Partners In the Mission

Fr. Kevin O’Rourke, O.P. (1927-2012)

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:07:00 -0400

Fr. Kevin O’Rourke, O.P. (1927-2012)

"Q. How do you make sure people are aligned? A. Well, the companies have clear mission statements,..."

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 12:13:35 -0500

“

Q. How do you make sure people are aligned?

A. Well, the companies have clear mission statements, and we have clear goals and objectives that are outlined, and there’s a way in which we want to achieve those goals. There’s a specific way in which I want growth in my companies to happen and take place. To me, that’s where it starts. I have to be crystal clear. They then have to be clear that they understand the mission, and then we can look at each other in the eye and judge each other for how we move forward. If then I start seeing people going off of the track and having their own belief systems, then it’s very clear that somebody is blatantly not aligned to the mission even though they said they were.

”

- This interview with Steve Stoute, chief executive of Translation LLC, an ad agency, was conducted and condensed by Adam Bryant.

Mr. Stoute sounds like a mission leader.

Religious Exemption Unaltered

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:37:00 -0500

HHS Statement:

Today the department is announcing that the final rule on preventive health services will ensure that women with health insurance coverage will have access to the full range of the Institute of Medicine’s recommended preventive services, including all FDA -approved forms of contraception.

The USCCB response:

To force American citizens to choose between violating their consciences and forgoing their healthcare is literally unconscionable.
- Cardinal-designate Timothy M. Dolan

UPDATE: CHA Response:

The Catholic Health Association is disappointed that the definition of a religious employer was not broadened in today’s announcement by HHS regarding the final rule on preventive health services for women. This was a missed opportunity to be clear on appropriate conscience protection.

"My involvement is in preserving a morally sound Catholic identity and in making sure that our health..."

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:00:01 -0500

“My involvement is in preserving a morally sound Catholic identity and in making sure that our health care institutions are faithful to the call of the Church to make health care accessible to as many as possible, especially the poor and vulnerable.”

- Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, Diocese of Louisville

Catholic Health Care and the Role of the Archbishop

National Vocation Awareness Week 2012

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:02:51 -0500

As the Church in the United States observes & celebrates National Vocation Awareness Week, have you considered a career in Catholic Healthcare?

You could serve as a mission leader, ethicist, or provide spiritual care. Of course there are countless clinical and administrative opportunities to consider as well.

God knows we need you.

"The interest of society in the enforcement of employment discrimination statutes is undoubtedly..."

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:00:00 -0500

“The interest of society in the enforcement of employment discrimination statutes is undoubtedly important. But so, too, is the interest of religious groups in choosing who will preach their beliefs, teach their faith and carry out their mission.”

- Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.

This is quite significant. I’m anxious about how it will be applicable to Catholic Healthcare.

"God chose the most ignorant one. If there was anyone more ignorant than I am, God would have chosen..."

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:38:49 -0500

“God chose the most ignorant one. If there was anyone more ignorant than I am, God would have chosen him instead of me.”

- St. André Besette

Looking for a Place to Die

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:55:20 -0500

Looking for a Place to Die:

In this op-ed, an oncology nurse eloquently articulates a (more common than not) challenge in end of life care.

"Modern Healthcare found that subsidized medical care accounted for 1.52% or less of overall expenses..."

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:10:29 -0500

“Modern Healthcare found that subsidized medical care accounted for 1.52% or less of overall expenses at about half of the U.S. hospitals included in the analysis. Meanwhile, just 7% of studied hospitals devoted at least 5% of expenses to charity care.”

- How much do hospitals spend on charity care? Analysis: Less than 2% - The Advisory Board Daily Briefing

This is going to look good in my office!

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:41:10 -0500

This is going to look good in my office!

Don Berwick's Five Principles

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:27:05 -0500

1. Put patients first;
2. Put the poor and disadvantaged first;
3. Start at scale.
4. Return the money—ensure that employers, states, and taxpayers see their health costs fall; and
5. Act locally.

This would be nice - especially #2.

Church should let nuns take Pill: experts

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:15:00 -0500

Church should let nuns take Pill: experts:

Now, now, people…

Hospital Chaplains Seek Bigger Roles on Patient Medical Teams - WSJ.com

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:18:34 -0500

Hospital Chaplains Seek Bigger Roles on Patient Medical Teams - WSJ.com:

Additional discussion on the importance of chaplains to patient care teams.

Life Lives

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:49:11 -0500

The cat on the windowsill
An infant at the breast
The deer in the forest
Grandma in her wheelchair
Life lives where it will

Enlivening flesh
Captured in matter

And when cancer consumes
And the car crashes
Or a heart explodes

Life lives.
No I
No you
No we

Just Life released
Life unbounded
And All become One

Paul Marceau
1943-2011

"42% of self-described “sicker” American adults had cost-related access problems in the..."

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:33:53 -0500

“42% of self-described “sicker” American adults had cost-related access problems in the last year. The problems included not visiting a doctor, not filling a prescription, skipping doses of medication or not getting recommended care.”

- Identifying barriers to access is, hopefully, the first step to removing them.

Costs prompting sicker patients to avoid medical care - Nov. 21, 2011 — American Medical News

"We’re not here to put corporations down,” Sister Nora said, between bites of broccoli salad. “We’re..."

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 09:57:07 -0500

““We’re not here to put corporations down,” Sister Nora said, between bites of broccoli salad. “We’re here to improve their sense of responsibility.””

- A great article about Franciscian sisters with a mission to promote corporate responsibility.

Push for ‘Personhood’ Amendments Is New Tack in Abortion Fight - NYTimes.com

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:39:45 -0400

Push for ‘Personhood’ Amendments Is New Tack in Abortion Fight - NYTimes.com:

The response from the Catholic Church is muted - a federal strategy is preferred.

On retreat today at St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN,...

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:34:35 -0400

On retreat today at St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN, I saw some copies of the Saint John’s Bible.

This is an illumination of the vision of the new temple. It is awesome to see these up close and in person.

I’ve been wondering about how this temple representation looks like a microchip. What does that say about our relationship with technology?

Profile of Sr. Mary Jean Ryan, Former CEO of SSM Healthcare

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 13:58:35 -0400

Profile of Sr. Mary Jean Ryan, Former CEO of SSM Healthcare:

/via John Straatmann

Archdiocese of Boston Names Chief Healthcare Ethicist

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 13:30:32 -0400

Archdiocese of Boston Names Chief Healthcare Ethicist:

Peter J. Cataldo, a renowned bioethicist, has been named the first chief health care ethicist for the Archdiocese of Boston and will assume this role on Sept. 1.

This is an intriguing model — it could be a very helpful support for ethics committees and mission leaders, particularly for strengthening hospital/diocese relationships.