Mental health care for kids 2 New sponsorship resources 3 Executive changes 9 PERIODICAL RATE PUBLICATION
JUNE 2025 VOLUME 41, NUMBER 6
‘All these people matter’
Catholic health care leaders warn Medicaid cuts could be devastating
Slubowski
By VALERIE SCHREMP HAHN
Leaders of Catholic health care are warning that proposed cuts and changes to Medicaid could result in coverage losses to millions of people, affect the overall ecosystem of health care, and take America down a “dangerous path” of reducing access for everyone. “Congress has a moral obligation to con-
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sider the real and harmful consequences these proposals would have on our nation’s health care safety net and the impact on the lives of America’s most vulnerable individuals,” Sr. Mary Haddad, RSM, president and CEO of CHA, said in a press call on May 20. She added: “Congress should not take America down a dangerous path of drastically reducing access to health care in the United States.”
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Sr. Mary was joined by executives from four Catholic health care systems that care for patients in 39 states and cover urban, rural and suburban areas. She pointed out that Catholic hospitals care for one in seven patients nationwide, many of whom rely on Medicaid. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that at least 7.6 million people will Continued on 7
Chief academic officers ensure infrastructure is in place to recruit, upskill workforce By JULIE MINDA
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Dr. Catherine O’Neal, chief academic officer at Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, chats with Dr. Mark Laperouse at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge. Laperouse is the hospital’s medical director for emergency services.
ealth systems and facilities are facing formidable challenges when it comes to workforce development and retention: There is a huge and ever-increasing demand nationwide for health care workers of all stripes, but there are not enough candidates in the pipeline. At the same time, the educational requirements for all health care workers are increasing and changing rapidly, so educators must be attuned to the environment and nimble enough to respond. To take on these challenges in an intentional and coordinated way, some health systems in recent years
The days immediately after hospital discharge were so much worse health-wise for Ashley Kathman three years ago when she delivered her son Brooks than this past January when she delivered her daughter Camille. Kathman had preeclampsia in both
pregnancies and related high blood pressure post-delivery. But three years ago, her high blood pressure drove her to the emergency room on multiple occasions. This year was completely different. Kathman’s obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Leizl Sapico knew Kathman was at risk for high blood pressure and connected her with a program that educated her about her
Pope Leo XIV
Health ministry greets Pope Leo with joy, hope By VALERIE SCHREMP HAHN
Emerging from a period of mourning after the death of Pope Francis, members of the Catholic health care ministry offered prayers and expressions of joy and hope for Pope Leo XIV, the name chosen by Chicagoborn Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost upon his election as pope. His first words to the world on May 8 as he emerged onto the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City were: “Peace be with you!” Pope Leo, the first pontiff born in the United States, evoked the name of Pope Continued on 8
PeaceHealth’s Women of Peace movement seeks to support, empower women caregivers By VALERIE SCHREMP HAHN
condition and what to do when her blood pressure spiked or plummeted. Also, this time, Kathman used a blood pressure cuff every morning and evening that transmitted her vitals to a nurse. That nurse would follow up with Kathman if the numbers were concerning. Kathman also had around-the-clock access to clinicians by
Who are the Women of Peace? If you ask any staffer at PeaceHealth, you may hear about the health system’s founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. Or maybe its president and CEO, Liz Dunne, who took the role in 2015. Or perhaps the women who make up nearly 80% of PeaceHealth’s workforce. “I think that gives us a special responsibility, given our heritage, to ensure that we are doing everything that we can do within our power to make sure that the women in our organization feel empowered to be their very best selves,” said Sarah Ness, executive vice president and chief administrative officer.
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CommonSpirit’s St. Anne Hospital offers new mothers vital support By JULIE MINDA
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Sr. Mary