CHI History

Our story began formally in 1996, but the idea of Catholic Health Initiatives is deeply rooted. Faithful servants have been practicing the love of Christ by caring for those in need for centuries. We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before; they left a strong legacy for us to continue and nurture.

1995 – Sponsors of Catholic health ministries realized that the evolving health care environment would require a radical change in organizational structures.  In early 1995, a group of Catholic health care leaders began to explore ways to strengthen the health ministry for the future.  They envisioned a national Catholic health ministry, sponsored and governed by an equal religious-lay partnership, which would live out its mission by transforming health care delivery and creating new ministries to promote healthy communities.

April 1995 – Three national Catholic health care systems that represented 10 religious congregations signed a letter of intent to pursue consolidation.  The new organization would include 61 hospitals and 50 long-term care facilities in 20 states, with combined revenues of more than $4 billion.

• Catholic Health Corporation of Omaha, NE
• Franciscan Health System of Aston, PA
• Sisters of Charity Health Care Systems of Cincinnati, PH

July 1995 – A Steering Council determined five goals for the new organization:

• Research and development of new ministries
• Leadership development
• Development of the concept of healthy communities
• Advocacy
• General oversight of business and activities

August 1995 – Organizers named the new organization Catholic Health Initiatives and approved a mission statement.

January 1996 –The first Board of Stewardship Trustees formed, with six lay persons and six members of religious institutes, including three members of congregations that merged their health ministries to form CHI.  Patricia A. Cahill, Esq., was named the first president and CEO.

May 1996 – Leaders from each system signed the documents that officially united Catholic Health Corporation, Franciscan Health System and Sisters of Charity Health Care Systems as Catholic Health Initiatives.

July 1996 – CHI began operation July 1.

May 1997 – CHI’s Mission and Ministry Fund awarded its first grants, totaling more than $1.8 million, to programs designed to build healthy communities.

September 1997 – The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Health System, Nazareth, KY, consolidated with Catholic Health Initiatives, adding nine acute care facilities in three states to the system.

March 1998 –The Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Hankinson, ND, transferred sponsorship of a hospital and eight clinics in North Dakota to CHI.

May 1998 – CHI introduced its core values – Reverence, Integrity, Compassion and Excellence – at its first National Leadership Conference. 

October 1998 – The Board of Stewardship Trustees adopted a Social Responsibility Investment Policy to steward CHI’s financial resources in a manner consistent with its mission, vision and core values. 

September 1999 – CHI announced the first three investments of its Direct Community Investment Program.  $1.8 million in investments, in the form of no- or low-interest loans, went to organizations that promote access to jobs, housing, education or health care for disadvantaged populations.

April 2001 – CHI received the 2001 National Quality Health Care Award from the National Committee for Quality Health Care and Modern Healthcare magazine.  CHI was the first national health care system to win the award.

August 2003 –Kevin E. Lofton, FACHE, executive vice president and COO, was named the second president and CEO of CHI upon the retirement of Patricia A. Cahill. 

November 2004 – The My Voice, My Vote campaign created by CHI encouraged employees, board members, physicians, volunteers  and others to learn about candidates and issues and vote in political elections. 

March 2005 – CHI adopted the objectives of the 100,000 Lives Campaign created by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, including the avoidance of 100,000 preventable patient deaths from December 2004 to June 2006 through hospital implementation of six proven interventions.

October 2005 – CHI received the 2005 International Spirit at Work Award for promotion of workplace spirituality.

June 2006 – Through the implementation of rapid response teams, strategic staffing and evidence-based practices, Catholic Health Initiatives’ facilities reduced mortality 6.25% during fiscal year 2006, the equivalent of 450 lives saved.

October 2006 – Catholic Health Initiatives received the inaugural Outstanding Organization of the Year Award from the National Association of Health Services Executives.

January 2007 – Kevin Lofton, president and CEO of CHI, became chair of the Board of Trustees of the American Hospital Association.  

April 2007– Saint Clare’s Health System, a four-hospital system that is the largest community health system in northwest New Jersey, entered an agreement to join CHI.

September 2007 – CHI embarked on a systemwide research and development effort, designed to identify and evaluate new ways to drive innovation and advance health care delivery throughout the healing ministry.

March 2008 – CHI’s mission of building healthy communities was reaffirmed by its launch of a national violence prevention campaign, which will include millions of dollars in grants to help eliminate violence.

November 2009 – CHI acquired an equity position in Pathology Associates Medical Laboratories (PAML), a full-service medical reference laboratory in Spokane, WA, operated by Providence Health Services.

September 2010 – Consolidated Health Services, a home care service provider with 30 locations in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, joined CHI as the basis of a national home care service line.

January 2012– Jewish Hospital and St. Mary's HealthCare and Saint Joseph Health System announced a merger of the two organizations forming KentuckyOne Health, the state's largest health system.

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