We
’re glad to see that Saint Louise Regional Hospital Foundation
is working to foster a local approach to community-hospital
relations. It’s a move that’s long overdue and can only have
positive benefits for the community and the region’s lone
full-service hospital.
We’re glad to see that Saint Louise Regional Hospital Foundation is working to foster a local approach to community-hospital relations. It’s a move that’s long overdue and can only have positive benefits for the community and the region’s lone full-service hospital.
That connection has always been somewhat shaky in the South Valley as a whole, given the political, religious and other issues surrounding health care at Saint Louise Regional Hospital. That connection was stressed nearly to the breaking point in 1999 in Morgan Hill when the hospital was moved from that city to Gilroy by then-owner Catholic Healthcare West.
“The focus has now shifted toward a local focus within the Gilroy and Morgan Hill areas to really build up the relationship within the community (and) between the hospital and the foundation,” said James Roosevelt, the foundation’s new director.
Strengthening the community’s trust in the hospital will be crucial if the foundation is to achieve Roosevelt’s goal of raising $650,000 by June 30, and then another $1.2 million in the next 18 months earmarked for the surgery and mother and child departments and emergency room. We’re impressed with his progress to date – Roosevelt told reporter Lori Stuenkel that he’s raised $500,000 so far.
Daughters of Charity, which opened Saint Louise Hospital in Morgan Hill in 1989, turned it over to Catholic Healthcare West which then closed that facility and moved it into the former South Valley Hospital in 1999, also owns O’Connor Hospital in San Jose. By separating the fundraising for the two hospitals, South Valley residents who donate can be assured that their contributions will remain in the community to help their friends, neighbors and coworkers.
“It’s a better focus for all of us to separate from (O’Connor Hospital) because we’re South County and they’re San Jose,” Roosevelt said.
We couldn’t agree more. We’re glad to see the local focus in Saint Louise fundraising, and hope that attitude carries over into the management of the hospital.
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