SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- 11/05/08 --
On behalf of Catholic Healthcare West, I
congratulate President-elect Barack Obama and look forward to the new
administration's focus on healthcare reform.
Repairing the nation's healthcare system must become a top priority, both
for the overall well-being of the people and for our nation's economy. The
current system is unsustainable. Right now, 46 million people in the
country do not have healthcare insurance and are receiving their care in
the most expensive and inefficient way -- by relying on hospital emergency
rooms. This cost is a huge burden on all of society. We can and must do
better.
Access to healthcare is a fundamental human right. To achieve meaningful
health reform, we will continue to advocate with local, state, and federal
governments for a system characterized by:
-- Universal Access. Every person has the right to be treated with
dignity, including the right to high quality, compassionate healthcare.
-- Stable Financing. A healthcare system that provides universal coverage
to all people must include a financing system that ensures reliable, long-
term access to care.
-- Improved Quality. Quality must become the primary focus for measuring
the success of the healthcare system.
-- Improved Accountability. Local, state and federal governments need to
take greater responsibility for ensuring healthcare is fully available,
adequately financed, and of the highest quality possible.
We look forward to working with the new administration and the new Congress
in solving this urgent problem.
About Catholic Healthcare West
Catholic Healthcare West (CHW), headquartered in San Francisco, CA, is a
system of 41 hospitals and medical centers in California, Arizona and
Nevada. Founded in 1986, it is the eighth largest hospital system in the
nation and the largest not-for-profit hospital provider in California. CHW
is committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality, affordable
healthcare services with special attention to the poor and underserved. The
CHW network of nearly 10,000 physicians and approximately 53,000 employees
provides healthcare services to more than five million people annually. In
2008, CHW provided $967 million in charity care and unsponsored community
benefit. For more information, please visit our website at
www.chwHEALTH.org.
Contact:
Carmella Gutierrez
(415) 438-5508
