Rachel Evans
Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) was a national Catholic healthcare system based in Englewood, Colorado. It was a non-profit, faith-based health system formed in 1996 through the consolidation of three Catholic health systems. In February 2019, CHI merged with Dignity Health to form CommonSpirit Health, the largest Catholic health system and the second-largest non-profit hospital chain in the United States. CommonSpirit Health operates in 21 states and runs more than 700 care sites and 142 hospitals. It is committed to building healthier communities and has been recognised for its quality standards, innovation, and patient-centred care.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of company | Nonprofit Catholic health system |
| Date of merger | February 1, 2019 |
| Merged with | Dignity Health |
| New company name | CommonSpirit Health |
| Number of care sites | More than 700 |
| Number of hospitals | 142 |
| Number of states served | 21 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) is a non-profit organisation
Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) is a non-profit, faith-based healthcare system. It was formed in 1996 through the consolidation of three Catholic health systems: the Catholic Health Corporation of Omaha, Nebraska; the Franciscan Health System of Aston, Pennsylvania; and the Sisters of Charity Health Care Systems of Cincinnati, Ohio. Over the years, CHI expanded into new states and acquired other healthcare providers, including Consolidated Health Services and St. Luke's Episcopal Health System.
In February 2019, CHI merged with Dignity Health to form CommonSpirit Health, creating one of the largest non-profit hospital systems in the United States. CommonSpirit Health operates in 21 states, with more than 700 care sites and 142 hospitals. The new organisation is focused on advancing health for all people and serving communities across the country. It is driven by innovation and powered by humanity, aiming to build healthier communities.
CHI St. Vincent Infirmary, Hot Springs, and Morrilton in Arkansas, as well as CHI St. Vincent North in Sherwood, Arkansas, are some of the hospitals under the CHI umbrella. CHI also has partnerships with Centura Health in Colorado and MercyOne in Iowa.
The organisation has faced some controversies, such as in 2013 when its hospital's defence lawyers argued against a wrongful death lawsuit by claiming that unborn fetuses should not be classed as persons, contradicting Catholic doctrine.
Christening Your Baby Catholic: A Step-by-Step Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
CHI's merger with Dignity Health
Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) was a national Catholic healthcare system headquartered in Englewood, Colorado. It was a non-profit, faith-based health system formed in 1996 through the consolidation of three Catholic health systems.
In February 2019, CHI merged with Dignity Health, forming CommonSpirit Health. The merger created the largest Catholic health system and the second-largest non-profit hospital chain in the United States. The new organisation was led jointly by Dignity Health CEO Lloyd Dean and CHI CEO Kevin Lofton. The merger received approval from the Catholic Church through the Vatican in 2018.
The combined revenue of the two organisations was $28.4 billion across 139 hospitals operating in 28 states. The new system, CommonSpirit Health, operates more than 700 care sites and 142 hospitals in 21 states. The company also includes research, virtual care, and home health capabilities. The system's locations and services retained the names of the CHI and Dignity Health facilities.
The merger was part of a growing trend of hospital M&A activity, with health systems seeking opportunities for growth and scale. The deal was anticipated to close in the second half of 2018 and was subject to federal, state, and church approvals. As the organisations had no overlap across hospital service areas, it was believed that the combined system could develop a strong national brand while performing well across revenue cycles, labour management, quality, and IT use.
The Catholic Rosary: A Lengthy Spiritual Practice
You may want to see also
Explore related products
CommonSpirit Health: the new company
CommonSpirit Health is a health system based in the United States. It is the country's largest Catholic hospital chain and the second-largest non-profit hospital chain. It was founded in 2019 through the merger of Dignity Health and Catholic Health Initiatives, forming one of the largest non-profit hospital systems by revenue in the United States.
The new company operates more than 700 care sites and 142 hospitals in 21 states, serving nearly one in four U.S. residents. It is a non-profit, Catholic health system dedicated to advancing health for all people. CommonSpirit Health is committed to building healthier communities, weaving better health into its communities, and providing support to families. It is inspired by faith, driven by innovation, and powered by humanity.
The CommonSpirit name was inspired by scripture: "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." The company celebrates the healing gift of compassion that God gives to all and is committed to serving the common good. This includes providing more than $4 billion annually in charity care, community benefits, and government program services.
CommonSpirit Health has been recognised for its leadership, innovation, and patient-centred care. It was named a finalist for the 2025 AHA Quest for Quality Prize and has been acknowledged in the National Level Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality category. In 2024, CommonSpirit Health's Board Member, Phoebe L. Yang, moderated a discussion with Wright Lassiter III on visionary leadership in the healthcare landscape. Last year, the company also became one of the first 17 signatories to the Healthcare Anchor Network's Impact Workforce Commitment, an initiative to increase the presence of underrepresented populations in healthcare professions.
Unlikely Alliances: Catholic-Muslim Nations Unite?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$8.38 $15.99
$10.29 $18.99
CommonSpirit's commitment to quality care
CommonSpirit Health, the largest Catholic hospital chain and the second-largest non-profit hospital chain in the United States, is deeply committed to providing quality care to its patients. This non-profit hospital system, formed in 2019 by the merger of Dignity Health and Catholic Health Initiatives, operates more than 700 care sites and 142 hospitals in 21 states.
The organisation has been recognised for its outstanding leadership, innovation, and patient-centred care. It was named a finalist for the 2025 AHA Quest for Quality Prize and has received accolades in the National Level Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality category. CommonSpirit constantly innovates to expand its reach and enhance the patient experience.
In addition to its focus on quality care, CommonSpirit prioritises prompt treatment for non-life-threatening conditions and minor injuries. The health system offers walk-in urgent care services, ensuring that individuals can access timely medical attention when needed.
CommonSpirit's commitment to quality is also reflected in its dedication to building healthy communities. The organisation advocates for the poor and vulnerable, working to ensure that care is accessible and inclusive. With a diverse team of caregivers, CommonSpirit fosters a culture of shared growth and accountability, ensuring that hospitals, clinics, and caregivers are stronger together.
Through its comprehensive network, compassionate caregivers, and innovative approach, CommonSpirit Health demonstrates its unwavering commitment to delivering quality care and improving the health of the communities it serves.
Catholic Channel: Which Platforms Broadcast It?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$10.17 $16.99
CommonSpirit's financial losses in 2020
CommonSpirit Health, the largest Catholic hospital chain and the second-largest non-profit hospital chain in the United States, reported significant financial losses in 2020. The health system, founded in 2019 through the merger of Dignity Health and Catholic Health Initiatives, experienced a challenging financial year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, CommonSpirit reported an operating revenue loss of $550 million. This loss was an improvement from the previous year's losses of $617 million. However, when excluding the financial support received from the CARES Act provider relief fund, the losses for 2020 ballooned to $1.4 billion. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant slowdown in patient volumes, with appointments and emergency department visits declining as communities followed guidelines to avoid hospitals for non-emergent issues. CommonSpirit's expenses also increased during the pandemic, as additional resources were required for screening visitors and staff.
To mitigate these financial losses, CommonSpirit implemented several cost-saving measures. These included executive pay deductions, freezes on discretionary spending and capital projects, and a stringent review process for new projects. Additionally, the system received aid from the CARES Act, which covered approximately 60% of pandemic-related losses. This support was crucial in stabilizing CommonSpirit's financial situation during the peak of the pandemic.
Despite the challenges, CommonSpirit posted a modest increase in operating revenue and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for the fiscal year 2020 compared to 2019. Revenues and EBITDA rose to $29.58 billion and $1.44 billion, respectively, including $826 million in CARES Act grants. While the pandemic caused a temporary decline in adjusted admissions and volumes, CommonSpirit's patient volumes began to rebound after shelter-in-place orders were lifted. By June, July, and August, volumes had improved significantly, approaching pre-pandemic levels.
In summary, CommonSpirit Health experienced substantial financial losses in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but was able to mitigate these losses through cost-saving measures and CARES Act support. The system demonstrated resilience with increasing revenues and improving patient volumes towards the end of the year.
Anxiety and Sin: Catholic Perspective
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
No, Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) was a national Catholic healthcare system. In 2019, CHI merged with Dignity Health to form CommonSpirit Health, the largest Catholic health system and the second-largest nonprofit hospital chain in the US.
CommonSpirit Health is the largest Catholic and second-largest nonprofit hospital chain in the US, operating more than 700 care sites and 142 hospitals across 21 states.
CommonSpirit Health is committed to building healthier communities by providing high-quality, innovative, and patient-centred care to all.
Catholic Health Initiatives and Dignity Health received merger approval from the Catholic Church in 2018 and officially merged on February 1, 2019, to form CommonSpirit Health.
