Saint Joseph-Berea Awarded Three-Year Grant for Berea Health Ministry Expansion of Services
Saint Joseph - Berea has been awarded a three year grant to partner with Berea Health Ministries, a certified rural health clinic and Extended Health Service that provides primary and non-emergency treatment to poor, uninsured and underinsured patients. The grant is provided by the Mission and Ministry Fund of Catholic Health Initiatives, the national health care system that includes Saint Joseph – Berea and Saint Joseph Health System.
Established in 1996, the Mission and Ministry Fund has awarded 273 grants, amounting to more than $33 million, across the globe. The fund was established through contributions from Catholic Health Initiatives’ facilities across the nation, including Saint Joseph – Berea.
“Everywhere that our grants go, we see evidence that they help meet identified needs and help bring about significant improvements in the health of communities, both in the U.S. and abroad,” said Kevin Lofton, president and chief executive officer of Catholic Health Initiatives.
Saint Joseph - Berea has the attributes Catholic Health Initiatives seeks when awarding Mission and Ministry Fund grants: it meets an identified community need, is innovative, able to be replicated and promotes collaboration with other organizations in the community. Saint Joseph – Berea and Berea Health Ministries will work together to design and implement a primary Health Care Project (PHCP) that emphasizes primary health care, preventative health and expanded hours for the poor, uninsured and underserved target audience. The purpose of the grant is to provide the funds needed to start the services desired. Funds will need to be raised to support the extended hours of service after this time. Berea Health Ministries is in the process of interviewing for the newly created positions. They hope to begin the new services by the middle of September. “We are very excited about this opportunity to partner with Berea Health Ministries as they strive to provide better services for our community. There is a great need for primary care amongst the uninsured and underinsured. Berea Health Ministry provides access to care that many people would not otherwise receive,” states Flora Washburn, Mission Leader/Chaplain, Saint Joseph - Berea.
Saint Joseph - Berea, a member of Saint Joseph Health System, is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital, serves the residents of Madison, Jackson, Rockcastle, Estill and Garrard counties. The hospital includes a fully staffed 24-hour emergency department, accredited Chest Pain Center, Berea Family Medicine, cardiology services, Specialty Clinics, Diabetes and Nutrition Center, Rehabilitation Services, Sleep Wellness Center, Senior Renewal Center, Wound Center and Surgical Services. True to its mission, Saint Joseph - Berea is dedicated to the healing mission of the Church, emphasizing human dignity, social justice and the creation of healthier communities.
About Catholic Health Initiatives
Catholic Health Initiatives is a national nonprofit health organization with headquarters in Denver, Colorado. The faith-based system operates in 18 states and includes 73 hospitals; 40 long-term care, assisted- and residential-living facilities; and two community health-services organizations. Together, those facilities provided $553 million during the 2009 fiscal year in charity care and community benefit, including services for the poor, free clinics, education and research. With annual revenues of $8.6 billion, CHI ranks as the nation’s second-largest Catholic health care system.
