Our Catholic health ministry
Many hospitals in our network will continue the legacy of faith-based healthcare.
What Catholic care means
"Since a Catholic healthcare institution is a community of healing and compassion, the care offered is not limited to the treatment of a disease or bodily ailment but embraces the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of the human person."
– United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Healthcare Services
How we are continuing Catholic care
SCL Health is now part of the Intermountain family, but you can take comfort in knowing that our Catholic entities will retain their distinctive names and continue as a Catholic health ministry, operating in accordance with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.
Our Catholic entities are guided by the fundamental belief that all life, from conception to the moment of natural death, is profoundly sacred and must be treated with awe, respect, and dignity.
We believe in treating the whole person, meaning the care we offer is not limited to the treatment of disease or bodily ailment but embraces the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of the human person. We understand it is vital to offer spiritual care services and healthcare that respects and honors religious beliefs and practice.
Hospitals operating under Ethical & Religious Directives
Note: Data reflects information from our most current annual report to the community.
Catholic hospitals operating under Catholic Ethical and Religious Directives
St. Mary's Medical Center
Grand Junction, CO
Saint Joseph Hospital
Denver, CO
Holy Rosary Healthcare
Miles City, MT
St. James Healthcare
Butte, MT
St. Vincent Healthcare
Billings, MT
All affiliated clinics
Non-Catholic hospitals operating under Ethical and Religious Directives
Good Samaritan Medical Center
Lafayette, CO
Lutheran Medical Center
Wheat Ridge, CO
What are the Ethical and Religious Directives?
The Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, often called the ERDs or the Directives, offer moral guidance on various aspects of healthcare delivery. The Directives can be found on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The Catholic understanding of healthcare is rooted in the basic scriptural understanding that the healing mission of Jesus touched people at the deepest level of their existence, and that He sought their physical, mental, and spiritual healing.
Throughout its history, the Catholic church has been dedicated to serving the sick, with particular attention to serving the poor, vulnerable, and those on the margins of society.
The Catholic understanding of healthcare is rooted in the basic scriptural understanding that the healing mission of Jesus touched people at the deepest level of their existence, and that He sought their physical, mental, and spiritual healing.
Throughout its history, the Catholic church has been dedicated to serving the sick, with particular attention to serving the poor, vulnerable, and those on the margins of society.
Five principles of social responsibility
The social responsibility of Catholic healthcare is guided by five essential principles:
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To promote and defend human dignityEvery person has inherent worth. The right to life of every human being means the right as well to adequate healthcare and must be basic to every Catholic institution involved in medical service and science. |
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To care for the poorWe give particular attention to the health care needs of the poor, the uninsured, the underinsured, and those on the margins of society. We advocate and work towards a health care delivery system that provides adequate health care for the poor. |
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To contribute to the common goodCatholic healthcare services are meant for the entire community. These services should be instigators of social change that lead to a greater respect for fundamental human rights and for the economic, social, political, and spiritual health of the entire community. |
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To exercise responsible stewardshipCatholic healthcare ministry exercises responsible stewardship of available healthcare resources. A just healthcare system will be concerned both with promoting equity of care – to assure the right of each person to basic health care is respected – and with promoting the good health of all within the community. |
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Adherence to the moral teachings of the ChurchCatholic health care is guided by a moral tradition that affirms a sacredness and dignity of human life from conception until death. Catholic health care will not provide medical procedures that are contrary to this Catholic teaching. |