Introducing the new Mission statement for Providence St. Joseph Health

March 20, 2018 Rod Hochman

The Sisters of Providence and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange had a clear sense of purpose when they traveled West 160 years ago. They came to serve those in need and to be a source of healing and love in the world.  Though we have used different words to express it over the years, the Mission itself remains changeless and enduring, and continues to define everything we do today.

Our founders traveled West 160 years ago to serve those in need and to be a source of healing and love in the world.

That's why, when we joined as Providence St. Joseph Health, we believed it was imperative to engage our caregivers in crafting a shared way of articulating the Mission, together.  After a yearlong process in which 60,000 caregivers participated, we are pleased to introduce the new statements of Mission and values.

As you'll see below, it honors our Catholic and Christian traditions. The new Mission statement will be used by our parent organization, Providence St. Joseph Health, as well as Providence Health & Services, St. Joseph Health and Covenant Health. Our other-than-Catholic partners - Hoag, Kadlec, INHS, Pacific Medical Centers and Swedish - will continue to use their current Mission statements to honor their own important histories and cultures.

I’m also excited to introduce the new vision for Providence St. Joseph Health. It’s a simple but powerful way to affirm that we are committed to helping more people enjoy the gift of good health so that they, in turn, can use their unique talents to make the world a better place. Health is about more than just health care and the treatment of disease. It's also about being there for people emotionally, spiritually, socially and mentally. Together, as Providence St. Joseph Health, we can make a profound difference in the health of others, here at home and around the globe.

We are committed to helping more people enjoy the gift of good health so that they, in turn, can use their unique talents to make the world a better place.

The final statement you will find below is the promise we make to every person we serve. When we live the Mission and practice our values, the result is a series of personal, meaningful interactions. It’s what patients, families, caregivers and consumers can expect from Providence St. Joseph Health.

I invite you to reflect on the statements below and watch this video about the Mission in the words of our caregivers. What resonates with you? What inspires you about the work you do? I would love to hear from you in the comments. I also want to take a moment to thank everyone who participated in the process of crafting the statements of Mission and values. All of us have been entrusted with a sacred duty to keep the Mission alive, and your contributions have helped ensure we are articulating it in a way that resonates powerfully across Providence St. Joseph Health. 

The Mission As expressions of God’s healing love, witnessed through the ministry of Jesus, we are steadfast in serving all, especially those who are poor and vulnerable.

Values Compassion, Dignity, Justice, Excellence, Integrity

Vision Health for a Better World

Our Promise "Know me, care for me, ease my way.”

In the words of our caregivers

More than 90 percent of our caregivers consistently tell us the Mission resonates with them powerfully. Hear what it means in their own words in this video.

Our heritage

I love to ask this question when I tell people about Providence St. Joseph Health: How many organizations can you think of that were founded by women 160 years ago and continue to serve millions of people across the Western U.S. today? I am proud to be part of such a strong heritage and am inspired by all of our 111,000 caregivers who keep the Mission alive with every person, every day. The video below shares the story of our founding Sisters.

How many organizations can you think of that were founded by women 160 years ago and continues to serve millions of people today?

Additional resources

About the Author

Rod Hochman

Rod Hochman is president and CEO of Providence St. Joseph Health, a national, Catholic, not-for-profit health system, comprising a diverse family of organizations serving Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

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