Providence Health System
Encyclopedia
Providence Health & Services is a not-for-profit
Catholic
health care
ministry
that includes 27 hospital
s, more than 35 non-acute facilities and numerous other health, housing and educational services in the states of Alaska
, Washington, Montana
, Oregon
and California
on the United States
west coast
. Headquartered in Renton, Washington
, the health system is sponsored by the Sisters of Providence (Montreal, Quebec) religious community in Alaska, Washington, Montana and Oregon. In southern California, the health system is co-sponsored by the Sisters of Providence and the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary
. October 5, 2011 Providence and Swedish Medical Center
Join Forces to Improve Health Care for Western Washington. To form an innovative affiliation that will improve health-care quality, access and affordability for the residents of Western Washington
founded in Montreal
, Quebec
by Mother Émilie Gamelin
in 1843. In 1856, Mother Joseph
and four sisters came to Vancouver, Washington
(then Washington Territory
) to serve the native people and settlers. In 1858, they founded St. Joseph Hospital, the Pacific Northwest's first permanent hospital (now Southwest Washington Medical Center). In 1859, the sisters incorporated
their ministries within the Territory of Washington, and Providence Health System continues today as one of the oldest corporations in the state. The sisters went on to establish numerous schools and hospitals in Washington, Montana, Oregon, Alaska, British Columbia, and California. Providence Services and its facilities share this corporate lineage.
Providence Health System was managed by the Sisters of Providence until 1979, when the first lay-person was made president of the system because of the declining numbers and expanded services of the religious community.
Today, Providence Health & Services is the largest health care system in Washington state and one of the largest employers in Washington state where it is headquartered in Renton, Washington.
The president and CEO is John Koster, MD. He joined Providence in April 1997 and held primary responsibility for system operations until he became President & CEO in 2003. Prior to joining Providence, Dr. Koster served as senior vice president of VHA, Inc. in Irving, Texas, a nationwide network of health care organizations and physicians.
The system office is located in Renton, Washington
.
programs, mental health
treatment, comprehensive outreach programs including prevention and wellness, long-term care
, assisted living
and housing.
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
ministry
Christian ministry
In Christianity, ministry is an activity carried out by Christians to express or spread their faith. 2003's Encyclopedia of Christianity defines it as "carrying forth Christ's mission in the world", indicating that it is "conferred on each Christian in baptism." It is performed by all Christians...
that includes 27 hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
s, more than 35 non-acute facilities and numerous other health, housing and educational services in the states of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, Washington, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
on the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
west coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
. Headquartered in Renton, Washington
Renton, Washington
Renton is an Eastside edge city in King County, Washington, United States. Situated 11 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, Renton straddles the southeast shore of Lake Washington. Founded in the 1860s, Renton became a supply town for the Newcastle coal fields...
, the health system is sponsored by the Sisters of Providence (Montreal, Quebec) religious community in Alaska, Washington, Montana and Oregon. In southern California, the health system is co-sponsored by the Sisters of Providence and the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary
Sisters of the Little Company of Mary
The Little Company of Mary is a Roman Catholic religious institute of women dedicated to caring for the suffering, the sick and the dying. The order was founded in 1877 England by Venerable Mary Potter....
. October 5, 2011 Providence and Swedish Medical Center
Swedish Medical Center
Swedish Medical Center is a large nonprofit health care provider located in Seattle, Washington. It has three main hospital locations in Seattle and is also affiliated with many other suburban hospitals and clinics. As of 2009 it has 7000 employees and 2,300 credentialed physicians.-History:Swedish...
Join Forces to Improve Health Care for Western Washington. To form an innovative affiliation that will improve health-care quality, access and affordability for the residents of Western Washington
History
Providence Health System was established by the Sisters of Providence (Montreal, Quebec), a community of Roman Catholic sistersNun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
founded in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
by Mother Émilie Gamelin
Émilie Gamelin
Émilie Gamelin , also known as Marie-Émilie-Eugène Gamelin and Amélie Gamelin, was a Canadian social worker and Roman Catholic nun. She is best known as the founder and first superior of the Sisters of Providence...
in 1843. In 1856, Mother Joseph
Mother Joseph
Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart, S.P., was born Esther Pariseau in Saint-Elzéar, Quebec, Canada...
and four sisters came to Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
(then Washington Territory
Washington Territory
The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 8, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington....
) to serve the native people and settlers. In 1858, they founded St. Joseph Hospital, the Pacific Northwest's first permanent hospital (now Southwest Washington Medical Center). In 1859, the sisters incorporated
Incorporation (business)
Incorporation is the forming of a new corporation . The corporation may be a business, a non-profit organisation, sports club, or a government of a new city or town...
their ministries within the Territory of Washington, and Providence Health System continues today as one of the oldest corporations in the state. The sisters went on to establish numerous schools and hospitals in Washington, Montana, Oregon, Alaska, British Columbia, and California. Providence Services and its facilities share this corporate lineage.
Providence Health System was managed by the Sisters of Providence until 1979, when the first lay-person was made president of the system because of the declining numbers and expanded services of the religious community.
Today, Providence Health & Services is the largest health care system in Washington state and one of the largest employers in Washington state where it is headquartered in Renton, Washington.
Unification with Providence Services
On January 1, 2006, Providence Health System began merging their facilities and resources with those of nearby Providence Services. With this unification, the Washington Region was expanded and renamed the Washington/Montana Region. As of January 1, 2007, the company permanently changed its name to Providence Health & Services.The president and CEO is John Koster, MD. He joined Providence in April 1997 and held primary responsibility for system operations until he became President & CEO in 2003. Prior to joining Providence, Dr. Koster served as senior vice president of VHA, Inc. in Irving, Texas, a nationwide network of health care organizations and physicians.
The system office is located in Renton, Washington
Renton, Washington
Renton is an Eastside edge city in King County, Washington, United States. Situated 11 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, Renton straddles the southeast shore of Lake Washington. Founded in the 1860s, Renton became a supply town for the Newcastle coal fields...
.
Alaska
- Providence Alaska Medical CenterProvidence Alaska Medical CenterProvidence Alaska Medical Center is located at 3200 Providence Drive in Anchorage, Alaska, is Alaska's largest hospital, has 341 beds and more than 500 physicians on staff. It is a full-service facility, featuring the state's most advanced medical equipment and treatment systems available...
- Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center
- Providence Seward Medical and Care Center
- Providence Valdez Medical Center
California
- Providence Holy Cross Medical CenterProvidence Holy Cross Medical CenterProvidence Holy Cross Medical Center is a hospital in Mission Hills, California, USA. The hospital has 254 beds, and is part of Providence Health & Services.-History:...
- Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro
- Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance
- Providence Saint Joseph Medical CenterProvidence Saint Joseph Medical CenterProvidence Saint Joseph Medical Center is a hospital in Burbank, California, USA. The hospital has 431 beds, and is part of Providence Health & Services. Its address is 501 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91505...
- Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center (Los Angeles)
- Providence Tarzana Medical CenterProvidence Tarzana Medical CenterThe Providence Tarzana Medical Center is a hospital in Tarzana, California. The hospital's ownership changed in July 2008 when Tenet Healthcare sold it to the current owner, Providence Health & Services. Previously, the hospital was one of the campuses of the Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical...
Montana
- St. Joseph Medical Center
- St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences CenterSt. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences CenterSt. Patrick Hospital, commonly known as St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center, is a healthcare facility in Missoula, Montana.-Overview:...
Oregon
- Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital
- Providence Medford Medical Center
- Providence Milwaukie Hospital
- Providence Newberg Medical CenterProvidence Newberg Medical CenterProvidence Newberg Medical Center is a not-for-profit Level IV acute care hospital in Newberg, Oregon, United States. Opened at a different location as Newberg Community Hospital, a new 40 licensed hospital bed and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified facility was opened in...
- Providence Portland Medical CenterProvidence Portland Medical CenterProvidence Portland Medical Center, located at 4805 NE Glisan St. in the Center neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, is a full service medical center specializing in cancer and cardiac care. Opened in 1941, the hospital is licensed for 483 beds, and has over 3,000 employees. There are approximately...
- Providence Seaside Hospital
- Providence St. Vincent Medical CenterProvidence St. Vincent Medical CenterProvidence St. Vincent Medical Center, is a non-profit, acute care hospital in the Portland metropolitan area of the U.S. state of Oregon. The center is Providence Health & Services’s largest Oregon hospital. St...
- Providence Willamette Falls Medical CenterProvidence Willamette Falls Medical CenterProvidence Willamette Falls Medical Center is a not-for-profit acute care hospital operated by Providence Health & Services in Oregon City, Oregon, United States. Established in 1954 as Doctors' Hospital, the hospital moved to its current location in 1961 and has 143 licensed beds at its facility...
Washington
- Providence Centralia Hospital
- Providence Holy Family Hospital
- Providence Mount Carmel Hospital
- Providence Regional Medical Center EverettProvidence Regional Medical Center EverettProvidence Regional Medical Center Everett, located at 1321 Colby Avenue and 916 Pacific Avenue in Downtown Everett, Washington, is a full service medical center which had won four awards Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, (formerly known as Providence Everett Medical Center (PEMC) and...
- Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital
- Providence St. Joseph's Hospital
- Providence St. Mary Medical Center
- Providence St. Peter HospitalProvidence St. Peter HospitalProvidence St. Peter Hospital, located in the Lilly Road Medical District of Olympia, Washington is Providence Health & Services’s second largest Washington state hospital. Providence St. Peter features 390-beds in the medical/surgical tower with 39 private rooms in the emergency department, 18...
Other types of services
Providence Health & Services' comprehensive scope of services also includes outpatient services, transitional care, home and hospice care, substance abuseDrug abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts...
programs, mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
treatment, comprehensive outreach programs including prevention and wellness, long-term care
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
, assisted living
Assisted living
Assisted living residences or assisted living facilities provide supervision or assistance with activities of daily living ; coordination of services by outside health care providers; and monitoring of resident activities to help to ensure their health, safety, and well-being.Assistance may...
and housing.