No one ever died for want of a shave. Nevertheless, the personal care assistants in the fourth floor medical-surgical unit at St. Cloud Hospital were getting pretty tired of having to search for electric razors every shift.

Ministry systems and facilities want to ensure that their board members understand not just the operational aspects of Catholic health care but also its spiritual underpinnings.

The chemotherapy and radiation used to treat breast cancer can saddle a survivor with crippling fatigue. Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, helps breast cancer survivors rebuild their energy through a comprehensive exercise program called Thrive.

Federal law has long banned hospitals from discriminating against patients who do not speak English. Still, many providers have yet to establish language access policies and programs.

A week before the canonization of Fr. Damien of Molokai was to occur, I received a call from the White House, asking if I would be available and interested in attending the ceremony as part of the presidential delegation, if I was chosen by the White House.

Nearly nine years ago, Renee Blake-Smith rescued Kiki, a gray-and-black striped cat who had been abused. At first Kiki only would allow Blake-Smith to pet him for a few moments before scurrying away.

When administrators at St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, Md., decided to intensify improvement efforts in their emergency department almost two years ago, they took their cue from auto giant Toyota.

Sr. Marie Lenahan, RSM, died Oct. 26 at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby, Pa. She was president of Mercy Fitzgerald and of the hospital now known as Mercy Philadelphia Hospital of Philadelphia from 1971 to 1986.

As people age and their health declines, it can become increasingly difficult for them to remain at home safely. Catholic health facilities are among the many organizations that are exploring how best to help seniors live where they want to for as long as possible.