|
Hospital
Sisters Mission Outreach
 |
| Provena St. Mary's Hospital in Kankakee was among the
first stops, where over $3,000 in surplus medical equipment and supplies
was donated to the Hospital Sisters'
Mission. | In 2006, Provena Health entered into a
partnership with the Mission Outreach program, a ministry of the Hospital
Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, which organizes education and
awareness programs, cross cultural mission experiences and a medical
equipment / supply distribution and recycling program. Provena Health's hospital
ministries donate surplus medical supplies and equipment which are redistributed
by Mission Outreach to hospitals in the developing world, including communities
in Haiti and Tanzania. Most supplies being donated are unusable by Provena
Health's ministries simply because of advances in technology, changes in
regulations and extras from pre-packaged supply kits.
For example, sutures donated by Provena Health's ministries were included in
medical kits for pregnant women at the Haitian Health Foundation's Center for
Hope Maternal Waiting Home. Without these medical kits, a pregnant woman needing
a cesarean section would have had to purchase the necessary medical supplies
before the hospital could perform surgery.
Healthcare Advocacy
Advocacy is deeply rooted in our Catholic identity. We are called to be a
voice for the voiceless, to attend to the poor and vulnerable in our communities
and to work for economic, political and social conditions that aid all
individuals. This advocacy role is as integral to our mission as our healthcare
services, and it is a key component of our community benefit initiative.
Living our mission also requires us to speak out on public policy issues that
impact the communities we serve. Ensuring adequate funding for Medicare and
Medicaid programs, health education, long-term care facilities and many other
important community health efforts, as well as advocating on behalf of the
growing number of uninsured poor, disabled and elderly in our country continues
to be a major focus for our advocacy efforts. We work hard to develop
relationships with our lawmakers to ensure they not only understand the enormous
importance of these programs and issues for their communities, but also to
support them in the policymaking process.
Mercy Housing
In 2006, Provena Health became a Strategic Healthcare Partner of Mercy
Housing, a leading national not-for-profit housing organization that has
developed more than 17,300 units of housing nationwide serving 55,000 people
each day.
This partnership grew from a shared commitment to the creation of healthy
communities and service to those in need. Provena Health and Mercy Housing work
together on the core issues of shelter, health, education, civic engagement and
financial health. The alliance has resulted in greater opportunities and
expansion for quality affordable housing in Illinois, addressing two very
serious needs among impoverished individuals - healthcare and affordable
housing. In fact, studies show that children who lack quality housing are more
likely to suffer from asthma, respiratory diseases, lead poisoning and
malnutrition.
Provena Health's participation in the Strategic Healthcare Partnership
includes a $150,000 annual commitment to Mercy Housing over the next five years,
enabling Mercy Housing to create new, high-quality affordable housing in the
Chicago suburbs, northeastern and east-central Illinois.
As a Catholic healthcare ministry, our mission calls us to build communities
of healing and hope both locally and also by reaching out to a broader community
to assist the vulnerable and marginalized around the world.
Provena Health's hospital ministries donate surplus medical supplies and
equipment which are redistributed by Mission Outreach to hospitals in the
developing world
Provena St. Mary's Hospital in Kankakee was among the first stops, where over
$3,000 in surplus medical equipment and supplies was donated to the Hospital
Sisters' Mission.
|
