Saint Alphonsus Health System

Press Release About the New Health System

Four Regional Hospitals Join to Form Saint Alphonsus Health System
New system vows to blend the strengths and heritages of Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Mercy Medical Center, Holy Rosary Medical Center and St. Elizabeth Health Services

BOISE, Idaho (April 6, 2010)—Trinity Health, parent organization of Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center (SARMC), announced today the formation of Saint Alphonsus Health System, an entity created to serve the 21st century health-care needs of the people who live from the Treasure Valley to the I-84 corridor in eastern Oregon.  The new system, comprised of Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Boise, Idaho; Mercy Medical Center, Nampa, Idaho; Holy Rosary Medical Center, Ontario, Oregon; and St. Elizabeth Health Services, Baker City, Oregon unites just seven months after the announcement of Trinity’s letter of intent to form the new system. The heritages of all four organizations and their founding congregations, with 421 years of combined service to the community, will be respected and cherished. Each hospital will continue to share a common faith-based Catholic Health mission.

The new system will continue the local governance of each community’s partner hospital, and current local ministry boards will stay in place. A new health system Board will be created to provide governance for the new Saint Alphonsus Health System. 

“Each member hospital will contribute its century of gathered strengths to meet the needs of the people in the region,” said Sally Jeffcoat, President and CEO of Saint Alphonsus Health System. “There will be opportunities for Saint Alphonsus Health System’s caregivers to exchange ideas and best clinical practices, as well as to engage in shared services, such as clinical education, common electronic health records, and telepharmacy. The regional approach will strengthen the long-term financial viability of each hospital and Saint Alphonsus Health System will invest in excess of $40 million to advance the health care practices of Mercy Medical Center, Holy Rosary Medical Center and St. Elizabeth Health Services."

"The healing power of the four hospitals and medical staff brought together as one mission-driven system will far exceed that of four hospitals, each acting alone,” Jeffcoat added. “System coordination will provide an expansion of accessible health services and continuous improvements in quality of care and patient safety."

Media Opportunity
Saint Alphonsus President & CEO Sally Jeffcoat will be available for one-on-one interviews from 12 noon to 1:00 pm today. To schedule a time, please call Jennifer Krajnik at 859-2930 or page 855-6449. 

Photo Opportunity
A special transition of sponsorship and formation of Saint Alphonsus Health System ceremony will be held today from 4:00 to 5:00 pm in McCleary Auditorium. 

About Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center
Saint Alphonsus is a 387-licensed bed regional medical center serving people throughout the Northwest. As a not-for-profit medical center, Saint Alphonsus reinvests profits back into the community and works to improve the health and well-being of those we serve by emphasizing care that is patient-centered, innovative and community based. Saint Alphonsus focuses on providing services in a spiritual, healing environment, and is renowned for its state-of-the-art digital environment and pioneering technologies; award-winning clinical services; and the region’s Trauma Center. For information about Saint Alphonsus visit www.saintalphonsus.org.  

About Holy Rosary Medical Center
Holy Rosary Medical Center is a 49-licensed bed community hospital providing quality care to people throughout eastern Oregon, and the southwestern Idaho communities.  As a not-for-profit hospital, Holy Rosary reinvests profits back into the community and works to improve the health and well-being of those we serve by providing state-of-the-art medical technology, facilities and equipment with highly trained medical providers and staff to meet the healthcare needs of our community.  

About Mercy Medical Center
Mercy Medical Center is a 152-bed acute care hospital serving the medical needs of the greater Nampa, Idaho area.  As a not-for-profit hospital, Mercy reinvests its profits back into the community and works to improve the health and well-being of those we serve through medical services provided at Mercy Medical Center, Mercy North Health Center, Mercy Home Health and Hospice, Mercy Family Birthing Center, and Mercy Physician Group. For more information about Mercy Medical Center visit www.mercynampa.org.  

About St. Elizabeth Health Services
St. Elizabeth Health Services is a 36 bed health care organization in Baker City, OR. As a not-for-profit hospital, St. Elizabeth reinvests its profits back into the community and works to improve the health and well-being of those we serve by providing the continuum of care from acute to long-term care services. St. Elizabeth serves Baker County and surrounding areas.

About Trinity Health
Trinity Health is the fourth-largest Catholic health care system in the country. Based in Novi, Mich., Trinity Health operates 47 acute-care hospitals, 379 outpatient facilities, 33 long-term care facilities, and numerous home health offices and hospice programs in nine states. Employing more than 47,000 full-time staff, Trinity Health reported $7.0 billion in unrestricted revenue in fiscal year 2009. As a not-for-profit health system, Trinity Health reinvests its profits back into the community through programs to serve the poor and uninsured, manage chronic conditions like diabetes, health education and promotion initiatives, and outreach for the elderly. In fiscal 2009, this included nearly $400 million in such community benefits. For more information about Trinity Health, visit www.trinity-health.org or become a fan of the Trinity Health Facebook page at http://tinyurl.com/ylpm3np.