Ethicists on AI 2 Respite care solution 3 Executive changes 7 PERIODICAL RATE PUBLICATION
FEBRUARY 2025 VOLUME 41, NUMBER 2
How to turn a broken health care system into one that works for everyone By SR. MARY HADDAD, RSM CHA president and CEO
COMMENTARY
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mericans are sick of the way our nation’s health care system treats them. In survey after survey and across all social media platforms, they are speaking out, sometimes in rage and sometimes in despair, against a system they view as putting profits ahead of people. They are confused by the complexity behind care delivery and distrust those delivering it. They know intuitively that the human connection necessary for compassionate, quality care is too often
Bob Baxter Mercy Health — Toledo, Ohio, president
diminished in favor of productivity, efficiency, and the bottom line. Those of us who are responsible for shaping and leading the development of health care policy can no longer ignore this reality. And we can no longer point a finger at other sectors of the industry and cast blame for the problems that have arisen after decades of policy decisions driven by special interests instead of the common good. It is our responsibility to come up with solutions to create a system that values the human Continued on 4
Damond Boatwright Hospital Sisters Health System president and CEO
K.C. DeBoer SSM Health regional president
Mike Slubowski Trinity Health president and CEO
Ministry executives say taking time for hobbies helps counter burnout By JULIE MINDA
As the president and CEO of a 93-hospital, 26-state ministry system, Trinity Health’s Mike Slubowski makes the tough decisions needed to sustain that vital ministry. In his downtime, he likes to rock. Meanwhile, in his free time, Damond Boatwright, Slubowski’s counterpart at Hospital Sisters Health System, turns into a culinary kingmaker, deciding whose barbecue rules. The two executives are among four who shared with Catholic Health World the diverse ways they unplug from the office and rejuvenate in their off hours. See Page 6
Slideshow • Take a closer look at some pages from Catholic Health World over the years. chausa.org/chw
0 4 Catholic Health World debuted Feb. 15, 1985
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ANNIVERSARY
Catholic Health World marks 40th anniversary of coverage
Saint Alphonsus embeds community health worker in school district to serve students, families By JULIE MINDA
They say wisdom comes with age — and Catholic Health World continues to build upon decades of expertise in covering the Catholic health ministry as the publication enters middle age and marks its 40th anniversary. In the first issue, which debuted Feb. 15, 1985, then-CHA President John E. Curley Jr. wrote: “CHA is launching this tabloid newspaper to assure that you have access to timely, newsworthy information of special interest to the ministry and, we hope, to others involved and concerned with health care in America as well.” The issue included two major headlines on its front page. The
Several years ago, a community health worker with Saint Alphonsus Medical Center — Baker City in Oregon was assisting a child with health and social service needs when it became necessary to coordinate with the child’s school. Through conversations between the health worker and the school district, the school’s director saw the true value of a community health worker’s services. That director told the community health worker, Kathie Pointer: “We need you here at the school,” and even offered to give her office space. That conversation spurred
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By VALERIE SCHREMP HAHN