Catholic Health Usa Podcast

As health care systems look to develop healthy partnerships across the globe, environmental impacts must become a factor to consider. How do we partner with organizations in a way that isn’t harmful to communities already experiencing the effects of climate change?Erica Smith, Executive Director of Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach, and Bruce Compton, Sr. Director of Global Health and International Outreach at CHA, join Health Calls to discuss their recent international visits, developing partnerships that focus on lessening environmental impacts and how to effectively and safely donate material goods.ResourcesVisit Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach websiteCheck out CHA’s Medical Surplus Recovery resources

Between hurricanes and heat waves, the effects of the climate crisis have never been more evident. How can health care systems make bold commitments that will make a difference in the fight against climate change?Ali Santore, Chief Advocacy and Social Responsibility Officer at Providence, and Beth Schenk, Chief Environmental Stewardship Officer at Providence, join Health Calls to discuss their system's pledge to be carbon-negative by 2030. They discuss the way the pledge has been integrated throughout leadership structures, the definition of "carbon negative" health care and how their climate impacts can be measured using data.

Patients with chronic illnesses want what any patient seeking health care wants: to improve their health without exhaustive treatment. Unlike the majority, however, these patients face specific barriers to achieving that care.Betsy Taylor, editor of Health Progress, and Tricia Steele, author of the Sick Person Guide e-book series, join Health Calls to discuss Steele’s recent article for Health Progress. Steele discusses her experiences as a patient advocate and ways that health care delivery isn’t equipped to meet specific patients’ needs and proposes steps that health systems can take to better care for those with chronic illnesses."What Patients With Chronic Illness Want Providers to Know" (Health Progress, Summer 2023)

Studies suggest that whole-person health care isn't limited to physical health but also includes mental and spiritual well-being. So why is spiritual care more difficult to find coverage for?Lisa Eisenhauer, Editor of Catholic Health World, joins the show to discuss an article she wrote for the paper featuring Dennis Heaphy, Health Justice Advocate and Researcher at the Massachusetts Disability Policy Consortium, and Sasha Shenk, Sr. Research Technician at Tufts University. Heaphy and Shenk talk about their article and the benefits of offering Medicaid for spiritual care, and Teresa Anderson, Mission Leader at Trinity Health PACE and Trinity Health at Home, describes how Trinity Health tries to implement extended coverage into their work.

The Ethical and Religious Directives have been a popular topic of conversation in health care circles for the past year. But what if we stopped viewing them simply as a list of do's and dont's, but as a living document articulating the mission and identity of Catholic health care?Betsy Taylor, editor of Health Progress, and Fr. Myles Sheehan, director of the Edmund D. Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics and the David Lauler chair of Catholic Health Care Ethics at Georgetown University Medical Center, join the show to discuss the ongoing conversation around the ERDs and how they can fortify the identity of Catholic health care. Fr. Sheehan also speaks directly to several specific parts of the ERDs, giving a comprehensive view of the directives and guiding principles beneath them.

The road to health equity is long, and many hospitals and healthcare facilities are on different parts of the journey. How do we gauge best practices and strategies for different parties? Several guests join this episode of Health Calls to discuss ongoing efforts to help hospitals across the United States: Kathy Curran, Senior Director of Public Policy for the Catholic Health Association; Joy Lewis, Senior Vice President for Health Equity Strategies for the American Hospital Association, and Executive Director of the Institute for Diversity and Health Equity; and Leon Caldwell, Senior Director of Health Equity Strategies at the American Hospital Association. They discuss the history of the AHA’s efforts and how the two associations have collaborated in the work of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.

Much of the health care process happens virtually these days. In the Catholic health ministry, how does spiritual care play into this equation?In the first episode of Health Calls season four, Jill Fisk, CHA's Director of Mission Services, and Justin Martin, a board-certified chaplain at Mercy St. Louis, join the show to discuss spiritual care in a virtual age. They discuss Mercy COVID Care @ Home, a program which recently won CHA’s Achievement Citation award, as well as the possibility of extending proactive chaplaincy services to different areas of care. Resources Mercy COVID Care @ Home: CHA’s 2023 Achievement Citation Video "Mercy chaplains tap technology to connect with COVID Care @ Home patients" (Catholic Health World article)

Season Four of Health Calls, the podcast of the Catholic Health Association, kicks off on June 27! Subscribe now!

When we think of “long term care,” we may bring assumptions to the table about how patients are cared for or act. What happens when the care we provide challenges those assumptions?Julie Minda, Associate Editor of Catholic Health World, joins the show to discuss her recent article regarding Montessori principles used in memory care. Michelle Feller, Assistant Administrator at Ferncliff Nursing Home, and Cameron Camp, Co-Founder of the Center for Applied Research in Dementia, also join to discuss these methods, how they benefit long term care patients, and the process of implementing Montessori principles in existing facilities. ResourcesRead Julie Minda’s article in Catholic Health World: “Ministry memory care facilities apply Montessori principles to increase resident engagement”Visit the Center for Applied Research in Dementia’s website

As the war in Ukraine continues well over a year after Russia's invasion, humanitarian efforts continue in an effort to meet the growing needs of the Ukrainian people.Bruce Compton, CHA's Senior Director of Global Health, joins the show after his recent visit to Ukraine with partners from the International Catholic Migration Commission. In the conversation, Bruce shares the impact the trip had on him along with details about the Catholic church's work and how the people of Ukraine are displaying resilience in the face of war.

The work of equity in health care is never finished. After the initial buy-in and foundational changes, how do health systems continue to work toward equity for communities, patients and colleagues?Kathy Curran, CHA Sr. Director of Public Policy, and Ralph McCloud, Director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Catholic Campaign for Human Development, join the show to discuss Catholic health care's continued journey with other Catholic organizations toward health equity. They discuss the first two years of CHA's We Are Called initiative, the crucial role of Catholic social teaching, and how polarization and other challenges can be faced head-on.Resources CHA's A Guide for Planning & Reporting Community Benefit, revised in 2022 to incorporate equity and social determinants of health as community benefit prioritiesCHA's We Are Called web page"Health Equity - A Call To Seek and Tell the 'True Truth' of Injustice" (Health Progress, Spring 2023)Visit the USCCB's website for the Catholic Campaign for Huma

It can be difficult to understand what's happening in Congress, especially in the lawmaking process – what policies are passing, what buzzwords actually mean and how does it affect the American people?Lisa Smith, CHA's Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy, and Paulo Pontemayor, CHA's Sr. Director of Government Relations, review the past year of health care advocacy and discuss some of the highlights of a busy year. They specifically address the much-discussed "Omnibus" bill that was passed in the final weeks of 2022, as well as policies relating to maternal health, environmental sustainability and health equity, among others.

With the 2022 midterm elections behind us, a reshaped Congress represents a new landscape and new challenges for health care advocacy.Lisa Smith, CHA's Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy, and Lucas Swanepoel, CHA's Sr. Director of Government Relations, join the show to discuss the new Congress and how the next two years could be challenging when passing policies. They also address CHA’s new Advocacy Agenda and some of the top priorities for Catholic health care over the next two years.ResourcesCHA's Advocacy Agenda for the 118th Congress

Increased mindfulness is vital to our well-being, but it requires a significant time commitment. For those with full schedules, how do we begin to build these practices into our busy lives?In a Health Calls special, Diarmuid Rooney, CHA's Interim Vice President of Sponsorship and Mission Services, and Jill Fisk, CHA's Director of Mission Services, discuss the benefits and importance of incorporating mindfulness exercises into our every day lives. They suggest a few easy ways to get started before Diarmuid leads listeners in a simple exercise that will refresh your spirit.ResourcesA Fresh Approach to Well-being in Health Care: A Health Calls Special EpisodeVisit CHA's ReNew Year page to explore a new foundational approach to Well-being in Catholic Health Care.Utilize meditative resources from CHA such as our "Be Still" and "Peace in Anxiety" videos.Read Sarah Reddin's recent Health Progress article, "Flourishing Through Formation: Catholic Identity Is Reinforced With Thoughtful Approaches"Contemplative Outreac

Maintaining our own well-being can be a challenge in a world where we’re constantly bombarded with new ideas, challenges, and tasks. When everything feels so urgent, how do we re-orient our minds and take the time to slow down?In a Health Calls special, Diarmuid Rooney, CHA’s Interim Vice President of Sponsorship and Mission Services, and Jill Fisk, CHA’s Director of Mission Services, host an intentional, meditative conversation on well-being and its roots in Catholic health ministry. They discuss the Christian history of meditative practice as well as the benefits of mindfulness and meditation before Diarmuid leads listeners in a simple exercise that will refresh your spirit.ResourcesVisit CHA’s ReNew Year page to explore a new foundational approach to Well-being in Catholic Health Care.Utilize meditative resources from CHA such as our "Be Still" and "Peace in Anxiety" videos.

In 2022, the Catholic Health Association’s Board of Directors called for a new vision statement for the organization and Catholic health care as a whole, a significant step in the organization’s 108-year history.Sr. Mary Haddad, President and CEO of CHA, and Laura Kaiser, FACHE, President and CEO of SSM Health and Chairperson of the CHA Board, join the show to discuss the motivation behind the visioning process, how they foresee alignment with CHA’s core values and mission and how the new vision statement could be used by CHA and its members in the future.

As 2023 begins, organizations around the world are taking stock of what drives them: their mission, vision and values. In Catholic Health Care, a commitment to the ministry is paramount and should be part of such evaluations.Dennis Gonzales, Ph.D., CHA's Sr. Director of Mission Innovation and Integration, and Paul Wojda, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Theology at the University of St. Thomas, join the show to discuss CHA's re-imagined Ministry Identity Assessment. They describe the importance of the assessment in continuing Jesus' healing ministry as well as changes that have been made to help health systems self-assess in a digital age. 

Restoring the health of an entire community can feel like an impossible task. But what if the answer is in first “revillagizing” the neighborhoods of that community?Editor of Health Progress Betsy Taylor joins the show to discuss a recent article authored by Nadine Nadal, Director of Community Health Development at CHRISTUS Health. Nadal and Mack McCarter, Founder and Coordinator of Community Renewal International, also join the conversation to discuss the community mentioned in Nadal’s article as well as best practices for restoring and collaborating with communities which have long been the recipients of inequitable care.ResourcesHealth Progress article: Friendship Houses, New Connections: CHRISTUS Health and Community Partners Work to Strengthen NeighborhoodsCommunity Renewal International website

Equity in the work force is a goal many institutions strive to accomplish, but is it possible without also addressing equity at the decision-making level? How does prioritizing board-level equity change the trajectory of an organization?Julie Trocchio, CHA’s Senior Director of Community Benefit and Continuing Care, and Dora Barilla, Director and Co-Founder of HC2 Strategies, join the show to discuss the following: Barilla’s work with the University of Providence, including the Community Health Investment Certificate program; prioritizing equity at the same level as patient safety; and how community health is impacted by diverse workforces.Resources“Boards Must Address Equity Competencies” (American Hospital Association)The Community Health Investment Certificate Program (University of Providence)CHA’s Community Benefit Website

The COVID-19 pandemic cast a spotlight on labor practices in the United States, leading to a “great reckoning” in 2022. How does Catholic health care fit into the larger conversation about labor?Editor of Health Progress Betsy Taylor joins the show to discuss a recent article co-authored by Daniel Graff, director of the Higgins Labor Program at the University of Notre Dame, and Kelli Reagan, a consultant at the Francesco Collaborative. Graff and Reagan also join the conversation to discuss their work in the labor sector and how Catholic health care can serve as a trendsetter when it comes to just labor practices.ResourceHealth Progress article: Just Wages for the Workforce: Why Health Care Should Lead the Way