Catholic Health Initiatives and St. Alexius Medical Center Agree to Pursue Development of a Regional Health System

Catholic Health Initiatives and St. Alexius Medical Center have signed a definitive agreement for St. Alexius to become a direct affiliate of the CHI system. The two organizations also have agreed to the formation of a regional coordinated health system with their combined hospitals and clinics, and other care providers in central and western North Dakota over the next few years.

Pending review and approvals by state regulatory agencies the agreement for St. Alexius to become a CHI affiliate should close by the end of the calendar year.

“Working together, we can build on our strengths of rural and faith-based care; and do it more efficiently in light of healthcare reform,” said Kevin Lofton, chief executive officer, CHI.

St. Alexius President and CEO, Gary P. Miller said, “For more than 129 years, St. Alexius Medical Center, sponsored by the Sisters of St. Benedict of Annunciation Monastery have provided quality healing to people of this region. Health care delivery is in a state of transition and change. Our new affiliation with CHI will continue our sponsorship and mission while providing the opportunity to deal with the new challenges in a collaborative and coordinated way with a system that shares the same values. Together with CHI, we will continue to do great things!”

The definitive agreement concludes several months of discussion and research. St Alexius will remain under the sponsorship of the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery and retain its local Board of Directors.

The regional health system would include, but not be limited to:

• CHI Carrington Health - Carrington
• CHI Mercy Medical Center – Williston
• CHI St. Joseph’s Health – Dickinson
• CHI Mercy Hospital – Devils Lake
• St. Alexius Medical Center – Bismarck
• St. Alexius Garrison Memorial Hospital – Garrison
• Community Memorial Hospital – Turtle Lake
• St. Alexius Garrison Clinic - Garrison
• St. Alexius Mandan Clinic – North - Mandan
• St. Alexus Minot Medical Plaza - Minot
• St. Alexius Washburn Clinic – Washburn
• St. Alexius Regional Asthma Clinic - Lincoln

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 health communities in the hundreds of sites across the nation where it provides care. One of the nation’s largest health systems, Englewood, Colorado based CHI operates in 18 states and comprises 87 hospitals, including four academic medical centers and teaching hospitals and 24 critical-access 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. Learn more at www.catholichealthinitiatives.org.

St. Alexius Medical Center is a 306-bed, full-service healthcare system offering a comprehensive line of inpatient and outpatient medical services, including: a Level II Emergency and Trauma Center, primary and specialty physician clinics, durable medical equipment services and ancillary services throughout western and central North Dakota. Since its founding in 1885, St. Alexius has been recognized with numerous accreditations and awards including: The Joint Commission, Blue Cross Blue Shield Centers of Excellence Awards and ranked the Best Hospital in North Dakota by U.S. News & World Report. In 2012, St. Alexius proudly became a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, one of a group of organizations that share, with Mayo Clinic, a common commitment to improving the delivery of health care.