Creating Healthy Communities
Wednesday - October 14, 2009 Share
By Sister Agnelle Ching, OSF,
Chief Executive Officer
St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii
When Melissa Bojorquez first learned her 85-year-old dad had lung cancer, she sought help from St. Francis Palliative Care for pain and symptom management for her dad.
As his condition progressed, her dad received care from St. Francis Hospice, which focuses on end-of-life comfort care. All along, St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii was there for Melissa and her family.
St. Francis is creating healthier communities in the Islands and helping people like Melissa and her dad. That philosophy has been the foundation of the St. Francis ministry since it was founded in the Islands by Blessed Marianne Cope and six Franciscan sisters, who came to Hawaii in 1883 to care for those with Hansen’s disease.
Today, the St. Francis team helps aging adults retain their independence and dignity and “stay healthy at home”; teaches children and adults about healthy lifestyle choices; provides in-home care for those recovering after surgery or from an illness; provides hospice care to patients and their families in their home or in facilities; offers outreach services to the homeless along the Waianae Coast; and much more.
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Since selling its two hospitals in early 2007, St. Francis is a much smaller organization yet has expanded services to meet the changing needs of the community, including the growing elder population. Our services go to where people live, touching 17,000 individuals and their families annually.
Keeping healthcare accessible and affordable while still providing the human touch is the foremost goal of St.
Francis, which is not always easy in today’s increasingly complex environment. But with the public’s support, we will continue to serve Hawaii’s people for generations to come.
For more information about any of our services or how you can help, call 547-6883 or visit www.stfrancishawaii.org.
Hawaii charitable organizations may send requests for space in either Proof Positive or the free advertisement below to dchapman@midweek.com.
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