Health, healing and politics: Why we speak up

I’m often asked why our organization has so much to say about public policy. After all, the thinking goes, we’re in the business of health and healing, not politics. My answer is always the same: it’s about the people we serve.

Providence St. Joseph Health exists to serve its many communities. Embedded in our mission is a call to serve those who are poor and vulnerable. Any one of us can become vulnerable when we are sick. Within communities there are also the forgotten, the marginalized, the suffering. Our founders were deeply moved by the many hardships they saw and became steadfast advocates on behalf of individuals, families and neighborhoods. Today we continue to be a voice for the voiceless.

Every day across seven states, our diverse family of organizations see and respond to a myriad of needs. Our hospitals and clinics often serve as safety nets, especially for those who depend on Medicaid and Medicare. We are not only clinicians, scientists, administrators, insurers and teachers. We are advocates on behalf of everyone we serve, especially those on the margins. That means when a law or rule is proposed that will have an impact on the people in our communities, we often will speak up.

When a congressional proposal meant millions of people were at risk of losing their health insurance with no other affordable option for care, we spoke up. And we invited our caregivers – all of our employees – to do the same. When nearly a million people are at risk of deportation because they were brought here as undocumented children, we will speak up, especially for those serving as caregivers in our organization. When children are the innocent victims of mass shootings and are brought to our hospitals, we are going to speak up.

Together, we can bring health, healing and restoration to our communities.

We have always been full participants in our communities, both in service and advocacy. This is not a time to be complacent, or to think that someone else is going to stand in the gap. We are here to care for the vulnerable and when needed to be their voice, guided by our advocacy agenda.

Read our 2018 Advocacy Agenda:

About the Author

Ali Santore is senior vice president of government affairs and social responsibility for Providence St. Joseph Health, a multi-state, not-for-profit health system committed to improving the health of the communities it serves, especially for those who are poor and vulnerable. In her role, Ali leads the development and execution of an integrated strategic approach to build healthier communities through public policy, stakeholder engagement, and socially responsible practices. This includes managing government affairs and advocacy operations across seven states and in Washington, D.C., as well as leading an environmental stewardship and energy management team to ensure alignment nationally while deepening structures that achieve measurable improvement in the system’s environmental footprint.

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