Ascension Health Strategic Analysis
History
Ascension Health was formed on November 1, 1999 with the union of the Daughters of Charity National Health System(DCNHS), Sisters of St. Joseph Health System, and the Congregation of St. Joseph. Ascension Health prides itself on basing their services in reverence to Jesus Christ and His willingness to heal the sick, regardless of their financial status. Since its formation, only a short time ago, Ascension Health has been recognized as the United States' largest Catholic healthcare system. This healthcare facility provides services in five hundred locations throughout twenty states and the District of Columbia. In order to understand the charitable foundation of this healthcare system we must examine the origins of the sponsors that comprise Ascension Health.
DCNHS, Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, and the Congregation of St. Joseph all have their roots tracing back to the Catholic Church of 17th century France. These organizations have one common mission; to provide special services to those in need. These services included the establishment of schools, homes for the deaf, orphanages, and healthcare facilities. They ultimately decided to create a foundation in America for their organizations. Once here, they realized the need to expanded their reach to established hospitals throughout the country in response to western settlement. In the 1940s, in order to bring greater efficiencies to their healthcare ministries, the Daughters began integrating their hospitals with one another. This integration eventually led to the formation of what is now known as Ascension Health in late 1999.
The Healthcare Industry's External Environment
Macro environment
All businesses operate within a macro-environment and are influenced by forces that are often outside of their control. These forces can present themselves as either opportunities or as threats to a firm within a given industry. How these businesses respond to these forces can be the determining
Ascension Health was formed on November 1, 1999 with the union of the Daughters of Charity National Health System(DCNHS), Sisters of St. Joseph Health System, and the Congregation of St. Joseph. Ascension Health prides itself on basing their services in reverence to Jesus Christ and His willingness to heal the sick, regardless of their financial status. Since its formation, only a short time ago, Ascension Health has been recognized as the United States' largest Catholic healthcare system. This healthcare facility provides services in five hundred locations throughout twenty states and the District of Columbia. In order to understand the charitable foundation of this healthcare system we must examine the origins of the sponsors that comprise Ascension Health.
DCNHS, Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, and the Congregation of St. Joseph all have their roots tracing back to the Catholic Church of 17th century France. These organizations have one common mission; to provide special services to those in need. These services included the establishment of schools, homes for the deaf, orphanages, and healthcare facilities. They ultimately decided to create a foundation in America for their organizations. Once here, they realized the need to expanded their reach to established hospitals throughout the country in response to western settlement. In the 1940s, in order to bring greater efficiencies to their healthcare ministries, the Daughters began integrating their hospitals with one another. This integration eventually led to the formation of what is now known as Ascension Health in late 1999.
The Healthcare Industry's External Environment
Macro environment
All businesses operate within a macro-environment and are influenced by forces that are often outside of their control. These forces can present themselves as either opportunities or as threats to a firm within a given industry. How these businesses respond to these forces can be the determining