SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- 10/01/07 --
Catholic Healthcare West (CHW), the
eighth largest hospital system in the nation, announced today that it is
launching its International Healthcare Ministry with a medical mission to
Esquipulas, Guatemala. The mission will provide medical services and
supplies to residents, training to local clinical staff, and preventive
health education for the community.
More than one-half of the world's population (2.6 billion people) live
below the internationally defined poverty line of less than U.S. $2 a day.
CHW established the International Healthcare Ministry in January 2006 to
help improve the global quality of life by supporting CHW's sponsoring
congregations' missions in developing countries.
"We have always recognized our responsibility to serve those who are poor
or disadvantaged," said Lloyd H. Dean, president/chief executive officer of
Catholic Healthcare West. "The International Healthcare Ministry is a
natural extension of our mission and our social responsibility work as we
support and promote self-sustaining communities in developing countries."
The International Healthcare Ministry seeks to alleviate unnecessary
suffering by promoting self-sustaining communities, providing education and
supporting health care services to people in need.
In November 2007, the CHW International Healthcare Ministry will send its
first medical brigade to Esquipulas, Guatemala, a remote area four hours
southeast of Guatemala City. The mission is being conducted in
collaboration with the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, which
operates residential centers for poor women, the elderly, and disabled
children in Esquipulas; and the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, who have
served in the area for the past forty years.
For its inaugural mission to Guatemala CHW will partner with
Pennsylvania-based Global Health Ministry, an international care
organization that has been sending volunteer medical mission teams to Latin
America since 1989. Global Health Ministry is a member of Catholic Health
East and will provide CHW with technical expertise and guidance.
"We are pleased and honored to help support and build this important new
ministry at CHW," said Sister Mary Jo McGinley, executive director of
Global Health Ministry. "The people of the Esquipulas area are committed to
developing the skills and resources they need to sustain a healthy
community. This mission will go a long way towards helping them achieve
their goals."
A team of volunteer doctors, nurses, and specialists will travel to rural
clinics and residential centers to provide direct medical care,
consultations, medications, and supplies to the residents of communities
with limited or no access to medical care. CHW clinicians will also train
local staff in the latest physical therapy techniques and exercises, wound
treatment, and other primary care services. The team will additionally
train area community organizers to develop educational campaigns about
maintaining good health and how to access medical care. The goal of the
mission is to support and assist the rural areas surrounding Esquipulas as
they develop self-sufficiency in their everyday medical needs.
"This is the first of many such outreach efforts CHW will support as we
develop and expand this ministry," said Susan Whitten, vice president of
strategy and business development for CHW and the executive leader for the
International Healthcare Ministry. "Through this program we are extending
our mission and giving our employees, both clinical and non-clinical,
opportunities to further their personal and professional growth by
volunteering their skills and experience in support of those in need."
Members of the team include:
Walter Jy-Dong Lin, MD (CHW Phoenix)
Rachel May, MD (French Hospital Medical Center, San Luis Obispo)
Michelle Telford-Vegas, RN, FNP (Mercy Medical Center, Folsom)
Patricia Ann Doleshcal, RN (Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, San Francisco)
Mary Carol Todd, MSN/RN/CMAC (CHW San Francisco)
Mark Schweyer, RN (Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center, Reno)
Georgina Lopez Manning, RN (Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, Bakersfield)
Sandra Ramos, RN (Chandler Regional Medical Center, Chandler)
Gloria Miller, RN (Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, San Francisco)
Pablo Bravo, Interpreter (CHW San Francisco)
Sonia Marisol Orozco Paredes, Medical Asst, Medical Interpreter
(St. Mary's Medical Center, San Francisco)
Les Sinclair, PharmD/PA (Mercy Medical Center, Mt. Shasta)
Abraham Rodriguez, PT (Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, Bakersfield)
Ron McDowell, PT (Mercy Medical Center, Mt. Shasta)
Susan Whitten, Team Leader (CHW Pasadena)
Tracy Church, IHM Advisory Board (CHW San Francisco)
Margaret Hambleton, IHM Advisory Board (CHW Pasadena)
Peggy Styer, IHM Advisory Board (CHW Phoenix)
Sr. Mary Jo McGinley, Program Advisor (Global Health Ministry, Catholic
Health East)
About Catholic Healthcare West
Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) is the eighth largest hospital system in the
nation and the largest not-for-profit hospital provider in the West.
Founded in 1986, the CHW network of more than 8,500 physicians and
approximately 50,000 employees serve a population spanning 22 million
people at 42 hospitals across California, Arizona, and Nevada. CHW is
committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality, affordable healthcare
services with special attention to the poor and underserved. In 2006, CHW
provided $803 million in charity care, community benefits, and unreimbursed
patient care. For more information, please visit our website at
www.chwHEALTH.org.
Contact:
Tricia Griffin
(415) 438-5524
