Sylvania Franciscan Health and Catholic Health Initiatives Sign Definitive Agreement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information:
Sylvania Franciscan Health
Barb Gessel, Senior Vice President Human Resources and Communications
Work: 419.882.8373
Cell: 419.460.7269
Email: bgessel@sfhconnect.org

Catholic Health Initiatives
Michael Romano, National Director, Media Relations
Work: 303-383-2720
Cell: 303-549-8948
michaelromano@catholichealth.net

Sylvania Franciscan Health and Catholic Health Initiatives Sign
Definitive Agreement

TOLEDO, Ohio and ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (Sept. 10, 2014) – Sylvania
Franciscan Health (SFH) and Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) signed a definitive
agreement to transfer sponsorship of SFH from the Sisters of St. Francis of
Sylvania, Ohio, to CHI. The transfer is expected to be completed by the end of
the calendar year.
   The organizations entered into formal discussions earlier this year to bring
together two strong systems with similar missions, values and long histories of
care to the communities they serve.
   Under the terms of the definitive agreement, CHI will become the sole sponsor of
Sylvania Franciscan Health, which includes Franciscan Living Communities in
Kentucky and Ohio, St. Joseph Health System in the Brazos Valley region of
Texas, Trinity Hospital Twin Cities in Eastern Ohio, and the Trinity Health System
Region joint venture in Eastern Ohio near the West Virginia border.
   While CHI will become sole sponsor of SFH, the Sisters of St. Francis of
Sylvania, Ohio, will become CHI’s 13th participating congregation and continue
to influence the industry landscape in this new role. The Sisters of St. Francis of
Sylvania, Ohio, will continue to sponsor their health and human services
ministries of Bethany House, Our Lady of Grace, Rosary Care Center, the
Sophia Center, and Convent Park Apartments, as well as their education ministry
of Lourdes University.
   CHI anticipates that substantially all SFH employees will retain their current
positions.
   The decision to transfer sponsorship of SFH is a recognition that the health care
industry is rapidly changing and faces a new model – one in which organizations
are expected to offer integrated systems of care for specific geographical
populations. As a result, many smaller health systems are joining larger systems
in order to expand their care within existing regions.
   SFH has withstood these changes and many more throughout the past years.
Integrating with CHI will allow SFH to build on the strength of its health system
and better support the expanding health care needs of the communities it serves.
“Sylvania Franciscan Health has a rich history of advancing the Catholic
healthcare ministry throughout the communities we serve. Joining Catholic
Health Initiatives will further strengthen our Mission and expand our influence
that is a part of the legacy started almost one hundred years ago by our Sisters,”
said Sylvania Franciscan Health CEO Jim Pope. “CHI and SFH are well-aligned
in our missions and values, making this partnership one that brings together two
very strong, complementary organizations. Through our combined skills and
geographic reach, we will be able to bring new services to our communities.”
   Together, CHI and SFH will navigate the new era of health care and develop
innovative ways to build healthier communities. “SFH’s health ministries in Ohio, Texas, and Kentucky will be strengthened through their alignment with CHI and our existing facilities in Texas and
Kentucky,” said CHI Chief Executive Officer Kevin Lofton. “The Sisters of St.
Francis of Sylvania, Ohio, have created a strong foundation for Catholic health
care, and our shared values will merge to strengthen the delivery of highly
reliable, quality care across the system.”
   The transfer of sponsorship requires approvals from the Congregational Minister
and General Council of the Sisters of St. Francis and the CHI Board of
Stewardship Trustees, as well as federal, state and Church authorities.
                                              # # #
About Sylvania Franciscan Health: Sylvania Franciscan Health is the sponsored
health and human services ministry of the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio. With
core values of Reverence, Service and Stewardship at the forefront of its mission, the
ministry serves communities throughout the United States. Membership organizations,
with various locations in Ohio, Texas and Kentucky, currently include seven hospitals,
seven long-term care facilities, four assisted living facilities, independent senior housing,
ambulatory care centers, home health services, rehabilitation centers, a counseling
center, and a long-term shelter for victims of domestic violence.

About the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania: Founded in Sylvania, Ohio in 1916, the
Sisters of St. Francis live in the spirit of Francis of Assisi as joyful servants and
messengers of peace, committed to works that reverence human dignity, embrace the
poor and marginalized, and respect the gift of all creation. Sponsored ministries of the
Sisters of St. Francis are Lourdes University, which includes the Franciscan Theater and
Conference Center, and Sylvania Franciscan Health, with hospitals, nursing homes and
retirement communities in Ohio, Kentucky and Texas.

About Catholic Health Initiatives: Catholic Health Initiatives, a nonprofit, faith-based
health system formed in 1996 through the consolidation of four Catholic health systems,
expresses its mission each day by creating and nurturing healthy communities in the
hundreds of sites across the nation where it provides care. One of the nation’s largest
health systems, Englewood, Colo.-based CHI operates in 18 states and comprises 93
hospitals, including four academic medical centers and teaching hospitals: 24 criticalaccess
facilities; community health services organizations; accredited nursing colleges;
home-health agencies; and other facilities that span the inpatient and outpatient
continuum of care. In fiscal year 2013, CHI provided $762 million in charity care and
community benefit, including services for the poor, free clinics, education and research