St. Joseph's Medical Center

Founded in 1874 by the Sisters Of St. Joseph of Carondelet and known for its long tradition of providing high quality care. It has a Catholic Heritage and is still present in modern times. The hospital was sold in 2015 to its current owner Prime Healthcare.

St.Joseph's Medical Center also houses the "Center For Pharmaceutical Research Center" where various vaccine and other health conditions' research are open for the public to apply for. The medical center also provides care ranging from normal wound care, to breast cancer checks.

The old hospital has been granted many awards and recognition for the quality healthcare that they provide.

It is stated that the medical center has had a long history of compassionate and quality healthcare. "St.Joseph's is a joint commission of a 310-bed acute care facility providing a wide range of services, including 24-hour Emergency Department, Joint and Spine Institute, surgical services, and outpatient services." [1].

The Sisters of St.Joseph of Carondelet were that was branched from their mother community that was formed in the 17th century by a Jesuit priest, Father John Peter Medaille In Le Puy, France. "The community became one of the first "modern" women's congregations, in the sense that its members were dedicated to active work among people in need rather than to the life of prayer and contemplation traditionally practiced by religious women in a cloistered setting." [2] Most of the early members came from the lower class of laborers and farmers in the Massif surrounding Le Puy.

As the Sisters moved to the United States they grew as a community and sought to help those in need, and by the mid 1800's, the Sisters responded to the social problems currently troubling the country by opening hospitals and orphanages. "The need for these works of charity was great, since poverty, sickness and death were common among the poor in urban-working class neighborhoods." [2] so In 1874, the Sisters opened St.Joseph's hospital west of the Mississippi river. Father Donnelly was the one who suggested this and aided financially in its early years.

Once opened the Sisters got to work setting up a course of study and training for the Sisters who were to care for the sick. Which they have expanded and continued to this day/

[1] About Us, St. Joseph's Medical Center. Accessed December 15th 2021. https://www.stjosephkc.com/about-us/.

[2] Smith, Martha. The Sisters Of St. Joseph Of Carondelet. Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph. Published 1990. Missouri Valley Special Collections.