Christus Health Central Louisiana

Commitment to benefiting our communities - patient care services christus health was formed in 1999 when the sisters of charity health care system, sponsored by the sisters of charity of the incarnate word of houston, and the incarnate word health care system, sponsored by the sisters of charity of the incarnate word of san antonio, brought their health care ministries together. Bishop claude marie dubis founded both congregations over 152 years ago, and his original call to the sisters continues to challenge christus health to fulfill its mission of extending the healing ministry of jesus christ and to reach out to those in need in the more than 60 communities it serves. In 2016 another sponsoring congregation, the sisters of the holy family of nazareth, was added. The vision of christus health, a catholic, faith-based health ministry, is to be a leader, a partner and an advocate in the creation of innovative health and wellness solutions that improve the lives of individuals and communities so that all may experience god's healing presence and love. Christus st. Frances cabrini health system participated in the americorps community health workers program bringing on 3 (2 for fy24) to work patients in addressing their social determinants of health. Through screening, education, referral and navigation, the phachws were able to impact many lives connecting them to resources desperately needed. The central louisiana region of christus health responds to community needs through services provided at christus st. Frances cabrini hospital in alexandria, louisiana, a 293-bed facility; and christus coushatta health care center in coushatta, louisiana, a 25-bed, critical access hospital. Christus health central louisiana also owns parts of christus cabrini surgery center, llc; christus hospice and palliative care st. Frances cabrini; and central louisiana surgical hospital. Each facility in this region shares the one objective of leading the way toward healthier communities. Christus st. Frances cabrini hospital serves rapides and twelve surrounding civil parishes, which have a total population of more than 378,000, of which more than 22.1 percent live at or below the federal poverty level. In fy 2024 alone, the hospital admitted 13,664 patients and treated 274,356 patients in its outpatient facilities. The hospital performed 2,139 inpatient surgeries and 3,274 outpatient surgeries. In addition, the hospital provided emergency services to 51,818 individuals. Christus st. Frances cabrini works to lead central louisiana in cardiac services, offering a complete range of cardiac diagnostic services including cta, cardiovascular surgery, interventional cardiology, and electrophysiology. The hospital expanded space and services in pediatric therapy to accomodate the needs of the community. Christus cabrini cancer center offers comprehensive cancer care in a hospital setting. Accredited by the american college of surgeons, commission on cancer. Christus coushatta health care center is located in red river parish, economically one of the poorest in louisiana. In fy 2024, the hospital admitted 601 patients and treated 24,332 patients in its outpatient facilities. In addition, the hospital provided emergency services to 6,444 individuals. The hospital performed 53 outpatient surgeries. This hospital offers a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services including minor surgery; day surgery; cardiology; diabetes care; respiratory therapy; radiology; physical therapy; oncology; gynecology; ear, nose, and throat services; ophthalmology; hematology; infusion therapy; and adult psychiatric services. The federal government has designated christus coushatta health care center a critical access hospital due to the strategic location of its emergency room, which reduces the transportation time patients would have to spend traveling to natchitoches or shreveport, louisiana, for treatment. Both christus st. Frances cabrini hospital and christus coushatta health care center provide 24-hour emergency rooms open to all needing emergent care, regardless of their ability to pay. The christus health central louisiana region also sponsors many local community health services. These include 17 school-based health centers in five civil parishes around christus st. Frances cabrini hospital, a dental clinic at christus coushatta health care center, and rural health clinics in ringgold and coushatta. As a nonprofit organization and as part of christus health, a regional governing board comprised largely of independent community members helps govern christus health central louisiana. The region has an open medical staff comprised of qualified physicians who work with its three facilities to provide care to our communities. These physicians receive their privileges only after a thorough and comprehensive credentialing process. Touching the lives of people helps christus health central louisiana stand apart and provides further motivation to serve the medically needy in all of the communities surrounding its multiple facilities. Whether the issue is the life of a child hoping for a bright future, the life of a man in need of a critical heart surgery, or the life of a woman about to give birth to her first child, christus health central louisiana's health care services work to provide the best care possible regardless of an individual's ability to pay. Moreover, the christus health central louisiana provides its services without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or nationality. The three highest cost community benefit programs provided by christus st. Frances cabrini hospital are 1) through mental health support services, and help for patients with needs determined by the social determinants of health questions as well as health fairs and health education where over 1,500 persons were served; 2) eligibility vendors which assist community members with enrollment in public programs to increase access to quality healthcare services. They provide education and enrollment assistance to the uninsured population identified at the hospital; 3) cabrini staff provide supervision, mentoring, and precepting and rotation of lsu-a nursing students, radiology students and lab students for their clinical studies. By collaborating with churches, businesses, communities and other health care organizations, christus health central louisiana's multiple facilities have strengthened their roles as major providers of comprehensive, accessible, and affordable healthcare services. These partnerships have extended the region's capacity to help those in need. The same can be said of the facilities' dedicated employees and volunteers who regularly reach beyond traditional walls to help their communities become healthier. These activities foster strong relationships and thereby contribute to the mission of christus health. Furthermore, to provide access to health care to as many people as possible, christus health central louisiana participates in government-sponsored health care programs, such as medicaid, medicare, champus, and tricare. In addition, the region provides discounted services to those who do not have medical insurance or who do not participate in government-sponsored programs.

Community services for the broader community christus school based health centers (sbhc), provide primary/preventive health services to students located in underserved communities. The sbhc's provide a unique blend of health and education services. Christus st. Francis cabrini also serves the broader community by educating health professionals. Helping to prepare future health care professionals is a distinguishing characteristic of nonprofit health care and constitutes a significant community benefit. Christus st. Frances cabrini also provides educational activities including student internships, clinical experience and other education for nurses, technicians, administrators, social workers, therapists and pastoral care professionals. Christus st. Frances cabrini hospital also provides many free health screenings and health education for local organizations, businesses and community groups on diseases including diabetes, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer and others. For fy24, 17 health fairs and education events covered 1,514 persons served. Christus health also used cash donations as a vehicle to help our communities. We made cash donations, in addition to grants awarded through the christus fund, to support homeless support services, early education for lower income families, nursing education, food access with healthier choices, and feeding of homeless, individuals and families in need as well as other equally worthy purposes. During fy 2024, christus health advocated for improving public policies, working to establish, and in some instances augment, grassroots advocacy and greater access to health care services for the constituents we serve. Christus st. Frances cabrini partnered with access health to expand the services offered through the christus school based health centers. Christus school base health centers provide comprehensive primary medical, social, and behavioral health services, as well as health education, promotion, and prevention services designed to meet the psychosocial and physical health needs of students in the context of their family, culture, and environment. Our school based health centers offer access to healthcare and mental health services to 17 area schools. The sbhcs coordinate with school staff, agency administrators, parents/caregivers, and youth themselves to ensure student access to health care and support services is both affordable and convenient. Through services that include pedi access, health education and prevention, pre-diabetes and diabetes prevention, obesity and heart disease prevention and mental health care the sbhcs impacted 8,474 children through 11,944 mental health and 22,722 medical visits. Community services for the poor and underserved rooted in our mission and tradition, the founders and sponsors of christus health and those who co-minister with them seek new and innovative ways of delivering quality health care that is both affordable and accessible to all. Today, more than ever, we must aim to improve the total health status of the community through programs that place our services where they are needed, with special attention and preference given to programs that support and benefit the health and welfare of the poor and underserved. Community services for the poor and underserved represent the unpaid cost of services provided for which a patient is not billed, or for which a fee has been assessed that recovers only a portion of the cost of the rendered service. This category includes initiatives that reach out to those in need through community health and social programs. These programs seek justice for the vulnerable and work to bring about change in our political and economic systems. The programs cover a broad spectrum of services from community clinics to immunizations for children and seniors, classes for expectant mothers to support new born health, education and screening services for better health outcomes, and a variety of other social services. Christus health established the christus fund to provide resources to nonprofit agencies and groups whose vision, mission and goals are consistent with christus health's mission, values and philosophy of a healthy community. We believe that by working together, we can make a profound difference in the quality of peoples' lives and create sustainable health in our communities. Christus st. Frances cabrini health system participated in the americorps community health workers program bringing on 3 (2 for fy24) to work with patients in addressing their social determinants of health. Through screening, education, referral and navigation the phachws were able to impact many lives connecting them to resources desperately needed.