July 8, 2009 – Anthony R. Tersigni, EdD, FACHE, President and CEO of Ascension Health in St. Louis, was selected Vice Chairperson/Chairperson-elect of the Catholic Health Association (CHA) for fiscal year 2009-10 in an election held during the organization’s 2009 National Assembly. Dr. Tersigni will lead the CHA Board beginning in June 2010. The board provides strategic direction in order to support and strengthen the Catholic health ministry in the United States.
CHA represents more than 2,000 not-for-profit Catholic healthcare sponsors, systems, facilities, and related organizations. As the nation’s largest group of not-for-profit sponsors, systems, and facilities, the ministry is committed to improving the health status of communities and creating quality and compassionate healthcare that works for everyone.
Dr. Tersigni assumes his leadership role as CHA is actively involved in healthcare reform efforts. CHA supports six principles for reform:
- Available and accessible to everyone, paying special attention to the poor and vulnerable;
- Health and prevention oriented, with the goal of enhancing the health status of communities;
- Sufficiently and fairly financed;
- Transparent and consensus-driven in allocation of resources, and organized for cost-effective care and administration;
- Patient centered and designated to address health needs at all stages of life, from conception to natural death;
- Safe, effective and designed to deliver the greatest possible quality.
“Serving in this role is a tremendous opportunity during an extraordinary time in healthcare,” Dr. Tersigni said. “Catholic healthcare is vital to our nation, especially now. One in six people in the United States is cared for in a Catholic hospital each year and we are often the ‘safety net’ to thousands of patients who cannot afford healthcare coverage.”
“I look forward to working more closely with the dedicated men and women, both religious and lay, of the Catholic Health Association to lead health reform and improve the health status of everyone, especially those who are poor and vulnerable,” said Dr. Tersigni.
Dr. Tersigni was appointed President and CEO of Ascension Health in June 2004.
Ascension Health is transforming healthcare by providing the highest quality care to all, with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable. Ascension Health, which provided $926 million in care of persons who are poor and community benefit last year, is the nation’s largest Catholic and nonprofit health system. Our Mission-focused Health Ministries consist of 107,000 associates serving in more than 500 locations in 19 states and the District of Columbia.
