Providence Health & Services

Providence Health & Services is a not-for-profit Catholic health care system operating multiple hospitals across 5 states, with headquarters in Renton, Washington. The health system includes 27 hospitals, more than 35 non-acute facilities and numerous other health, supportive housing and educational services in the states of Alaska, Washington, Montana, Oregon and California. Providence Health & Services was started by the Sisters of Providence (Montreal, Quebec) more than 155 years ago.

History

Providence Health System was established by the Sisters of Providence (Montreal, Quebec), a community of Roman Catholic sisters founded in Montreal, Quebec by Mother Émilie Gamelin in 1843. In 1856, Mother Joseph and four sisters came to Vancouver, Washington (then Washington Territory) to serve the native people and settlers. The five pioneer sisters crisscrossed the Northwest and established schools, hospitals, orphanages and other institutions of care. In 1858, they founded St. Joseph Hospital, the Pacific Northwest's first permanent hospital (now PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center). In 1859, the Sisters incorporated their work, creating the network of health care services known as Providence Health & Services. The sisters later established several schools and hospitals in Washington, Montana, Oregon, Alaska, British Columbia, and California.

Providence

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Entertainment

Health

Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living organism. In humans it is the ability of individuals or communities to adapt and self-manage when facing physical, mental or social challenges. The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health in its broader sense in its 1948 constitution as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." This definition has been subject to controversy, in particular as lacking operational value and because of the problem created by use of the word "complete" Other definitions have been proposed, among which a recent definition that correlates health and personal satisfaction. Classification systems such as the WHO Family of International Classifications, including the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), are commonly used to define and measure the components of health. Health is that balanced condition of the living organism in which the integral, harmonious performance of the vital functions tends to the preservation of the organism and the normal development of the individual.

Southern California

Southern California, often abbreviated SoCal, is a geographic and cultural region that generally comprises California's southernmost 10 counties. The region is traditionally described as "eight counties", based on demographics and economic ties: Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. The more extensive 10-county definition, including Kern and San Luis Obispo counties, is also used based on historical political divisions. Southern California is a major economic center for the state of California and the United States.

The 8- and 10-county definitions are not used for the greater Southern California Megaregion, one of the 11 megaregions of the United States. The megaregion's area is more expansive, extending east into Las Vegas, Nevada, and south across the Mexican border into Tijuana.