Urge to merge

Daughters of Charity want to join Ascension Health

The Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, a women’s religious order that operates six California hospitals from the Bay Area to Los Angeles, has decided to merge its health system with Ascension Health Alliance, the largest Catholic healthcare conglomerate in the U.S.

The Daughters of Charity Health System, headquartered in Los Altos Hills, operates O’Connor Hospital in San Jose, Saint Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy, Seton Medical Center in Daly City, Seton Coastside in Moss Beach, St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood and St. Vincent Medical Center in Los Angeles. 

Ascension Health Alliance, which describes itself as “the nation’s largest Catholic and nonprofit health system,” runs healthcare facilities in 21 states, and had operating revenues of more than $15 billion in 2011.

In a March 16 news release, the Daughters of Charity Health System announced it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding “intended to lead to DCHS becoming part of Ascension Health.”

“There is no specific schedule for reaching a definitive agreement, but the organizations anticipate completing the process by year end,” said the news release. “Specific terms of the MOU and the agreement are confidential.”

“DCHS is sponsored by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Province of the West,” the news release explained. “Four other Provinces of the Daughters of Charity, together with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth, were the original sponsors of Ascension Health when the health system was formed in 1999. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and Alexian Brothers also now participate in sponsorship of Ascension Health Alliance.”

According to its website, until 1995, the Daughters of Charity hospitals were part of the Daughters of Charity National Health System, now Ascension Health. In 1995, the Daughters of Charity, Province of the West, merged their hospitals with Catholic Healthcare West (now called Dignity Health. But, in 2001, “after careful reflection,” the Daughters of Charity severed their ties with Catholic Healthcare West, their website reveals.

After leaving Catholic Healthcare West, the order formed the Daughters of Charity Health System on Jan. 1, 2002.

“We are excited to sign a Memorandum of Understanding,” said Robert Issai, president and CEO of the Daughters of Charity Health System, in a prepared statement. “Joining Ascension Health will strengthen DCHS and Catholic health care while continuing our mission of providing comprehensive, excellent health care that is compassionate and attentive to the whole person.”