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879 Families Contact
KidsCare-a-thon hosted by KOLD News 13, Carondelet Health
Network and the Covering Kids Coalition
Tucson, Arizona – April 24, 2008 – On Tuesday,
April 22, 2008, Carondelet Health Network, the Covering Kids
Coalition and KOLD News 13 joined forces to help Southern
Arizona families in need of children’s health coverage. More
than 100,000 uninsured children live in Tucson and Southern
Arizona.
During a 15-hour phone-a-thon held at KOLD
News 13’s studios, 879 families called to learn more about
KidsCare - a low-cost, state health coverage program that
provides medical, dental and vision coverage to eligible
children 18 years old and younger. The plan offers comprehensive
coverage, including emergency care, doctor’s office visits,
prescription drug coverage, behavioral health services and
immunizations for currently uninsured children.
In the coming weeks, those families will be
taken through the eligibility and application process in
follow-up appointments with a variety of local organizations,
which specialize in helping with KidsCare enrollment. On
Tuesday, 76 volunteers from 31 local community groups manned the
KidsCare-a-thon phone bank.
“Southern Arizona children should not suffer
physically and developmentally because healthcare coverage is
out of reach financially for their parents,” stated Bill Pike,
Director of Public Policy at Carondelet Health Network. “At
Carondelet, our mission is Healthcare That Leaves No One Behind.
Raising awareness and enrollment in KidsCare is a commitment for
our organization and many others that want to do what is right
for these kids. Carondelet and our parent health ministry,
Ascension Health, are committed to national healthcare reform
that leads our country to 100% access to healthcare and 100%
coverage for all.”
During the 2007 KidsCare-a-thon event, 815
families called for information. In the weeks and months that
followed, more than 1800 children and adults were enrolled in
government-assisted healthcare programs.
Families still in need of information about or
help enrolling in KidsCare can contact Renee Perez, Carondelet
Health Network’s KidsCare Coordinator, at 520-873-5042.
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KOLD News 13 Partners
with Covering Kids Coalition and Carondelet Health Network To
Host Second Annual KidsCare Phone-a-thon
Tucson, Arizona – April 17, 2008 – On Tuesday,
April 22, 2008, KOLD Television, Carondelet Health Network and
the Covering Kids Coalition join forces to raise awareness about
the growing problem of uninsured children in our state.
250,000 Arizona children do not have health insurance. 100,000
of those live in Southern Arizona.
One simple solution for covering these kids is
KidsCare - a low-cost, state health insurance program that
provides medical, dental and vision coverage to eligible
children 18 years old and younger. The plan offers comprehensive
coverage, including emergency care, doctor’s office visits,
prescription drug coverage, behavioral health services and
immunizations to children of working families who make too much
to qualify for AHCCCS but not enough to afford private
insurance.
On Tuesday, April 22nd, a KidsCare
phone-a-thon will take place at KOLD studios. This phone-a-thon
is organized by Carondelet Health Network and the Children’s
Action Alliance and will be manned by volunteers from the many
organizations involved with the Covering Kids Coalition.
Throughout its broadcast day, from 5:00 a.m.
to 7:00 p.m., KOLD will be reporting live from the phone bank
and promoting a telephone number, which viewers can call to get
instant information about the program. Anyone interested in
applying for KidsCare can leave their contact information with
the volunteers. Interested families will be taken through the
eligibility and enrollment process in follow-up appointments
during the weeks following the phone-a-thon.
This is the phone-a-thon’s second year. During
the 2007 event, 815 families called for information. In the
weeks and months that followed, more than 1800 children and
adults were enrolled in government-assisted healthcare programs.
“Health coverage is a necessity for children,”
stated Penelope Jacks, Executive Director, Southern Arizona
Office of Children’s Action Alliance. “We know that children who
lack health insurance coverage do not perform as well in school,
often have reduced cognitive development, and develop illnesses
which progress farther than necessary before they receive
treatment.”
“Carondelet Health Network and its parent
ministry, Ascension Health, have a mission of Healthcare That
Leaves No One Behind. Our faith-based healthcare ministries
believe strongly that every person should have the peace of mind
to know they can receive medical care when needed,” stated Bill
Pike, Director of Public Policy for Carondelet Health Network.
“Carondelet and Ascension are committed to doing all we can this
year to raise awareness about the need for our nation’s
healthcare delivery system to become accessible, affordable, and
safe through a reformed national health policy – one which leads
to 100% access and 100% coverage.”
KidsCare
Phone-a-thon
KOLD Studios
7831 North Business Park Drive, Tucson, AZ, 85743
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
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Public Captivated By
New Medical Pavilion On St. Joseph’s Medical Center Campus
Tucson, Arizona – April 10, 2008 – Approximately 700 Tucsonans
passed through the doors at Carondelet Health Network’s new
medical pavilion on Saturday, April 5, 2008. They came for a
first hand look at the 164,000 square foot, 48 million dollar
facility on the St. Joseph’s Medical Center campus.
The public open house followed a ribbon
cutting, blessing, and VIP reception with community leaders on
Friday, April 4th.
The 5-story bed tower adds 167 new hospital
beds in the city of Tucson, and will house Women’s Care – a
comprehensive program of services for women in all the stages of
their lives. The Carondelet Neurological In-Patient Care Unit
(opening this summer) will also be housed on the fifth floor of
this new building.
Expectant couples, scheduled to deliver their
babies in the new medical pavilion, came anxious to learn more
about the physical layout of the building. Nervous “dads-to-be”
were eager to learn about everything from patient drop-off to
sign-in, triage, delivery and recovery. Families, couples,
medical professionals were also among the hundreds of guests
touring the halls. Many commented at length about the impressive
layout, color scheme, furnishings and technology available for
young mothers and women of all ages whose health concerns and
needs will be serviced through Women’s Care on the first and
third floors of the facility.
Here is just a sampling of the specialty
services, programs, and new surroundings available:
-
21 new private birthing suites with
Jacuzzis available for laboring mothers
-
32 beautiful new mother/baby couplet
care rooms
-
30 private Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
(NICU) rooms for at-risk newborns
-
42 new Urology & Gynecology beds
-
Women’s Wellness Center offering
specialty services, support, referrals and education in
areas including: osteoporosis, heart and vascular,
fibromyalgia, post-partum depression, high-risk pregnancy
assessment, lower back pain, pelvic pain, bladder health,
urinary incontinence, and many more.
Over the next several weeks, the rest of the
technology, equipment, supplies and furnishings will be moved
into place. Patients will begin to be moved into the medical
pavilion the last week of April.
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Carondelet Health Network Opens
New Medical Pavilion On St. Joseph’s Medical Center Campus
Tucson, Arizona – March 31, 2008 – April marks a milestone
for healthcare in Tucson and Southern Arizona. Carondelet Health
Network will open its new Medical Pavilion on the campus of St.
Joseph’s Medical Center.
The 5-story, 164,000 square foot Medical Pavilion will add
167 new hospital beds in the city of Tucson, and will house
Women’s Care – a comprehensive program of services for women in
all the stages of their lives. The Carondelet Neurological
In-Patient Care Unit (opening later this Spring) will also be
housed on the fifth floor of this new building.
“The opening of the Medical Pavilion will mark a 50 percent
increase in capacity to serve patients at St. Joseph’s,” stated
Greg Angle, Chief Executive Officer of Carondelet St. Joseph’s
Medical Center. “We have been looking forward to this day since
we first broke ground in January 2005.”
“Carondelet Health Network is stepping forward to meet
growing community needs in healthcare,” stated Ruth W. Brinkley,
President and CEO of Carondelet Health Network. “As responsible
corporate citizens and a faith-based healthcare system, we
believe it is our mission to invest and expand, providing
much-needed care to keep this community healthy and strong.”
Two floors in the Medical Pavilion will be dedicated to the
health and wellness of women of all ages. Here is just a
sampling of the specialty services, programs, and new
surroundings available:
- 21 new private birthing suites with Jacuzzis
available for laboring mothers
- 32 beautiful new mother/baby couplet care rooms
- 30 private Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
rooms for at-risk newborns
- 42 new Urology & Gynecology beds
- Women’s Wellness Center offering specialty
services, support, referrals and education in areas
including: osteoporosis, heart and vascular, fibromyalgia,
post-partum depression, high-risk pregnancy assessment,
lower back pain, pelvic pain, bladder health, urinary
incontinence, and many more
The public has been invited to tour the building on Saturday,
April 5, 2008 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Hundreds are expected to
visit during the daylong open house.
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Carondelet St. Joseph's Hospital
Medical Pavilion Open House
You’re cordially invited to attend the Grand Opening of the
new Medical Pavilion, home to Women’s Care – on Carondelet St.
Joseph’s campus. We’re celebrating a milestone in Southern
Arizona healthcare. For patients young and old, a new era of
care is dawning. Please join us in the festivities on April 5th,
2008, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM as we take our mission of
providing exceptional medicine and exceptional care a giant step
further – just for you.
MORE
INFORMATION
CAMPUS
MAP
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Carondelet Medical Group Responds to
Flu Season with Extended Hours
Tucson, Arizona – February 22, 2008 – Carondelet Medical
Group, a group of more than 80 board certified practitioners
specializing in primary care, is providing extended evening and
weekend hours of service February 22 through March 1 to help
treat the large number of Southern Arizonans who have contracted
the flu. Additional hours of service, as well as more openings
for same-day appointments, will be offered at most of the
organization’s 16 offices.
Local emergency rooms have experienced an increase in patient
volume over the past few weeks due to an increase in flu cases.
This has caused an increase in wait time at all local hospitals.
Many of those patients who have the flu and require medical
attention would receive faster service in a primary care medical
office or urgent care facility. Young children and older adults
in particular should receive prompt attention from their primary
care physician to ensure that their flu symptoms do not reach a
level of severity that requires emergency treatment or
hospitalization.
Carondelet Medical Group, which is affiliated with Carondelet
Health Network, provides primary care in 16 offices throughout
Southern Arizona, including Tucson, Green Valley, and Nogales.
Additional information about extended hours is available at
www.carondelet.org/cmg or 520.872.7324.
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Love Your Kids: A Valentine’s Gift of
Health to Arizona’s Children
Tucson, Arizona – February 7, 2008 - On Valentine’s Day, thousands of Arizona children will
receive a much-needed gift—access to
healthcare services—thanks to Love Your Kids - a
statewide, community project sponsored by
businesses, community health clinics, hospitals, faith-based
organizations, schools and other
organizations all across out state - to provide families of
uninsured children KidsCare enrollment
assistance.
“The community organizations involved in Love Your Kids
believe that Feb. 14, 2008, will be a
turning point in the lives of many Arizona families,” said
Reverend Jan Olav Flaaten, executive director, Arizona
Ecumenical Council and Love Your Kids
spokesperson. “That’s when many will learn their children can go
to the doctor when they are sick, receive regular dental check
ups and even get glasses if needed. This will be accomplished
because of the more than 100 community organizations that have
come together to support Love Your Kids.”
KidsCare is a state-sponsored healthcare program that
provides medical, dental and vision
coverage to eligible Arizona children ages 18 and younger.
Families of children who participate in
KidsCare pay a minimum monthly fee to help share the cost of the
program. Currently, there are more than 250,000 uninsured
children in Arizona. Approximately 130,000 of these uninsured
children are eligible for KidsCare, but are not enrolled in the
program. The goal of Love Your Kids is to reach
the families of these children to deliver KidsCare eligibility
information and begin the enrollment process.
On Valentine’s Day, specially trained volunteers at Love
Your Kids events statewide will step
families through the KidsCare enrollment process. Events are
scheduled in 75 locations in 23
communities.
In Southern Arizona, enrollment events will be held at the
following locations:
- Community Food Bank (Tot Shots), 1 pm – 4 pm, 3003 S.
Country Club Rd. #221, Tucson
- Carondelet Holy Cross Hospital (Lobby), 10 am - 2 pm,
1171 W. Target Range Road, Nogales
- Carondelet Foundation (KidsCare Office), 9 am – 4 pm,
120 N. Tucson Blvd., Tucson
- Kool Smiles and Health Choice, 12 pm – 2 pm, 2990 S. 6th
Ave, Tucson
- Pima Health System, 9 am – 4 pm, Herbert K Abrams Public
Health Building, 3950 S. Country
Club Way, Tucson, AZ 85714
- St. Elizabeth Health Center, 3 pm – 6 pm, at two
locations:
Ellie Townes Flowing Wells Community Center, 1660 West
Ruthrauff Road
Santa Rosa Neighborhood Center, 1080 S. 10th Avenue
Any media entity interested in promoting these events or
covering an event on the day of the
enrollment fairs should contact Lisa Contreras at 520-444-6600
or Tara Sklar at 873-5024 to learn moreabout interview
opportunities, on site media contacts and confidentiality issues
on site.
Arizona ranks near the bottom nationally for children’s
health coverage. According to the U.S.
Census Bureau, in 2005, 25 percent of Arizona’s uninsured were
school age children, ages 18 and
younger. Lack of access to healthcare coverage is twofold:
influencing both the health and educational achievement of
children. Children without health coverage are less likely to
receive regular check ups and early, cost-effective care. Many
of these children end up in hospital emergency departments
(EDs). A report issued by the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare
Association showed that children comprise 26 percent of ED
visits in the state.
“It’s mind-boggling to consider that the University of
Phoenix Cardinals Stadium, which seats
63,400 people, would not hold all of the Arizona children who
are eligible for KidsCare, but not enrolled in the program,”
said Rev. Flaaten. “We believe Feb. 14 will change this
situation and give many more Arizona children a healthy chance.”
For more information about all Love Your Kids events, visit
www.loveyourkidsaz.org
or call Carondelet KidsCare Outreach Coordinator, Renee Perez at
520-873-5042, or KidsCare Statewide Hotline 1-800-352-3792.
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Carondelet Neurological Institute and
Catholic Diocese of Tucson Partner To Present Alzheimer’s
Educational Symposia
Tucson, Arizona – February 4, 2008 - The statistics say it
all! Alzheimer’s is increasing at an alarming rate across our
state and our country. Many families facing the harsh reality
that a loved one has Alzheimer’s know little about the causes,
effects, treatment and prognosis of this debilitating disease.
On March 8, 2008, Carondelet Neurological Institute (CNI) and
the Diocese of Tucson will partner to present the first of a new
community education series, “Living, Loving and Caring for
Families Touched by Alzheimer’s”. Focused on meeting the needs
of family members, caregivers and people coping with
Alzheimer’s, the teams of CNI and the Diocese are bringing
together area professionals who are knowledgeable about
Alzheimer’s and committed to helping all those touched by this
disease.
Attendees will learn about many aspects of Alzheimer’s,
including:
- The Neurology of Alzheimer’s with William Lujan,
MD Neurologist
- Coping Strategies for Caregivers with Kevin
Flanagan, PhD Rehab Psychologist
- Caregiver Strategies for Relaxation and Stress
Reduction with Jack Kriendler, MS Speech Language
Pathologist
- Legal Planning & Elder Law with Tom Curti,
Attorney with Fleming & Curti, P.L.C.
Alzheimer’s is the seventh-leading cause of death in the
United States. You owe it to yourself to become educated. Learn
more about Alzheimer’s and how you can care for your loved ones
and yourself at this educational event. Please join us:
SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2008
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
TUCSON CONVENTION CENTER
260 SOUTH CHURCH
To reserve your seat, please
call 800-278-3245
Admission is $10.00 per person
Resource Exhibitors will be on site
About Carondelet Neurological Institute
With the opening of the Carondelet Neurological Institute (CNI),
Inpatient Center, in spring of 2008, the people of our community
and beyond will have access to lifesaving neuro-services for
stroke, head and spine injury, brain tumors and other
neurological illnesses and conditions. In the coming months,
additional programs of the CNI will open to advance the level of
neurological care with world-class technologies never before
offered in this region.
Statistics, Facts and Figures in this release are
courtesy: National Alzheimer’s Association,
www.alz.org
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Sixty Carondelet Health Network
Nursing Graduates To Be Honored At Pinning Ceremony
Tucson, Arizona – January 17, 2008 – Carondelet Health
Network proudly invites the media to attend a Graduation and
Pinning Ceremony to celebrate the tremendous educational
accomplishments of sixty (60) Carondelet Health Network nursing
graduates.
Graduation and Pinning Ceremony
Saturday, January 19, 2008
10:00 am – 1:00pm
Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital Auditorium
(Basement of St. Joseph’s Hospital)
350 N. Wilmot Road
Tucson, Arizona 85711
These graduates have each earned an Associate, Baccalaureate
or Master of Science
degree from Grand Canyon University, Pima College, or Rio Salado
College.
For several years, Carondelet Health Network has been partnering
with these prestigious
local nursing programs to provide associates the opportunity to
forward his/her nursing
careers. Through this program, Carondelet pays each student’s
tuition as well as
providing hospital-based classroom environments for coursework
and opportunities for
on-site clinical training.
“Nationwide, hospitals are facing a dire nursing shortage,” said
Linda Werbylo, Vice
President of Human Resources for Carondelet Health Network. “We
see these programs
as a recruitment strategy to help CHN attract qualified RNs who
have a desire to advance
in the nursing field, and as a valuable asset in retaining
associates who wish to earn
higher degrees. It shows our nurses we are firmly committed to
their professional
advancement.”
Representatives of Carondelet Health Network, partnering
collegiate nursing programs,
and graduates will all be available for interviews at the event.
Any media entity interested
in attending should contact Lisa Contreras at 520-444-6600 prior
to the ceremony.
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 Carondelet Health Network Names New
CEO of Carondelet Foundation
Tucson, Arizona – January 10, 2008 - Carondelet Health
Network is proud to announce
that Ms. Pamela Doherty, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of
Carondelet Foundation, has
been named the Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Former CEO, Jannie Cox, announced her plans to retire more
than a year ago. “Pamela
will bring us new energy and fresh ideas,” stated Cox. “Changes
in leadership are healthy
for any organization, and it’s a good time for the Foundation.”
In 2006, Doherty left her position as Executive Director of
the Center for Planned Giving
at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona to serve as
Chief Operating Officer
for Carondelet Foundation with plans to transition into the CEO
role in January 2008. It
was a coming home of sorts for Doherty, who previously served at
Carondelet
Foundation in a variety of roles from 1993 to 2002.
“I’m thrilled to be here now to step into the role of CEO,”
Doherty said. “One of the
wonderful things about my history at Carondelet Foundation is
that I’ve been involved in
every aspect of fundraising. I love our mission and am grateful
to be working with people
who are so dedicated to fulfilling the promise of that mission
on a daily basis.”
The Board of Trustees of Carondelet conducted a rigorous
national search for Cox’s
replacement. “We are proud to have found such a tremendous
administrator right here at
home in Tucson,” commented Board Chair Dennis Reidy. She is
talented,
knowledgeable about our community and certainly has a
demonstrated commitment to
Carondelet.” According to Sally E. Jeffcoat, Executive Vice
President/Chief Operating
Officer of Healthcare Operations for Ascension Health and former
CEO of Carondelet
Health Network in Tucson, “Doherty is supremely qualified to
step into this role. She has
a deep commitment and a dedication of purpose to Carondelet
Health Network and its
mission of Healthcare That Is Safe, Healthcare That Works, and
Healthcare That Leaves
No One Behind.”
Doherty holds a Masters Degree in Public Health from
University of Arizona, and is a
Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).
Doherty’s primary focus as CEO will be to focus on strategic
planning, governance issues
and the $35 million capital campaign, “Fulfilling the Promise”,
to ensure the continuity
of Carondelet’s mission. She will also oversee staffs of the
Foundation, Centurions and
Volunteer Services.
Cox will remain with Carondelet Foundation on a part-time
basis with a focus on major
gift fundraising and the title of CEO Emeritus.
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