As Owensboro Mercy Health System enters its seventh year of service our mission remains unchanged: to heal the sick and improve the health of our community.

Six core commitments guide our organization in carrying out its mission: teamwork, service, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. OMHS strives to esteem all people and offer compassionate care to everyone asking for our services.

The OMHS Ethics Committee continues to follow the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. The purpose of the ethics and religious directives is to reaffirm the ethical standards of behavior in healthcare that flow from the Church’s teaching about the dignity of the human person.

The OMHS Ethics Committee consistently works to uphold and respect the rights of patients and family members upon consultation with their physicians when extraordinary life preserving measures are appropriate and beneficial. Likewise, a palliative care program offers comfort and compassionate care to patients whose disease is chronic or progressive.

OMHS assists patients and families when facing end-of-life issues. Our board of directors has adopted a resolution that prohibits all activities that take human life in any way, including abortion and all forms of euthanasia. It is our goal to associate and collaborate with organizations that support and respect life.

The birth of a baby is a miracle and a joyous time for parents. On September 24 the hospital opened the New Life Birthing Center. The new wing offers the latest technology combined with a design that offers numerous comforts and features developed from ideas gathered in a survey of hundreds of area women.

OMHS has also launched LifeStages, an integrated approach to women’s healthcare that serves the needs of every woman, at every stage and age of life. It represents and promotes all services and campuses of OMHS and combines comprehensive medical treatment along with a rich diversity of classes, exercise options and support groups.

A Sacramental Chapel at the HealthPark at 1006 Ford Avenue provides a quiet space for meditation. Small group sessions, as well as larger prayer and meditation groups, utilize the chapel. A Sacramental Catholic Tabernacle is also housed in the main OMHS Parrish Campus Chapel and liturgy is celebrated every Sunday for patients, family, staff and physicians. Both Chapels are open to all religious traditions.

Owensboro Mercy Health System offers Pastoral Care/Chaplaincy Service with two full-time chaplains, Bonnie Brown and B.J. Asher. In addition, the Diocese of Owensboro has stationed Fr. Maury Riney on-site to administer the sacraments to patients. Jeanie Norcia serves as administrative assistant to the entire staff. Over sixty volunteers assist Pastoral Care and two additional chaplains are available for weekend coverage.

During the September 11th tragedy and days following, Pastoral Care held several prayer services and over 300 people came together to pray and support one another.

Programs and services are in place for the poor and those without access to healthcare in accordance with policies approved by the OMHS Board of Trustees. Last year the hospital contributed over $3 million to Community Benefit Support and approximately $8 million to Charity Care. Scholarships are available for persons who cannot afford the HealthPark membership dues or services and are granted based on Federal Poverty Guidelines.

At Owensboro Mercy Health System we strive to carry out our mission by offering excellent, compassionate care to all that come for medical and health needs regardless of race, color, creed or ability to pay.