity surfaced to teach breastfeeding classes to new moms at St. James Mercy, and Kristina obtained the additional certification. Having completed her bachelor’s degree, more good things continued to happen.

“The week after graduation, I opened a registered day care program in my home,” she said. The business took off and is still thriving, and at night she teaches Lamaze classes for St. James Mercy.

Today, happily married with three beautiful children, Kristina reflects on how her life changed through the relationship with St. James Mercy.

“I had no place to live and now have a home and an education,” said Kristina. “My husband and I have a wonderful relationship, and the children have everything they need. I don’t think I could give back enough for the chances I was given and the help I received from the MOMS program and the Almond House. It was a very enriching experi-ence, every way you look at it.”

—Kristina


ST. JAMES MERCY HOSPITAL

Stewardship Reverence Communityfor Each Person

JusticeCourage

Kristina (back) believes in paying it forward to help others, as she demonstrates with her Lamaze students.

Paying ItForward

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to the early detection of breast cancer. But for many women, like Lisa, a lack of health insurance prevents them from receiving life-saving mammography screenings.

Everyone treated me with such respect andwent out of their way to make me feel comfortable.

I can’t thank them enough for putting me at ease and calming my fears.

“”

After losing her health insurance following a divorce, the 49-year-old mother of two grown daughters hadn’t had a mammogram in three years.

It was then she spotted an article in the local paper about a free breast cancer screening program at Catholic Health’s Sisters of Charity Hospital, Buffalo, N.Y. The screening program is a joint project between Sisters Hospital and the Erie County Cancer Services Program (CSP), and provides free mammograms for uninsured women. Over the last few years, Catholic Health’s three hospitals have teamed up with CSP to provide dozens of free mammograms to area women.

“The funny thing is, my mother read the same article and immediately called me,” said Lisa, a dental assistant who lives outside Buffalo. “Somehow, we both saw the article, and while I didn’t realize it at the time, I was very

lucky we were reading the paper that day.”

Lisa called to make an appointment for the free mammography screening, but didn’t know what to expect that day. Would it be crowded? Would she have to wait a long time? How would she be treated once she got there? Would the staff look down on her because she didn’t have insurance?

From the moment she walked in the door, her fears were immediately gone.

“Everyone treated me with such respect and went out of their way to make me feel comfortable,” she said. “Everything went smoothly and the staff was great. I can’t thank them enough for putting me at ease and calming my fears.”

Following her mammogram, Lisa was told she had a mass on her breast and needed further testing, which was also covered through the program.

“That’s news no one likes to hear, but fortunately for me it was caught early and all my care was covered,” she added. Lisa was diagnosed with stage I breast cancer and following a lumpec-tomy and radiation, she is doing fine.

Today, one year later, she feels great and looks forward to spending time with her two-year-old granddaughter.

“I don’t know what would have happened if I didn’t receive a mammo-gram that day,” said Lisa. “I’m extremely grateful to everyone at Sisters Hospital and the Erie County Cancer Services Program for giving me the care I needed.”

—Lisa


E xpanding Access to Care for Uninsured Women


JusticeCourage Integrity

CATHOLIC HEALTH

Lisa, a breast cancer survivor, visits with Maryann Cotroneo, R.T.(M), lead mammography tech at the Piver Center for Women’s Health and Wellness at Sisters of Charity Hospital.

After living under a bridge and in a church graveyard, Kimberly now has a home, peace of mind and hope for the future.

Having my own place gives me peace of mindand makes me appreciate life again.“ ”

At 43, Kimberly is a sensitive, artistic, caring person who enjoys reading, art, music, watching TV, taking care of animals and plants, and helping others. Upon meeting her, one can only imagine the experiences behind the intensity of her gaze.

Kimberly learned early on to be independent and resourceful—and a survivor. She had a difficult and abusive home life, dropping out of high school after tenth grade and leaving home at 16. Following relationship and health issues, she became homeless. Living on the streets for 27 years has shaped her life immeasurably.

Until recently, Kimberly made her home under the Rachel Carson Bridge, steps away from Pittsburgh’s vibrant business and cultural districts. Two years prior, she slept in Trinity Cathedral’s historic burial grounds, downtown. The stress of living outside took a toll on her physical, mental and emotional health.

Operation Safety Net®, part of Pittsburgh Mercy Health System and sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, engaged Kimberly on the street and connected her to housing at the Trail Lane Apartments, its new housing-first, safe haven residential facility for individuals who previously were chronically homeless.

In October 2011, case managers proudly presented Kimberly with the keys to her new home: a bright, cheerful, private one bedroom apart-ment with a spacious living area, kitchenette and spectacular views of the city.

The Trail Lane Apartments were made possible by a $1.6 million HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) Continuum of Care grant and a $351,500 grant from McAuley Ministries, the grantmaking arm of Pittsburgh Mercy Health System.

Kimberly said the apartment has given her a home and more importantly, hope for the future.

“Having my own place gives me peace of mind and makes me appreciate life again,” said Kimberly, who lives with

mental illness. “I’m more content now. I laugh more. I feel safe again.”

In addition to receiving ongoing case management and social services, Kimberly now has improved access to integrated physical and behavioral health care services. She has made new friends and is taking steps toward recovery. She takes medication for depression and anxiety, and is attending a support group for persons with addiction.

Kimberly has plans for the future. She hopes to visit her brother in Florida, and she would like to volunteer at an animal shelter. Eventually, she would also like to get a pet of her own.

Kimberly considers herself blessed. “I pray every day that others like me are given strength, help and hope,” she said.

—Kimberly


PITTSBURGH MERCY HEALTH SYSTEM


Justice Integrity

After living on the streets for 27 years, Kimberly relaxes in her new home at Operation Safety Net’s Trail Lane Apartments.

T here’sNo PlaceLike Home

Carmen looks forward to each new day with joy and optimism, and she credits her new outlook to the support, guidance and compassion she received from clinicians at the Mercy Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) program in Springfield, Mass.

Carmen’s remarkable turnaround reflects the successof our multidisciplinary team who ... understand

that the most important decision-maker in apatient’s care is the patient.

“”

In June 2011, 50-year-old Carmen pushed her fears aside and presented at the Mercy HCH clinic with health concerns regarding hypertension and diabetes—conditions left untreated because she did not have health insurance.

Over the next several months, Carmen met and established strong relationships with members of the Mercy HCH team, developing trust and the desire to follow through with medical appointments. They also helped her apply for health insurance.

Carmen came to realize that her previously undiagnosed behavioral health issues had led her into a destructive pattern of drug and alcohol abuse. With this new under-standing, “It was as if a light came on for the first time,” she said.

Now ready to make the necessary changes, Carmen completed a detox program and has remained clean and sober. She continues to meet with a Mercy HCH therapist for her anxiety and other behavioral health issues, takes medication to control her

diabetes and hypertension, participates in an educational program and main-tains a small apartment.

Most importantly, Carmen has recon-nected with her family after years of estrangement. She now looks forward to spending holidays with her children and babysitting her grandchildren.

Carmen’s success story is not only the result of her own determination to improve her life, it is also due in large part to the caring members of the Mercy HCH team, who patiently worked to establish trust and provided treatment for each element of her case.

“As clinicians, we know there is no substitute for being ‘present’ for our patients during their journey,” said

Mollie Bresnahan, licensed mental health counselor for Mercy HCH. “Carmen’s remarkable turnaround reflects the success of our multidisciplinary team, dedicated and insightful providers who are present with her on her journey and understand that the most important decision-maker in a patient’s care is the patient himself or herself.”

Mercy Medical Center, part of the Sisters of Providence Health System, is the cornerstone of the Mercy Health Care for the Homeless program, providing laboratory, imaging and inpatient services to clients. Mercy HCH nurse practitioners are credentialed and have on-staff privileges at the hospital; and Mercy’s emergency room provides back-up during hours when the program’s staff is unavailable.

—Mollie Bresnahan, LMHC


T eam Effort That Makes a Difference


JusticeCourage Integrity

SISTERS OF PROVIDENCE HEALTH SYSTEM

Mollie Bresnahan, LMHC (left), and Carmen with Geraldine Kennedy, R.N., M.S., FNP (standing).

McAuley Residence has provided Nadine, 32, with the gracious space to solidify her sobriety and develop the skills necessary to flourish as a professional woman and exceptional mother.

With the support of the McAuley staff, I was able to explore my career options. I now have a job that I

enjoy and I look forward to building this career and perhaps even going to graduate school.

“”

Yet, almost three years ago, she was homeless.

A heroin addict, Nadine had lost custody of her one-year-old daughter, Scarlett. Trying to get her life back on track, she transitioned from a local substance abuse facility to McAuley Residence with just a few months of sobriety under her belt.

Today, Nadine has been sober for over two years, which she credits in part to the critical support provided by McAuley Residence early in her recovery.

“McAuley gave me the support, sense of community, and time to fully develop my personal recovery path,” said Nadine.

While living at Mercy Health System of Maine’s McAuley Residence in Portland, women are provided with safe, sober housing and a comprehen-sive program that includes life skills training, education and career development opportunities, substance abuse treatment at Mercy’s Recovery Center, mental health counseling, individualized parenting coaching,

and mentoring as a means towards developing emotional and financial self-sufficiency.

During her stay at McAuley Residence, Nadine has been actively involved in a substance abuse treatment program and within the recovery community attend-ing both Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. She was reunited with her daughter while there and became actively engaged in school, treatment and parenting.

Nadine is now working for Opportunity Alliance, Inc., in support of parents who have open cases with the Department of Health and Human Services. She has also worked with a financial mentor from a local bank to open an account

and take control of her family’s financial future.

“When I first came to McAuley, I had no idea what kind of career I wanted,” said Nadine. “All I knew is that I didn’t want to go back to what I had done in the past.”

Soon, Nadine and Scarlett will transition to their own home and continue to build upon the foundation laid at McAuley Residence.

“With the support of the McAuley staff, I was able to explore my career options,” Nadine said. “I now have a job that I enjoy and I look forward to building this career and perhaps even going to graduate school.”

—Nadine


MERCY HEALTH SYSTEM OF MAINE


IntegrityJustice

Nadine has taken an active role in her education and planning for her and daughter Scarlett’s financial future; and she hopes to someday possibly go to graduate school.

G raciousSpace atMcAuleyResidence

Barely 19, Priscilla was pregnant and alone. Without a high school diploma and no job, she found herself homeless.

It isn’t always easy. But I knowin the end it will be worth it.“ ”

“I bounced around for a while, going from one shelter or friend’s house to another,” Priscilla said. “I just couldn’t get the help that I needed to move forward in my life.”

This was until she was referred to the Mother Bachmann Maternity Center at St. Mary Medical Center.

Working in collaboration with other social service organizations, the Mother Bachmann Maternity Center, located in Bensalem, Pa., offers vital social services including parenting skills, educational counseling, employ-ment readiness and emergency housing. It is a hub for services that include prenatal and delivery care, breastfeeding guidance, postpartum depression screenings, nutrition education and financial counseling.

“The Mother Bachmann Center is a prime example of charitable organiza-tions and community groups coming together to address an important issue with effective local solutions,” said Michael Fitzpatrick, U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania’s 8th District, in a speech honoring the Center from the floor of the House of Representatives.

Priscilla delivered her son, Brandyn, at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, Pa. Through the St. Mary Homeless Program, they are now temporarily housed in one of the 26 apartments St. Mary rents for families who find themselves homeless.

“Once I knew Brandyn and I were safe in our own apartment, I was able to think about my future,” said Priscilla. “With the help of the people at St. Mary, I came up with a budget and a plan for my education.”

Priscilla was guided by the social worker at Mother Bachmann to apply for paralegal studies at Bucks County Community College. She was accepted, has been able to juggle school and motherhood, and soon will move on to more permanent transitional housing.

“With the guidance of many committed professionals, Priscilla has succeeded in accomplishing many goals she has set forth for herself,” said Gwen Lejambre, L.S.W., M.S.W., social worker at the Mother Bachmann Maternity Center. “She has earned her GED and is now in her second semester of college. Priscilla has exceeded her academic abilities and is excelling in all her classes.”

In October 2011, the Mother Bachmann Maternity Center celebrated its 20th anniversary of providing comprehensive maternity care to uninsured, low-income women. Its success is measured through the accomplishments of the women who access the Center’s services.

“It isn’t always easy,” said Priscilla. “But I know in the end it will be worth it. I have about another year before I finish my education and can work full time as a paralegal.”

—Priscilla


G iving Mothersand Babies aHealthy Startto a New Life


IntegrityCourage Justice

ST. MARY MEDICAL CENTER

Brandyn’s smile fills Priscilla’s heart with love and hope, thanks in part to the Mother Bachmann Center at St. Mary Medical Center.

Pregnant with her second child, 24-year-old Kimberly was living in a homeless shelter with her 16-month-old son, Isaiah, when she first heard about the Addiction Recovery Center for Hope (ARCH) at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, N.Y.

Having our own place and being able to enjoy the normal freedom of life is very important to me. My future plans include going back to school to finish

my education.“

”

“I was living in the shelter for three months due to family reasons and knew I didn’t want to raise my son there,” she said. “When I heard about ARCH, I decided to participate.” The ARCH program, based in the heart of downtown Albany, is a collaborative program between three organizations to support homeless women and their families: St. Peter’s Addiction Recovery Center (SPARC), St. Catherine’s Center for Children and ClearView Center, Inc. Many homeless women and their children are living in shelters, local hotels or “doubling up”—living with relatives and friends—because they don’t have a place of their own. “Some of the issues leading to homelessness—besides extreme poverty—include substance abuse, trauma, mental illness, limited education, limited family support, intimate partner abuse, lack of transportation and childcare,” said Mary Richmond, L.M.S.W., a social worker with SPARC. “Women agree to participate in this voluntary, one-year program and receive an array of

support services so that they can successfully live on their own again.” Finding a home for homeless families is just the beginning. Families often need support structures in place to prevent a return to homelessness. That’s where the ARCH case manager comes in. The case manager helps participants with all aspects of their recovery process, including: searching for housing and employment, finding transportation, navigating the Department of Social Services, negotiating with landlords, securing childcare, assisting with meal planning and food shopping, and helping participants get to doctor appointments.

The ARCH program also offers therapeu-tic groups that address trauma issues as well as workshops on housing and employment, effective communication skills, prenatal yoga, and emotional healing. Now into year three of a five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Public Health and Human Services, the ARCH program has helped over 150 families. Kim is glad to have her own apartment and that her son has his own room. “Having our own place and being able to enjoy the normal freedom of life is very important to me,” said Kim. “My future plans include going back to school to finish my education.”

—Kim


ST. PETER’S HEALTH PARTNERS


IntegrityJustice

ARCH participant Kim is glad to have her own apartment and that her son, 16-month-old Isaiah, has his own room.

A Home of Our Own

A carpenter is only as good as his tools, they say. And a Global Health Ministry medical team is only as good as its supplies!

It was humbling and amazing that something so simple could significantly impact this

man’s function, safety and dignity.“ ”Each year, Global Health Ministry (GHM) recruits volunteers from across Catholic Health East for mission teams that travel to Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica and Peru. Each location that GHM visits has unique needs that require specific skills and resources.

GHM asks monumental things of its volunteers. Each year, they fill a 2,250 square foot container for Peru and volunteers carry 1,000 to 2,500 pounds of medicines and supplies with them. CHE member hospitals provide a majority of these supplies and materials. It is this generosity that allows GHM teams to provide quality care.

The following story is one example of the over 6,000 patients cared for each year.

Emmanuel was crippled, in pain and hobbling around the hardscrabble roads of northern Haiti on a self-fashioned walking stick. It was too long for his height, not very sturdy, and without a rubber tip to prevent slipping. When he shuffled into the GHM clinic site in Haiti, they had what he needed.

Janet Constantino, R.N., CRNP, a GHM board member, was there when

he arrived. In addition to addressing his medical needs, she quickly identified his need for an assistive device to facilitate his walking. She sent him to see Melinda Johnson, a physical therapist from Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, Darby, Pa., who evaluated him, fit him with the walker, and instructed him in its use.

“When I saw Emmanuel’s frail bent frame struggling to walk—even with his stick and assistance, I knew this walker was meant just for him,” said Johnson. “It was humbling and amazing that something so simple could significantly impact this man’s function, safety and dignity. Watching him walk with a newfound freedom was rewarding and his smile was priceless.”

Global Health Ministry always seems to have what is needed—from volunteers with clinical expertise to the right

antibiotic for an infant with pneumonia or a brace for a deformed foot.

Whether it is a wheelchair for a child with cerebral palsy or Tylenol® to relieve someone’s pain … whether it is medicine to treat parasites and wound care bandages for chronic leg ulcers, or vitamins to supplement the diet of the poor … it is all there because CHE members generously respond and provide GHM with what it needs. And donated funds from CHE colleagues through payroll deductions and ‘Globe Bank’ collections also help support GHM allowing for much-needed follow up care.

Many thanks go to the combined generosity of our Catholic Health East members for the donated time, talent and resources to benefit the poor in developing countries.

—Melinda Johnson


T he Right Care with the Right Supplies in the Right Place

Community Justice Commitmentto Those Who Are Poor

Courage ReverenceFor Each Person

GLOBAL HEALTH MINISTRY

Melinda Johnson holds the stick for Emmanuel while he tries his new walker. “Watching him walk with a newfound freedom was rewarding and his smile was priceless,” said Johnson.

Jeff, 65, has been using the services of the St. Clare Medical Outreach Van for his medical care since 2006. He represents the growing disparity in health care during our tough economic times.

I felt so relieved that I was treated with such compassion, dignity and understanding of my condition. I knew right

away I was being cared for by people who truly cared about the service they are providing.

“”

In 2001, Jeff found himself suddenly facing unemployment after a lifetime of dedication to architectural work. Due to his age he quickly learned competing for work would be difficult. But his main concern was how he would care for himself without health insurance, especially since he was already dealing with multiple chronic health problems including diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol.

“I never imagined myself being in this situation,” said Jeff.

Jeff tried for a while to maintain his COBRA health insurance coverage, but found this almost impossible to preserve at such a high cost. On his first visit to the St. Clare Medical Outreach Van, he described a humbling feeling. Having seen the van come around his community for many years, he never thought he would one day require its services.

The St. Clare Medical Outreach Van is a full-service doctor’s office on wheels. A service of St. Francis Hospital, the van travels the streets of Wilmington, Del., delivering medical care to people

who are homeless, poor and/or uninsured. Over the years, more than 80,000 patient visits have been conducted from the van. Each day, the staff vaccinates children who are uninsured, dispenses medications for people with prescriptions they cannot afford to fill, and provides ongoing medications for people with chronic illnesses and acute medical problems.

Jeff said he felt humility and appreciation at the same time, standing on the street waiting to be seen for the first time.

Jeff’s emotional distress and difficulties dealing with his situation caused his medical conditions to worsen. When he first visited the van he did not know what to expect.

“I felt so relieved that I was treated with

such compassion, dignity and under-standing of my condition,” he said. “I knew right away I was being cared for by people who truly cared about the service they are providing.”

Jeff has continued receiving his medical care through the St. Clare Medical Outreach Van. His medical conditions have improved with treatment and he is thankful that he is now able to apply for Medicare and continue his treatments through St. Francis Hospital’s outpatient clinics.

Jeff is truly thankful for the care he has received through the St. Clare Medical Outreach Van; and he is appreciative of St. Francis Hospital’s mission to help those less fortunate … without prejudice to their circumstances.

—Jeff


ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL

Stewardship Courage Justice Integrity

Jeff (right) and Oswaldo Nicastro, M.D., medical director of the St. Clare Medical Outreach Van, catch up at St. Francis Hospital.

A ccess to Health Care for All Persons

ReverenceFor Each Person

Peg Nucero, R.N., M.S.N., FNP-BC, has been a nurse practitioner with St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton, N.J., for 17 years. Her role with the Comprehensive Care Program (CCP) affords her the opportunity to focus on patients with chronic illness in the community.

Every day I give thanks to God, Peg, theComprehensive Care Program team and my caregivers. I have

a new home now and I am so grateful.“ ”This program has enabled St. Francis Medical Center to reach people who otherwise might never have access to health care. The CCP works with the Trenton Health Team, a community collaborative committed to improving the health of the residents of Trenton.

In January 2011, Peg began visiting TASK, the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, which has been providing meals and additional services to needy people in Trenton since 1982. Before long, the participants of TASK were drawn to Peg’s tender smile and gentle care. They eagerly awaited her arrival each week. On one visit, Peg found Tom waiting for her.

Tom, who lived in a tent by a local bridge, had visited TASK every day for over 12 years. One day he wasn’t feeling well and approached Peg. She was alarmed when his blood pressure registered 250/180.

Peg called for an ambulance to transport him to St. Francis where he was diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which required surgery and a lengthy hospital stay.

Today Tom believes that God led him to Peg in order to save his life. When his surgeon told him he was “one lucky man” Tom responded, “God took care of me through Peg. She is a beautiful woman and a sweetheart. She saved my life.”

During Tom’s hospital stay, his positive attitude and unassuming nature endeared him to the nursing and social service staff. When his kidneys failed, the staff knew that he would need additional services.

They procured his birth certificate and, with the help of the Trenton Social Security Administration, Tom had insurance coverage for the first time in years. A hospital social worker was then able to get Tom into a local nursing home where he currently receives dialysis three times a week. Tom’s discharge from St. Francis Medical Center was an emotional one for all. The staff lined the hallways, applauding and rejoicing in his recovery and his future.

When he was asked how he compared his new home to his tent under the local bridge, Tom responded, “I felt close to God and nature in the tent; it was my home. But every day I give thanks to God, Peg, the Comprehensive Care Program team and my caregivers. I have a new home now and I am so grateful.”

—Tom


P erson-Centered Care Makes a Difference


Courage ReverenceFor Each Person

Tom, a participant in St. Francis Medical Center’s Comprehensive Care Program, is pictured with Peg Nucero, R.N., whom he says ‘saved my life.”

ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER

In 2011, the American Cancer Society (ACS) estimated that 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 57,650 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer would be diagnosed among women in the U.S.; and more than 39,250 women were expected to die from breast cancer.

It was very nice to know that someonewho also had cancer not only was still living,

but continued to help others.“ ”The good news is that in 2011, there were more than 2.6 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. That is the statistic that Mary is interested in—because she counts herself among that group.

In 2007, Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer. While she lay in a hospital bed at St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital in Tampa, Fla., recovering from surgery, she was visited by one of the hospital’s Reach to Recovery volunteers.

Reach to Recovery, an ACS program, and St. Joseph’s Hospital, part of BayCare Health System in Clearwater, Fla., work together to train hospital staff and volunteers to be Reach to Recovery volunteers. This program ensures immediate contact and support to patients to assist them during their cancer treatment and recovery process.

Initially funded by a grant from Allegany Franciscan Ministries, St. Joseph’s in-house Reach to Recovery volunteers are breast cancer survivors who have fully adjusted to their breast cancer surgery and/or treatment experience. They serve as role models and offer patients empathy, support

and hope. Since its inception in 2006, Reach to Recovery has served more than 1,000 patients.

The volunteer who visited Mary was very comforting.

“It was very nice to know that someone who also had cancer not only was still living, but continued to help others,” Mary said.

Patients receive a free gift bag including educational material, local and national resources with telephone numbers and website addresses, a pillow to put under the seat belt for the ride home, a ‘softie’ prosthesis and an apron with pockets to hold surgical drains.

“She made me feel special and relaxed, psychologically and emotionally,” Mary said. She was touched by the volunteer’s thoughtfulness, gentleness and quiet demeanor.

The experience made such an impact on Mary that when she received an e-mail this year saying that St. Joseph’s in-house Reach to Recovery was recruit-ing volunteers, she signed up.

“God has blessed me with health,” she said. “I get to see life after cancer. It will be a betterment to give as I have received.”

Visiting patients is not new to Mary. She has served as a pastoral care volunteer since 2002, ministering to patients in St. Joseph’s Hospitals. As an ACS Reach to Recovery volunteer, she draws on this experience as well as her memories as a patient being reassured by a breast cancer survivor.

As a five-year breast cancer survivor, Mary is still a little uncertain. “Every day holds surprises,” she said. “I walk more softly and I never want to lose the wonder of a child.”

—Mary


BAYCARE HEALTH SYSTEM

Courage Justice Integrity

Reach to Recovery volunteer Mary (second from left) shadows Ronda Buffington, R.N., O.C.N., St. Joseph’s Hospital’s community outreach resource nurse, during a visit to a patient.

R each toRecovery

Stewardship Reverencefor Each Person

Help finally came … in the form of a 53-foot-long semi trailer, which pulled into a parking lot on the main street of town. Curious residents came to see the big truck painted along the sides with faces like theirs.

The women at the Northern Moore FamilyResource Center told me the big truck was coming. They said

the truck would bring medical help.“ ”The St. Joseph of the Pines (SJP) mobile clinic is an 18-wheel tractor-trailer with two exam rooms, an office, a storage area for food and clothing, and an area to display wellness information and health education. Through a partnership with the Moore Free Care Clinic, the mobile clinic travels to rural communi-ties in Moore County each month to provide health care services to those who cannot access care.

On this day, the trailer stopped in Robbins, N.C.

Once a prosperous mill town, Robbins has not recovered since the mill closed years ago. There are no jobs, no social services, no medical services and no cultural opportunities for those without medical insurance or transportation to travel 30 miles to the southern part of the county where industry and commerce abound.

On that first day, Maria, 43, was one of the curious.

“The women at the Northern Moore Family Resource Center told me the big truck was coming,” Maria stated. “They said the truck would bring medical help.”

Lynne Drinkwater, a St. Joseph of the Pines (Southern Pines, N.C.) associate, had told the crowd, “Yes, we are here to help. We have partnered with the Moore Free Clinic to provide medical services to those with no access to health care. The Coalition for Human Care is here to provide nonperishable food and assistance with utility bills for those in emergency situations. We are here—and we will come back every month.”

Maria left … only to return with her friends.

“It was true.” Maria said. “So often help is promised to our community—help for

the homeless, the people who are out of work and have no insurance or money to pay for medical assistance.”

Since then, Maria has come back each time the mobile unit has visited Robbins. She interprets, distributes flyers to local markets and speaks at her church about the services. She asks for nothing in return but blankets to keep her family warm and a coat to keep out the winter chill.

Maria, herself, had not been to a doctor in three years or a dentist in eight years. She will be one of the first patients of the SJP dental program when it begins in late spring.

The rural communities in Moore County are full of people like Maria. The SJP mobile clinic is one way it can live the legacy of the Sisters of Providence and serve those least able to speak to their own needs.

—Maria


B ringingHope and Health Care to the Community


Courage Stewardship

Above: Dr. James Tart, a retired cardiologist and volunteer for the St. Joseph of the Pines mobile clinic, laughs during an encounter with Maria and her husband, Angel.

At right: Maria (right) translates for a Spanish-speaking patient.

ST. JOSEPH OF THE PINES

When St. Mary’s Health Care System, Athens, Ga., donated $60,000 and thousands of volunteer hours to Athens Area Habitat for Humanity, the staff did not know they would be helping Jane* climb out of homelessness.

This has given me a chance to restore my life.I don’t have to live in an environment that says I’m a failure.

I feel good about my life and I’m ready to go out into the community and get to work again.

“”

Just a few years ago, Jane, a well-educated woman nearing 60, lived comfortably in a large suburban home. Then came a divorce in which she lost her health insurance, followed by a knee injury. Doctors diagnosed her with MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) as her health unraveled.

Aggressive treatment saved her leg; but uninsured and too sick to work, she had to accept charity care, much of it provided by St. Mary’s. Worse, with only a small disability check for income, she lost her home and could not afford even the cheapest apart-ment. So Jane found herself homeless.

“I lived at the Salvation Army shelter for two months while I tried to save money for a deposit,” said Jane. Then an acquaintance offered to let her stay in a spare bedroom of her apartment. Jane accepted, but found the apart-ment complex terrifying and demean-ing.

“There were drug deals going down in the parking lot,” she said. “It was 100 degrees in the shade and it took me 20 minutes to get to the bus stop

with my walker. It was all I could do not to give up.”

What kept her going was a phone call from Habitat saying her application had been approved for one of the apart-ments St. Mary’s was helping to convert into safe, affordable housing. It would be ready in two months.

“I never expected Habitat to call back,” Jane said. “Whatever your problem is in life, there is an answer. You just have to roll up your sleeves and ask for help.”

Today, Jane walks proudly through her apartment, which she has filled with her own beautiful artwork as well as

furnishings from thrift stores and a welcome basket from St. Mary’s. She is now converting one room into an art studio, and is preparing to start job-hunting.

“I love it here!” she said beaming. “It’s a wonderful apartment, in a safe, beautiful community. This has given me is a chance to restore my life. I don’t have to live in a scary place, surrounded by scary people, in an environment that says I’m a failure. My health is improving. I feel good about my life and I’m ready to go out into the community and get to work again.”

* Name changed to protect her identity

—Jane


ST. MARY’S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

Courage Justice Integrity

H omeSweetHome

StewardshipReverencefor Each Person

Top: Jane surveys her beautifully decorated apartment provided through Habitat for Humanity with donations and support from St. Mary’s Health Care System.

Right: St. Mary’s social worker Monesia Kpana helps renovate Jane’s apartment complex .

Beginning in 2004, Catholic Health East redesigned its process for system-wide capital allocation and established a Capital Management Council to conduct the yearly capital distribution process throughout our regional health corporations (RHCs).

After the first round of funding, council members recommended: capital projects focused on caring for those who are poor should receive special consideration during the annual capital allocation process. The decision was made to allocate one million dollars each year to fund deserving local projects and initiatives that addressed this population.

Thus, CHE’s Heritage Fund was born.

Our Core Value of Commitment to Those Who Are Poor requires that we give priority to those whom society ignores. Funding projects that focus on caring for this population also supports our Mission to be “a community of persons committed to being a transforming, healing presence within the communities we serve.”

The guiding principle of the Heritage Fund—funding projects that help care for those who are poor—allows us to fulfill this mission by seeking ways to assure access to care and services for persons most in need. In doing so, CHE simultaneously supports its other Core Values of Reverence for Each Person, Community, Justice, Stewardship, Courage and Integrity.

Each year, RHCs submit proposals based on the existing Heritage Fund guidelines. The submitted proposals are collected, ranked and proposed to the CHE Mission Council, comprised of local RHC mission executives. During the deliberation process, priority is given to programs that serve those who are economically poor, and to deserving programs that could not be funded by an RHC due to lack of resources. The Mission Council then submits its recommended programs to the Capital Management Council, which in turn ratifies the proposed allocations.

Since its 2006 inception, the Heritage Fund has received over 100 applications from our

RHCs and has awarded over six million dollars in grants.

The Mercy Community, West Hartford, Conn., has received four Heritage Fund grants over the years. One of the most powerful transformations made through one of these grants was the building of a new library for the residents at Saint Mary Home and Frances Warde Towers apartments. The 2009 award of over $37,000 makes it possible for residents to travel outside of their apartment walls, become educated and feel enriched in a new commu-nity space.

“Since the resident library opened, the lives of all 97 residents have changed,” said Sr. Maureen Reardon, R.S.M., Ph.D., senior vice president, mission services and compliance. “They are reconnected with family members and friends through e-mails. Their free time has acquired a meaning and purpose which instills a sense of belief in themselves and desire to advance their lives.”

For the Outreach to Churches program at Nazareth Hospital, a member of Mercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania, a $27,000 grant helped to purchase medical screening equipment, paired with educational sessions, to be housed at nearby churches and synagogues.

“Partnerships with these churches and synagogues have provided numerous opportu-nities to extend our health care ministry to persons who might otherwise not have access to such services,” said Lisa Curry, R.N., community outreach manager.

Sisters of Providence Health System, Springfield, Mass., received $75,000 in 2010 for capital expenses related to the health clinic that Mercy Medical Center operates for Friends of the Homeless Resource Center, the largest homeless service provider in Western Massa-

chusetts. The 2,200-square-foot facility provides homeless adults with greater access to primary care services, and provides staff with the space necessary to conduct on-site exams, lab work, consultations and patient education.

“Our patients just felt so special there,” said Doreen Fadus, executive director of commu-nity health, Mercy Medical Center. “That really wouldn’t have happened unless we were able to put new, clean, professional, state-of-the-art equipment in there, thanks to the Heritage Fund. It has changed the world for us.”

In 2010, St. James Mercy Hospital in Hornell, N.Y., received an $81,000 grant to enable its Sister René Dental Center to provide enhanced dental services for those who are poor. The grant enabled the center to accom-modate more patients and assist them in the form of ongoing dental care, preventive maintenance and oral hygiene. The center used part of the funds to renovate its space, update equipment and purchase dental chairs.

Global Health Ministry had been working to support Hospital St. Francis de Sales in Port-au-Prince, Haiti since 2007 in its efforts to update equipment and facilities so it could continue its mission to serve the poorest of the poor. On January 12, 2010, the earthquake that ravaged Haiti destroyed most of the hospital. In 2011, the decision was made to devote the entire year’s Heritage Fund allocation to Global Health Ministry to help it rebuild this hospital.

“This generous action set the stage for additional donors to step up and respond to helping Hospital St. Francis de Sales,” said Sr. Mary Jo McGinley, R.S.M., executive director, Global Health Ministry. “To date, over $10 million in contributions from Catholic health systems across the nation has been committed to this worthy cause.” Construction of the new hospital is expected to be completed in 2014.

“I am so proud to be part of an organization that makes this type of commitment to those most in need,” said Sr. Mary Persico, I.H.M., CHE’s executive vice president, mission integration. “In addition to all of the wonderful community benefit programs and services offered by every one of our ministries, the Heritage Fund allows us to support a few additional, vitally important and well-deserving initiatives each year. It is a blessing for us to be able to extend the healing touch of our caregivers and volunteers to the most disadvantaged in our society.”


T he Heritage Fund:Extending CHE’s Healing Touch to Those Most in Need


C atholicHealth EastOverview & Statistics

Cost of Care for the Poor includes the cost of charity care granted in the provision of care for uninsured patients who qualify for free care, uninsured patients who qualify for discounts and low-income underinsured patients who qualify for discounted or forgiven charges for amounts that are the patient’s responsibility.

Cost of Community Benefit Programs includes community health education such as classes, support groups, and self-help programs; community-based clinical services such as screenings, one-time or

occasional clinics, free clinics and mobile clinics; health care support services; cash, grants and in-kind goods and services donated without compensation; and volunteer service hours of health system employees.

Unpaid Costs of Medicaid Programs includes shortfalls related to Medicaid, State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP), public and/or indigent care (medical programs for low-income or medically indigent patients) and local and state government programs that reimburse health care providers for persons not eligible for Medicaid.

Cost of Care for the Poor

Cost of Community Benefit Programs

Unpaid Costs of Medicaid Programs

TOTAL

*As of December 2011

36

1

24

10

6

8

7

7

3

6

30

7,353

48

2,873

672

869

926

264

898

165

301

1,949,959 visits

101,012,000

98,946,000

122,102,000

322,060,000

31%

31%

38%

100%

$

$

$

$

CHE’s 2011 community benefit information has been calculated and presented in accordance with the Catholic Health Association’s A Guide for Planning and Reporting Community Benefits.

Number of Facilities Staffed Beds

38%

31%

31%

Unpaid Costsof MedicaidPrograms

$122,102,000

Care forthe Poor

$101,012,000

Community Benefit Programs$98,946,000

Overview of Key Catholic Health East Services*

CommunityBenefit Cost Mix

2011

2011

2011

Acute Care Hospitals

Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals

Long-Term Care(Hospital-Based & Freestanding Facilities)

Assisted Living Facilities

Continuing Care Retirement Communities

Residential Living

Senior Low-Income Housing

PACE Programs (Enrollees)

Rehabilitation Facilities

Psychiatric and Addiction Recovery Facilities

Home Health/Hospice Agencies

3805 West Chester Pike • Suite 100Newtown Square, Pa. 19073610.355.2000 • www.che.org

Documents

Community Benefit Annual Report 2011