Sponsors and Board Share Canonical, Civil Missions

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Catholic Healthcare Ministry
• Organizational History

Background:

• The Sisters of the Holy Cross and Sisters of Mercy of the Americas united in 1999.
• This merger aimed to preserve Catholic healthcare traditions.
• The initiative sought to establish healthcare as a fundamental social right.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the formation of Trinity Health.
• To outline the foundational mission of preserving Catholic healthcare.
• To explain the establishment of a novel governance model.

Main Methods:

• Historical review of organizational mergers.
• Analysis of mission statements and goals.
• Examination of governance structure evolution.

Main Results:

• Successful integration of two religious congregations into Trinity Health.
• Establishment of a mission focused on healthcare as a social right.
• Implementation of a "mirror board" governance structure.

Conclusions:

• The merger preserved Catholic healthcare values.
• Trinity Health's governance model integrates canonical and civil responsibilities.
• The organization advanced the concept of healthcare as a social right.