St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center

Description

Located in the heart of Phoenix Arizona St Josephs Hospital and Medical Center is a 542bed notforprofit hospital that provides a wide range of health social and support services with special advocacy for the poor and underserved Founded in 1895 by the Sisters of Mercy St Josephs was the first hospital in the Phoenix area The hospital is part of Catholic Healthcare West CHW one of the largest healthcare systems in the West with 40 hospitals in Arizona California and Nevada

Our Mission
Catholic Healthcare West and our Sponsoring Congregations are committed to furthering the healing ministry of Jesus We dedicate our resources to

Delivering compassionate highquality affordable health services

Serving and advocating for our sisters and brothers who are poor and
disenfranchised and

Partnering with others in the community to improve the quality of life

Our Vision
A growing and diversified health care ministry distinguished by excellent quality and committed to expanding access to those in need

Our Values
Catholic Healthcare West is committed to providing highquality affordable health care to the communities we serve Above all else we value

Dignity Respecting the inherent value and worth of each person

Collaboration Working together with people who support common values and
vision to achieve shared goals

Justice Advocating for social change and acting in ways that promote
respect for all persons and demonstrate compassion for our sisters and
brothers who are powerless

Stewardship Cultivating the resources entrusted to us to promote healing
and wholeness

Excellence Exceeding expectations through teamwork and innovation

History

Our History
The Sisters of Mercy and St Josephs Hospital and Medical Center

Its a story like no other in metropolitan Phoenix When you think about a Valley with more than three million people its hard to imagine community beginnings that stretch back more than a century But that is when one inspirational tale began

The Sisters of Mercy came to Phoenix in 1892 to open a parish school They were successful in that endeavor but what affected them most deeply was the suffering of tuberculosis victims Realizing the most pressing need of the community the Sisters expanded their original mission and began fundraising to be able to establish a sanitarium

Their efforts paid off They collected enough money to rent a sixbedroom brick cottage at Fourth and Polk Streets in January of 1895 They equipped each room with two beds for tuberculosis patients and created quarters for themselves in the living room St Josephs Sanitarium was born

Two months later the Sisters had raised sufficient funds to build a quotreal hospitalquot On March 19 1895 a stake was driven into the ground to mark the site of what would become a hospital housing 24 private rooms that opened onto porches

Through the years there were additions to that building of course and a devastating fire in 1917 after which the building was reconstructed in just 90 days The rebuilt facility was adequate for the community for the next 30 years but the local population was continuing to grow significantly In 1930 the population of Phoenix was 48118 By 1945 it had reached nearly 100000 St Josephs Hospital needed a larger facility

In the mid1940s the Sisters purchased 10 acres of land at Third Avenue and Thomas Road which was then part of an old dairy farm They were criticized for choosing land so far north of the city literally out in the country But the Sisters had foresight and a keen understanding of a good business deal Those 10 acres cost just 25000

In November 1947 a fundraising campaign began to raise money to build the new hospital The modern spacious facility opened in July of 1953

St Josephs Hospital has thrived at this same location for going on half a century But there has still been plenty of change in healthcare in the services provided in the way business is managed in the programs that help our community and in the technological advances offered