| MEETINGS |
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July
1st:
"Train the Trainer" with Del Gilbert
17th:
Senior Management Group
23rd:
Finance Committee
28th:
Risk Management Committee
August
10th:
Audit Committee
11th:
Human Resource
Committee
19th/20th:
Heritage & Horizon (Group B)
27th:
Finance Committee
28th:
Board of Directors
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Youville Hospital & Rehabilitation Center
David R. Lincoln, Covenant president/CEO, Daniel Leahey, Youville president/CEO, and members of Spaulding Rehabilitation Network addressed the staff of Youville Hospital on Monday, June 1st and explained that the Youville Hospital Board of Directors and Covenant Health Systems have agreed in principle to transfer ownership of Youville Hospital and Rehabilitation Center to the Spaulding Rehabilitation Network.
"Like many other long-term acute care hospitals, Youville Hospital has faced an increasingly difficult financial challenge resulting from recent cuts in Medicare reimbursement rates for inpatient services," said Leahey. "Despite our best efforts to reduce costs and ensure efficient operations, it became clear that the sale of the hospital was the best option to ensure the continuation of hospital services.
"Spaulding will continue to operate Youville Hospital as a long-term acute care facility, retain its 450 member staff, and maintain current referral arrangements without interruption. Youville Hospital is one of the 20 largest employers in Cambridge.
"Youville Hospital is a critical resource for post-acute services in the Boston area," said David E. Storto, president, Spaulding Rehabilitation Network. "We look forward to building on its long tradition of high quality care as a member of the Spaulding Rehabilitation Network."
The purchase of Youville Hospital will not impact Youville House, an adjacent 95 unit assisted living residence, which will continue to be operated independently as a member of Covenant Health Systems. |
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Saints Health System
Covenant Health Systems and Saints Health System (Lowell, MA) signed a definitive agreement to form an affiliation that will ensure the continuation of Catholic health care in the Greater Lowell region. (Saints Health System is the non-profit parent of Saints Medical Center.)
The agreement was signed on May 14 at Saints Medical Center by David R. Lincoln, Covenant president/CEO, Gary Campbell, chair, Saints Board of Trustees and Sister Prescille Malo, provincial councilor, Sisters of Charity of Ottawa (sponsor of Saints). The definitive agreement is the first phase in the process of establishing the affiliation of Saints Health System with Covenant Health Systems and sets forth the terms of the relationship going forward.
When the affiliation is finalized, Covenant will co-sponsor Saints Health System with the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa for a period of six years, after which time Covenant will become the sole member of Saints Health System. The Sisters of Charity of Ottawa will continue to have a presence on the Saints Board of Trustees. The current members of the Saints Board of Trustees will continue to serve for the remainder of their individual terms, and Covenant will work with the Saints board to continue to identify local individuals who are qualified and willing to serve as board members. Covenant will operate Saints Medical Center as a Catholic, general acute-care hospital and preserve the services which are currently provided. Following the closing of the transaction, Covenant will make ongoing investments in Saints' capital projects and related health care services which have been identified by the Saints board and senior management.
Before the affiliation is finalized, approvals must be received from various regulatory agencies in Massachusetts, and the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa must receive appropriate Canonical approvals.
About Saints Medical Center
Saints Medical Center is a not-for-profit, full service, acute care community hospital serving Greater Lowell and the Merrimack Valley since 1839. A 163-bed licensed medical center, Saints provides advanced health services to 315,000 residents in 25 towns. With nearly 400 physicians and 1,400 employees, Saints Medical Center is well known for outstanding medical care and patient-centered facilities including its Centers of Excellence in Cancer Care, Orthopedics, Cardiovascular Services and Women's Health. Saints also offers community-based care at several ambulatory sites and is dedicated to promoting health and wellness in the community. Saints has a clinical affiliation with leading Boston academic medical centers and is proud to be one of the top-rated hospitals in Massachusetts according to The Joint Commission.
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Congratulations to Sr. June Ketterer, SGM
The Catholic Health Association of the United States honored "two exemplary women religious" this year with a  Sister Concilia Moran Award at their annual assembly in New Orleans. Sr. June Ketterer, SGM, of the Sisters of Charity of Montreal ("Grey Nuns"), Lexington, MA, and Sr. Catherine DeClercq, OP, Trinity Health, Novi, MI, were each presented with an award in part for their leadership roles in envisioning new forms of sponsorship and lay leadership of the Catholic health ministry.
The Sister Concilia Moran Award is presented annually to recognize visionary leaders, drawing attention to their innovative ideas, unique projects, or outstanding achievements in Catholic health care. The award celebrates the lifelong contributions of Sr. Concilia, a pioneer in the development of mission-effectiveness programs throughout the world.
Covenant Health Systems and Catholic Health Partners were proud to nominate Sr. June for this award for being a true pioneer in furthering Catholic health care and for being a compassionate, spiritual leader to all. "Sr. June, like the foundress of her congregation St. Marguerite d'Youville, is a woman of immense vision committed to doing God's work... as well as a good business woman" said David R. Lincoln, Covenant president/CEO. "She is described by many as a prudent risk taker who deliberates with sisters and lay people, prays 'long and hard,' places her trust in Divine Providence and goes forward with the courage of her convictions. Her presence immediately captures an individual as well as an entire audience. She is gentle, yet tough, when she needs to be. She exudes wisdom and is unassuming at the same time. The Grey Nuns first came to Toledo by stagecoach from Montreal in 1855 to care for the poor of what was then called the 'Black Swamp.' They exhibited courage and grit...Sr. June follows in their footsteps... but in a way matched by the challenges of today's world."
In her acceptance speech, Sr. June said:
"As I stand before you tonight, I marvel at the evolution of the Catholic Health Care Ministry that has taken place in my lifetime. Years ago mostly women religious led the way in Catholic Health Care. We answered the call, laid the foundations, and strengthened compassionate healing for all whom we served.
"Today, the healing ministry of Jesus continues with many more lay people answering the call to leadership positions in Catholic Health Care. In 1983, when we began Covenant Health Systems, little did we know that it would evolve to become it's own Public Juridic Person in the Catholic Church in 1996, and in 2007, that we Grey Nuns would transfer our reserved powers to the Covenant Health Systems Board as it became a self perpetuating board with full powers. In looking back, the risks, the struggles, and the letting-go challenged us to trust in God's presence with us as we supported the emergence of lay leadership and lay sponsorship for our ministries. I also say 'thank you' to all who have accepted to carry the torch into the future, especially David Lincoln, President/CEO of Covenant, who has been with us since the beginning."
Sr. June has served on the Covenant Board from 1983 - 1986 and again from 1995 to 2002 and during this time, she served as the Board chairperson from 1995 through 1998. Sr. June has recently rejoined the Board. This month, Sr. June is celebrating her golden anniversary as a member of the Sisters of Charity of Montreal - the Grey Nuns. |
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St. Joseph's College of Maine honored Sr. Mary Norberta, C.S.S.F., FACHE, president/CEO of St. Joseph Hospital (Bangor) with an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.
Sr. Irene Duchesneau, RHSJ, long-time leader of Fanny Allen Hospital and former Covenant board member, was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters at the Saint Michael's College 2009 commencement on May 14. She was recognized for her service to those in need.
David R. Lincoln is the 2009 chair of the American Hospital Association's (AHA) Section for Health Care Systems. The constituency section represents health systems across the country that provide guidance in AHA's policy development and governance. During his one-year term as chair, Lincoln and the 23-person governing council will work with the AHA to identify ways to define and focus AHA policy, advocacy, public policy issues and member service strategies regarding health care systems.
Patricia A. Cahill, Esq.,  Covenant Board
Chair was inducted into "Modern Healthcare's" Health Care Hall of Fame along side the Mayo Brothers and former Memorial Hermann Healthcare System President and Chief Executive Officer, Dan Wilford.
In an article in "Modern Healthcare" entitled: "Hall of Fame: They Bucked the Trend," the managing editor writes: "We have been living in a second Gilded Age in America, in which the accumulation of personal wealth has taken precedence above all other values. One problem with that behavior, other than the resulting economic bubble, is that the "he who dies with the most toys wins" philosophy leaves society as a whole crippled. Work that might benefit the entire nation is relegated to the back burner, and the country declines materially and spiritually. That's why it's encouraging to read about people who have built something more meaningful than a bank account. People such as this year's four Health Care Hall of Fame inductees."
To read the entire Modern Healthcare Article, go to www.covenanths.org and then to "News and Events."
Shannon Coro, administrator, St. Mary's Health Care Center (Worcester) has been asked to be on the Board of the Latin American Health Alliance of Central Massachusetts which address health disparities in the Latin American community. |
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AROUND THE SYSTEM
Environmental Awards
Covenant Health Systems was one of six national health care systems to receive the 2009 "System for Change" Award from Practice Greenhealth. This award honors health systems for working cohesively to collect data, set system goals, benchmark and share successes in environmental performance. (Other systems included Catholic Healthcare West, Cleveland Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, Legacy Health and Advocate Health.) There were a number of Covenant members who received a "Partner for Change" Award which is given to facilities that have made significant and sustainable progress toward reducing their waste stream, preventing pollution and eliminating mercury... they reduce, reuse and/or recycle at least 10 percent of their total waste and have initiated comprehensive waste minimization and pollution prevention programs. Covenant awardees included: St. Mary Health Care Center (Worcester), St. Mary Health System (Lewiston), and YouvilleHospital (Cambridge).
Those receiving "Partner Recognition" Awards (facilities that have worked to meet their self-identified environmental goals but have not yet met the comprehensive criteria for the Partner for Change Award) were: Maristhill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center (Waltham), MI Nursing/Restorative Center (Lawrence), St. Andre Health Care (Biddeford), St. Mary's Villa (Moscow), Youville House Assisted Living Residence (Cambridge), and Youville Place Assisted Living Residence (Lexington).
The awards were given out at the 6th international CleanMed Conference in Chicago, IL, which is designed to catalyze environmental improvements in the health care sector.
St. Mary's Regional Health System (Lewiston) received their Foster G. McGaw prize for excellence in community service at the American Hospital Association (AHA) meeting in Washington, DC on Tuesday, April 28. The prestigious award carries a $100,000 prize honoring health delivery organizations that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to community service. The prize is viewed as one of the most coveted, significant honors in health care. |
Bethany Health Care Center's (Framingham) program, "Quality of Life," was selected to receive one of the 2009 American Medical Directors Association (AMDA) Foundation/Evercare Awards for improving the quality of life for persons living in nursing homes. In addition to a $10,000 award, their CEO/Administrator, Sr. Jacqueline McCarthy, was recognized at the 2009 AMDA Symposium in Charlotte, NC.
St. Joseph Manor (Brockton) was awarded a Resident Empowerment Program grant for $30,000 from The Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Department of Public Health. The Manor is using the monies for the "Dining At Home" program. Steam tables with induction burners are brought to the dining room to provide residents with an individualized morning routine by allowing them the ability to wake when they want and then selecting their breakfast of choice. Also supported through the grant were culinary training classes and customer service training. Both of the training programs were provided by Massasoit Community College. The customer service training program was geared to guiding The Manor associates help make residents meal time more "special" and "home-like."
CELEBRATING...
The Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph, the Sisters who founded the Fanny Allen Hospital--celebrated the 350th anniversary of the arrival of the first three Sisters in America and the 115th anniversary of the arrival of the Sisters in Vermont.
The Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph brought their vision of compassionate healing to Vermont when the first five Sisters came to the Dunbar Hotel on May 24, in 1894. The Sisters were inspired to come to Vermont by the memory of Sr. Fanny Allen, who became a member of their religious order in Montreal. (Fanny Allen was the daughter of Ethan Allen, general of the American Revolution and defender of the Green Mountain State.) Before coming to Vermont, they overcame many challenges as they persevered to establish a hospital - which burned to the ground three times - and to move that hospital to its present location at the foot of Mount Royal in 1861. The Sisters experience in Vermont was not easy. They came to a cold, forbidding landscape, speaking no English - but they captured the hearts of many as they dedicated their lives to caring for the sick and poor.
The congregation was founded in France in 1636 by Jérôme Le Royer de la Dauversière along with Marie de la Ferre. |
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