Peter
Novecosky, OSB
Catholic
hospitals show colours
A new study on hospitals
in the United States should be welcome news to Catholic hospitals in
Canada — and it should be of interest to budget-conscious governments
responsible for managing our health care dollars.
The study showed that Catholic and other church-run health systems are
“significantly more likely to provide higher quality care and
efficiency” than non-profit and for-profit health care systems.
The study was released by
Ann Arbor, Michigan-based industry analysis company Thomson Reuters.
It reviewed 255 US health care systems with two or more hospitals. It
grouped the systems into four ownership-based groups: Catholic, other
church-owned, non-profit and for-profit.
It measured eight standards
of quality care and efficiency: mortality, medical complications, patient
safety, average length of stay, 30-day mortality rate, 30-day readmission
rate, adherence to clinical standards, and patient survey data collected
by the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Using a ranking system in
which a lower number is desireable, Catholic hospitals were ranked slightly
above 80 while for-profit hospitals were ranked more than 180.
Jean Chenoweth, senior vice-president
for performance improvement at Thomson Reuters, said, “Our data
suggest that the leadership of health systems owned by churches may
be the most active in aligning quality goals and monitoring achievement
of mission across the system.”
The report did not analyse
the reasons for the success of church-owned hospitals. It said that
a further study would be needed to understand the difference. However,
a spokesperson for the US bishops did offer one reason.
“When your mission
is rooted in Jesus who healed the sick, only top quality care will do,”
said Sister Mary Ann Walsh. “This study confirms what many take
for granted. The church leads in providing quality health care efficiently.”
While anecdotal evidence has indicated church-run hospitals in Canada also provide more efficient and higher quality care, a study to confirm this according to rigorous secular standards would be more credible.
An ecumenical anniversary
The ecumenical community of Taizé celebrated a double anniversary
the weekend of Aug. 14: 70 years of its founding by Brother Roger Schutz
in 1940 and five years since his tragic death, Aug. 16, 2005.
“Seventy years ago, he began a community that continues to see
thousands of young adults, searching for meaning in their lives, come
to it from around the world, welcoming them in prayer and allowing them
to experience a personal relationship with God,” Pope Benedict
wrote to Brother Alois, leader of the community.
Schutz, a Swiss Protestant, nurtured the idea of founding an ecumenical
monastery — an idea foreign to the Protestant tradition. He left
his homeland to settle in France, near Macon in Burgundy, as war was
tearing Europe apart. He wanted to begin a centre for peace, reconciliation
and prayer.
Since then Taizé has attracted thousands of people, especially
youth, and its influence has spread worldwide.
Today, the community is made
up of more than 100 brothers, Catholic and Protestant, from 30 different
countries. Over the years, young adults have come to Taizé in
ever increasing numbers, to take part in weekly meetings. Church leaders
also come to Taizé. The community has welcomed Pope John Paul
II, four archbishops of Canterbury, Orthodox metropolitans, the 14 Lutheran
bishops of Sweden, and pastors from all over the globe.
Brothers live in some of
the most disadvantaged places in the world: in Asia, Africa and South
America. They are witnesses of peace, alongside people who are suffering.
They share the living conditions of the local people around them and
are present to the very poor, street children, prisoners, the dying,
those wounded by broken relationships, or who have been abandoned.
In 1962 brothers and young
people were sent by the Taizé community to visit the countries
of Eastern Europe to visit those who were confined within their boarders.
Archbishop of Canterbury
Rowan Williams, head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, described
Schutz as “one of the few figures who truly change the climate
of a religious culture, not by the exercise either of force or of cheap
popularity, but by a lifelong practice of Christ-like authority.”
Today, the churches are reaping the fruit of his labours and prayers.
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