The Sarah Community

Briefly describe the organization's mission: Since it was founded in 1872 by Catholic sisters, SSM Health (SSMH) has existed to meet the health needs of the communities it serves. SSMH is a Catholic, not-for-profit health system serving the comprehensive health needs of communities across the Midwest through one of the largest integrated delivery systems in the nation. With care delivery sites in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin, SSMH includes 23 acute care hospitals, one children's hospital, more than 290 physician offices and other outpatient and virtual care services, 12 post-acute facilities, comprehensive home care and hospice services, a pharmacy benefit company, a health insurance company, and an Accountable Care Organization. The health system employs over 40,000 people and is affiliated with 11,000 physicians making it one of the largest employers in every community it serves. In the tradition of its founding sisters, SSMH strives to fulfill its mission by providing exceptional health care to everyone who comes to its hospitals, regardless of their ability to pay. The mission of SSM Health Foundation - St. Louis is to inspire financial and spiritual support of SSM Health's mission by building personal relationships and community engagement to achieve the vision of a sustainable and meaningful health impact in our community. The Foundation cares about people and the overall community. Since health and wellness touches every person and their quality of life, those impacts need to be addressed. SSM Health Foundation - St. Louis seeks to promote and advance quality health care through support of patient care services, medical education and community outreach programs. Patient care services include medical research, wellness and prevention programs and capital projects. The Foundation supports the following SSM Health hospitals in the St. Louis metropolitan area: SSM Health DePaul Hospital - St. Louis, SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton, SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital - Lake Saint Louis, SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital - St. Charles, SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital - Wentzville and SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - St. Louis. The Foundation provided philanthropic support to numerous programs at the seven SSM Health St. Louis area regional hospitals including, but not limited to: support groups for patients living with cancer; nutrition counseling, medical supplies for uninsured/underinsured patients; screening mammograms and diagnostic services for uninsured women; continuing program connecting mothers with needed resources and education; continued research in the field of maternal-fetal medicine, nursing scholarships for continuing education, advanced equipment and capital funding.