2020O U R V I S I O N R E A L I Z E D

We envision a strong, vibrant Catholic health ministry in the United States which will lead to the

transformation of healthcare. We will ensure service that is committed to health and well-being

for our communities and that responds to the needs of individuals throughout the life cycle. We

will expand the role of the laity, in both leadership and sponsorship, to ensure a Catholic health

ministry of the future.

OurVision20202020

Were you in school? Were you newly married? Maybe your kids were learning to walk? Maybe your kids were getting theirfirst jobs? Did you live in another home? Maybe you had a different job or worked in an entirely different field?

Take a look at a tree planted 15 years ago. It has grownsignificantly—roots deepening, branches extending. A lot canchange in 15 years.

What did the healthcare field look like 15 years ago?Some of the equipment you use today probably wasn’tavailable then. New technology has made a big difference inhelping patients get well. Many new drugs to treat and preventillness are now available to patients. The Internet has maderapid communication possible.

But some things have hardly changed at all. Fifteen yearsago, doctors and nurses felt burdened with paperwork andwanted to spend more time with their patients. Sound familiar?

Healthcare services were often disconnected—physi-cians, hospital executives, pharmacists and social serviceagencies couldn’t share information that would help patientsimprove their health. Today, that collaboration still isn’t takingplace in many communities.

Millions of people lacked health insurance and didn’thave access to healthcare services for themselves and theirfamilies. Those numbers have grown in the last 15 years.

For patients, figuring out how and where to get care,what would be covered and what would not, and who to callwhen they had questions was confusing. Is it any less confus-ing today?

While your life may have transformed in the past 15years, healthcare, in many ways, hasn’t changed.

We know what the problems are. As someone who works everyday in our hospitals and health facilities, you help to create abetter future for those we serve.

What were you doing

15 years ago?

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We believe that the next 15 years should be different—must be different—

if we are to realize our Vision as a healthcare system.

People from your Health Ministry and from Ascension Healthfacilities across the U.S. have been working together to definewhat that future should look like. Together, we have created aStrategic Direction that serves as a compass, providing guid-ance to help our Health Ministries shape their plans over time.

The Strategic Direction has its foundations in our Call toAction—in which we promise to provide Healthcare ThatWorks, Healthcare That Is Safe and Healthcare That Leaves NoOne Behind. For the past few years, you and your peers havebeen working to achieve our Call to Action goals for 2008. Weare excited about the progress we are making in each of thesethree strategic areas.

By 2008, we intend to:

Meet our Healthcare That Works goal of developing themeans to deliver coordinated, holistic healthcare thatstrives for absolute satisfaction.

Meet our Healthcare That Is Safe goal of delivering excel-lent clinical care that is safe and effective with no prevent-able injuries or deaths in the hospital setting.

Meet our Healthcare That Leaves No One Behind goal oftransforming national advocacy, developing new models ofcare and catalyzing access leaders.

But our work in transforming healthcare will not stop in 2008. Like a tree, we will continue to grow and change. We have a Mission that compels us to serve all persons withspecial attention to those who are poor and vulnerable. Wehave a Vision to ensure a strong, vibrant Catholic health ministry in the future. And now we have a 15 year StrategicDirection to help us enrich the health and well-being of thosewe serve, not just for today, but for life.

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D E F I N I N G T H E F U T U R E

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Like a tree, we will continue to

grow and change.

We have a Mission that compels us to serve all persons with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable.

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to realize our vision and help

Over the next 15 years, we will work together

transform healthcare in the U.S.

We will continue to fulfill our promise to those we serve bydelivering Healthcare That Works, Is Safe and Leaves No One Behind, for Life. This will be made possible by our inspiredpeople, trusted partnerships, empowering knowledge and vitalpresence in the communities we serve.

Through Healthcare That Works, we will strive toachieve absolute satisfaction among those we serve and thosewho serve with us. We will do this by together defining and creating a consistent, exceptional Ascension HealthExperience. We will seek to build lifetime relationships withindividuals, helping them navigate healthcare options andresources to optimize their health and well-being. We willdevelop financially sustainable models for the delivery ofhealthcare and the optimization of health.

Through Healthcare That Is Safe, we will collaboratewith physicians, other caregivers and trustworthy, values-compatible partners to ensure that those we serve have access

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E X T E N D I N G O U R C A L L T O A C T I O N

to safe, clinically excellent care throughout their lives andacross the continuum of care, including the outpatient/ambula-tory setting, the management of chronic disease, and a focuson community health and well-being.

Our Healthcare That Leaves No One Behind goal is100 percent access. Through national advocacy, new models ofcare and transformed leaders, we will collaborate with othersto ensure that all persons, particularly those who are uninsured or underinsured, receive healthcare services that create andsupport the best journey to improved health outcomes for eachindividual and are funded in an adequate and sustainable fashion. Our Health Ministries will achieve100 percent access inthe communities we serve by partnering with other communityresources to identify and serve populations in greatest need ofaccess. At a national level, Ascension Health will continue toadvocate for legislation that supports access for all by 2020.

Healthcare That Works, Healthcare That Is Safe,

and Healthcare That Leaves No One Behind, for Life.

This represents our commitment to those we serve. Over thenext 15 years, we will work together to realize our Vision andhelp transform healthcare in the U.S.

mitment to, the foundations of the ministry. We will creatework that is life-giving and satisfying in an environment thatsupports our associates in optimizing our health status throughappropriate access, prevention, wellness and care.

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H O W W E W I L L G E T T H E R EWe will use our gifts in service and serve

as an example for the community.

Trusted Partnerships

We can’t achieve change of this magnitude on our own. Wemust find people and organizations to collaborate with us over the next 15 years. We will create an Alliance Network of values-compatible partners that offer capabilities comple-mentary to our own and who can be entrusted with the relationships we have established over time. In addition, wewill establish alliances with those we rely on to be able todeliver our own core competencies, such as suppliers.

Empowering Knowledge

Technology is critical to the future of healthcare delivery. As aConnected Ministry, we will partner to deploy an informationtechnology network that connects Ascension Health with individuals, affiliated clinicians, and our trusted partners. This

We know it is possible to make great changes in 15 years. But how do we do it? What do we need to see our Vision realized? We believe that there are four strengths we mustdevelop and sustain throughout Ascension Health in order tomake this transformation possible. We call these our EnablingStrengths.

Inspired People

We already have the single most important strength required:You. You and the people with whom you work are the ones whowill lead this transformation. Each day, you demonstrate yourcommitment to the people you serve. We now make that samecommitment to creating a better healthcare system. Together,we will become a Model Community of Mission-centeredassociates led by people with an understanding of, and com-

network will enable us to bring to the point of service theknowledge of Ascension Health and its partners, and will support the development of lifetime electronic health records.Having this information available quickly and in a consistentformat will help clinicians in decision-making, sharply reduceduplication and waste, and support continuous improvement aswell as patient care quality and satisfaction.

Vital Presence

We will be where we are needed, how we are needed to bethere. Ascension Health will have Presence as Needed at fullpotential, engaging with our communities to assess what isneeded and then determining the most appropriate presencefor Ascension Health. We will seek to develop new ways ofworking with others in the community, including our partners inCatholic healthcare, to improve access to care and strengthenthe Catholic health ministry. We will also selectively considerthe role of Ascension Health in expanding into new marketswith unmet needs where Ascension Health can make a vitalcontribution. All these activities will be considered using a rig-orous set of criteria that appropriately balances the need tostrengthen Ascension Health with the need to strengthen thebroader Catholic health ministry.

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O U R V I S I O N R E A L I Z E D

Together, we can help lead a transformation that will makehealthcare better for us, and for our children, and for their children. Not just for the next 15 years, but for life.

Hundreds of years ago, our Sponsors began this ministry…ineffect planting a seed that has grown steadily over the years,providing shelter, comfort and care to those in need. Throughour Strategic Direction, we will deepen our roots and extendour branches, ensuring that the lives of those we serve are sustained and strengthened by the care we provide.

Together, we will fulfill our promise by deliveringHealthcare That Works, Is Safe and Leaves No One Behind, for Life. This will be made possible by inspired people, trustedpartnerships, empowering knowledge and vital presence in thecommunities we serve.

Your life will see many changes in the next 15 years.

Now, we have the opportunity to change the future of healthcare.

Through our Strategic Direction,

we will deepen our roots and extend our branches,

ensuring that the lives of those we serve are sustained and strengthened by the care we provide.

4600 Edmundson RoadSt. Louis, Missouri 63134phone 314.733.8000www.ascensionhealth.org

Please visit our Web site to view a brief video that provides more detail about our Strategic Direction:

http://www.ascensionhealth.org/associates/StrategicDirection.asp

February 2006