Partners In the Mission

What is a corporate board’s role in ensuring an ethical...

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:08:47 -0400

What is a corporate board’s role in ensuring an ethical culture?

This video has some good answers.

(via) National Association of Corporate Directors, Silicon Valley Chapter, Inc.

Nineteen Sixty-four: Ecclesial Status of Catholic Education...

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:41:36 -0400

Nineteen Sixty-four: Ecclesial Status of Catholic Education Leaders

It would be really interesting to see a similar study for Catholic healthcare leadership.

USA Today picks up on the ‘Phoenix...

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:33:00 -0400

USA Today picks up on the ‘Phoenix Situation.’

Illustration by Alejandro Gonzalez, USA TODAY

The Catholic Health Association unveils a new logo.

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 08:22:00 -0400

The Catholic Health Association unveils a new logo.

The “Phoenix Situation” has made it to NBC’s...

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:35:19 -0400

The “Phoenix Situation” has made it to NBC’s TODAY.

Can doctors be compelled to provide futile care?

Mon, 17 May 2010 09:17:03 -0400

Can doctors be compelled to provide futile care?:

Another fascinating article today - raising a number of questions:

How long does it take to make a PVS diagnosis?
Trinitas Regional Medical Center is a Catholic teaching hospital - would this case have been handled differently if it occurred after November 2009?
This article highlights the tension between physicians, medical decision makers (i.e., family) and futile care.

Let’s stay aware of the New Jersey appeals court decision.

Nun at St. Joseph's Hospital rebuked over abortion to save woman

Mon, 17 May 2010 09:00:36 -0400

Nun at St. Joseph's Hospital rebuked over abortion to save woman:

Mission Leaders: This is an incredible story that occurred at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ - a member of Catholic Healthcare West.

Should we go with the oak or pine? I’m leaning toward the...

Fri, 14 May 2010 13:56:45 -0400

Should we go with the oak or pine? I’m leaning toward the oak.

BTW, a Sister of Mercy recently shared with me the symbolism behind this “Mercy Cross” design.

Catherine McAuley experienced many tragedies growing up and found much meaning in Christ’s suffering on the cross.

She spent many years living with a protestant family who did not allow crucifixes in the home. Instead, Catherine focused her prayer on a door, specifically the cross implied by the molding.

In the Mercy cross, the smaller cross within the larger cross symbolizes our suffering in the context of Jesus’ suffering and paschal mystery.

Purchase your own Mercy Cross here.

Working With Faith

Wed, 12 May 2010 07:13:30 -0400

Last night, I got to present a talk at Theology on Tap for the Muskegon Deanery in the Diocese of Grand Rapids.

I began by referencing The Clown of God by Tomie dePaola. No matter how insignificant your work may seem, it can give glory to God.

I then referenced Laborem Exercens by sharing the three-fold spirituality of work offered by John Paul II.

Through work, you can participate in the work of the Creator
Jesus was a worker himself - a carpenter
The toil of work is best viewed in light of the paschal mystery

These were my starting points. Here’s my mind-map of the rest of my talk.

Cerberus-Caritas deal includes Catholic escape hatch - FierceHealthcare

Mon, 10 May 2010 13:53:09 -0400

Cerberus-Caritas deal includes Catholic escape hatch - FierceHealthcare

"Money is like gasoline during a road trip. You don’t want to run out of gas on your trip, but you’re..."

Tue, 04 May 2010 16:59:33 -0400

““Money is like gasoline during a road trip. You don’t want to run out of gas on your trip, but you’re not doing a tour of gas stations. You have to pay attention to money, but it shouldn’t be about the money.””

- Tim O’Reilly interviewed at INC.com

His life is a vivid demonstration that interesting things can happen when you are working for more than money.

Talk about mission integration!

/via Daring Fireball: ‘Interesting Work for Interesting People’

Running a hospital: I was wrong. I am sorry.

Tue, 04 May 2010 09:11:53 -0400

Running a hospital: I was wrong. I am sorry.:

Robert Quinn would call this “Embracing the Hypocritical Self.”

Can profitability and religious mission be integrated?

Mon, 03 May 2010 16:17:43 -0400

Can profitability and religious mission be integrated?:

Yes.

But what do we mean by profit?

Usually, we think of profit as money going into the pockets of CEOs and stockholders. Hospitals with a religious mission must be profitable too! The difference here is that the money that would otherwise go straight into the pockets of a few people goes into community benefit programs that support the stakeholders of the hospital - the members of the community, especially the poor and vulnerable.

/via FierceHealthcare

(via) Captain Integrity

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:24:17 -0400

(via) Captain Integrity

"When illness strikes, family is whoever shows up – and stays."

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:35:00 -0400

“When illness strikes, family is whoever shows up – and stays.”

- Bioethics Forum - President Obama’s Groundbreaking Order on Hospital Visitation and Decision-making

The Hastings Center blog addresses the Obama memo re: hospital visitation and considers a few areas I didn’t think of:

Joint Commission Standards - RI.01.01.01, elements Y & Z

HIPAA

Also, Carol Levine offers a great definition of family.

I’ve made it back home from the 2010 HCCA Compliance Institute. My eyes have been opened to...

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:18:57 -0400

I’ve made it back home from the 2010 HCCA Compliance Institute. My eyes have been opened to the world of health care compliance.

This prayer seems particularly appropriate:

Also, “the grassy knoll” and Dealey Plaza were in view from my hotel window. I got to visit the Sixth Floor Museum - hence the above photo from the JFK Library.

I’m on my way to Dallas for the 2010 Health Care...

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 07:02:00 -0400

I’m on my way to Dallas for the 2010 Health Care Compliance Association Compliance Institute.

I may get the chance to meet Captain Integrity…

Presidential Memorandum - Hospital Visitation

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:56:12 -0400

Presidential Memorandum - Hospital Visitation:

President Obama issued this memorandum yesterday to the Secretary of Health and Human Services directing the HHS to ensure that hospitals participating in Medicare and Medicaid respect the rights of patients to designate visitors.

In my experience of Catholic healthcare, this has not been much of a concern. We call out core values of respect and compassion. Respecting the wishes of our patients to designate visitors is right in line with these values and our practice.

In reflecting on this memo, I noticed a few interesting points.

The press is picking up on the LGBT angle of this memo. But, before any mention of gay or lesbian Americans, Obama references members of religious orders who are sometimes unable to designate visitors or a medical decision maker other than their immediate family.
I think the more interesting point in this memo is around the “guarantee that all patients’ advance directives … are respected…” I wonder if this could be a response to much of the popular reaction around the recent revision of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.
This memo may make it easier to name durable powers of attorney or health care proxies. Will this result in new informed consent or advance directive policies?

The memo indicates a response within 180 days. We’ll see what happens in October.

Catholic journal says Plan B does not cause abortions

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 08:31:36 -0400

Catholic journal says Plan B does not cause abortions:

The NCR follows up on this Health Progress article.

St. Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan to Close - NYTimes.com

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 08:23:00 -0400

St. Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan to Close - NYTimes.com:

After 160 years of service, the last Catholic hospital in New York City will close.

4/9/10 - Additional analysis from HealthLeaders Media