Of all the many health care issues that have caught the public's attention in the past decade, none has done so more resoundingly than patient safety. This was only to be expected. Americans naturally responded unhappily to a series of Institute of Medicine reports showing that the nation's hospitals were at times hazardous to — rather than restorers of — health.
Catholic health care organizations have moved swiftly to assure the public that patient safety — and, indeed, high quality in all operations — have top priority. This issue's special section describes a variety of safety and quality initiatives.
Communications Column
Also with this issue, Health Progress introduces a change in its "Communication Strategies" column. Rather than describing marketing tips and techniques in general, the revamped column will focus on communications as they relate specifically to the Catholic health ministry. Our introductory column is by Sr. Kathleen Popko, SP, Ph.D., executive vice president, Catholic Health East, Northeast Division, Springfield, MA; and Peggy Moseley, vice president, planning and communications, Bon Secours Health System, Marriottsville, MD.
Social Justice and the Ministry
And, finally, we want to introduce a new series of articles on the Catholic social justice tradition and its relationship to the health ministry. Each of the journal's other five 2006 issues will feature a meditation on the topic. In this, the January-February issue, however, readers are treated to the thoughts of two writers: Michael J. Naughton, Ph.D., a professor at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN; and Scott McConnaha, a writer and editor here at CHA.
Copyright © 2006 by the Catholic Health Association of the United States
For reprint permission, contact Betty Crosby or call (314) 253-3477.