Marymount becomes St. Joseph London

Marymount becomes St. Joseph London January 21, 2008 09:18 am — Special to the Times-Tribune Seven of Kentucky's health care organizations announced today they have completed their plans to come together as one. The facilities, Flaget Memorial Hospital, Bardstown; Marymount Medical Center, London; Our Lady of the Way Hospital, Martin, and Saint Joseph HealthCare, Lexington, Berea and Mount Sterling, formally began operations as Saint Joseph Health System earlier this month. In commenting about the system name, Gene Woods, the CEO of Saint Joseph Health System, said the name "is a way to instantly communicate our affiliation, core values and national reputation for quality, as well as the strength and size of our system, throughout Kentucky." As part of creating a common identity, the names of some member organizations of the new system will change. Saint Joseph Health System is the name of the new organization. Most of the hospitals will adopt the Saint Joseph name with their location, such as Saint Joseph London, Saint Joseph Martin, Saint Joseph Berea and Saint Joseph Mount Stering. The system's two hospitals in Lexington will continue to be known as Saint Joseph Hospital and Saint Joseph East. Flaget Memorial Hospital will be identified as a member of Saint Joseph Health System. Woods pointed out that the formation of the system is a growth strategy, not a takeover by Saint Joseph. "We are all joining together to grow and to build something new that has not existed before. Ultimately, this new system will bring more services to each of our facilities and broaden the scope of services across our system so that patients should seldom need to go elsewhere for care," Woods noted. Under the Saint Joseph Health System structure, a new board of directors was formed in December 2007, replacing the local hospital boards. Each hospital organization is forming a hospital council made up of local community leaders. The councils will help to ensure that the local community has a voice and a role in identifying community needs and will provide input into the strategic planning process. Woods said short-term plans of the system include launching a telemedicine network and a yet-to-be-announced robotics program. He noted that both initiatives will help create greater connectivity and improve access to specialty care, especially in rural areas. "By honoring the heritage, people and accomplishments of the past, we will build an even stronger ministry that continues the legacy the Sisters passed on to us," Woods stressed. "Our founding congregations and Sisters were shining examples of what this new organization stands for — we can do more for our patients and our communities together than any one hospital can do alone." Woods cited a quote from the late Maryanna Coyle, a Sister of Charity and one of the foundresses of Catholic Health Initiatives who was the first chair of CHI's governing board, "Our faith-filled openness to the Spirit continually calls us to move beyond our own securities so that a new creation will arise to bring God's presence through the healing ministry." The Saint Joseph Health System has 981 licensed beds, approximately 5,000 employees and approximately 1,300 physicians on its medical staffs. Combined, the member facilities have received the following honors: • Recognized 11 times as being among the 100 Top Hospitals by Solucient/Thompson • Recognized by JD Power & Associates three years running • Winner of the Joint Commission's Codman Award for quality improvements • Named one of Kentucky's Best Places to Work three years running • Awarded the highest honor by the Kentucky Center for Performance Excellence The system is part of Catholic Health Initiatives, a national non-profit health corporation based in Denver, Colo. The CHI system includes 72 hospitals; 42 long-term care, assisted and independent living and residential facilities; and two community-based health organizations located in 19 states. Ginna Dempsey, CEO of Marymount Medical Center, announced the hospital's name change during a London-Laurel County Chamber of Commerce meeting on Thursday. Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.