St. Luke's Episcopal Health System transferred to Catholic Health Initiatives

The Episcopal Diocese of Texas today transferred St. Luke's Episcopal Health System to Catholic Health Initiatives, the nation's third-largest faith-based health system, officials announced.

The transfer of the system, which now will be the St. Luke's Health System, includes the Texas Medical Center campus, as well as suburban hospital locations in The Woodlands, Sugar Land, Pasadena and The Vintage.  In addition, CHI will continue to grow and enhance St. Luke's significant affiliations with Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Heart® Institute, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, Texas Children's Hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Last month, the two organizations announced that they had reached a definitive agreement for the transfer. As part of the transfer, CHI will contribute more than $1 billion to create a new Episcopal Health Foundation, which will focus on the unmet health needs of the area's underserved population.  In addition, CHI has committed an additional $1 billion for future investment in the health system.

The St. Luke's Episcopal Health System Board conducted an 11-month evaluation process, which included 30 prospective local and national partners, before narrowing the list to three in March and selecting CHI, which operates 86 hospitals and other facilities in 18 states.

While it no longer will provide acute-care services, the Episcopal Diocese of Texas has established the Episcopal Health Foundation (EHF), which will focus on parish-based, preventive and primary healthcare. Episcopal Health Charities will continue its fifteen year history as part of the new EHF.