Ascension Forms New National Senior Care Health Ministry

ST. LOUIS, July 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascension, the nation's largest Catholic and non-profit health system, today announced the formation of Ascension Health Senior Care, uniting the majority of its senior-focused programs into one national organization.

The senior services ministry will include independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, as well as PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) programs, that are part of Ascension Health, Ascension's healthcare delivery organization. Together, the 34 senior care facilities across the country will have better access to resources to enhance patient care, programs and services, as well as share best practices and processes, and establish consistent standards.

Ascension Health Senior Care will rank as the second-largest not-for-profit long-term care provider in the United States, overseeing 5,568 senior care/senior living beds and three PACE programs totaling 725 enrollees.

"As we consider how best to provide person-centered care to those we serve, we see an opportunity to extend our already deep commitment to those who are aging and their families," said Anthony R. Tersigni, Ed.D., FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension. "By bringing together the services and programs that are serving seniors across our national health ministry, we will enhance care through shared best practices and increased focus on caring for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of seniors."

"Ascension Health Senior Care communities care for more than 5,500 individuals across the country on any given day," said Robert J. Henkel, FACHE, Executive Vice President, Ascension, and President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension Health. "As the senior population in our country continues to grow, we know there will be increasing demand for the high-quality, person-centered care we provide. By uniting these services, we can take advantage of their combined expertise to ensure we are able to meet that demand."

Being part of a larger, nationally coordinated organization enables every location of Ascension Health Senior Care to benefit from greater investment in facilities and equipment, better resource allocation, more efficient operations, and growth opportunities. Current residents and program participants will see no change in their ability to access care and services for themselves or their loved ones. In fact, many facilities are expected to expand their care programs and benefit from facility and capital investments.

One of the first initiatives will be to identify and implement unified best practices across all of the facilities. Unique best-in-class programs already in place at some ministries will be spread nationwide, ensuring that Ascension Health Senior Care is providing the highest quality person-centered care and service.

"Our vision calls for providing holistic care and support to the seniors we serve," said Mark Frey, Ascension Health Ministry Market Leader for Senior Services and President and Chief Executive Officer, Alexian Brothers Health System. "It also calls for developing and implementing innovative care models that improve health outcomes, reduce costs, and improve the experience of seniors with their unique clinical and functional needs."

For more information, visit www.ascensionhealthseniorcare.org.

About Ascension
Ascension (www.ascension.org) is a Catholic healthcare organization dedicated to the transformation of healthcare through excellent clinical care throughout the continuum of care and through innovation. Ascension is the nation's largest Catholic and non-profit health system, providing the highest quality care to all with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable.

Last year Ascension provided $1.5 billion in care of persons living in poverty and community benefit programs. Its Mission-focused Health Ministries employ more than 150,000 associates serving in more than 1,900 sites of care in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Ascension's direct subsidiaries provide services that include healthcare delivery, medical equipment management, treasury management, resource and supply management, venture capital investing, physician practice management, and risk management.

SOURCE Ascension