Providence Health &amp; ServicesProvidence Health &amp; Services Providence Health & Services Providence Health & Services (since 2016: Providence St. Joseph Health) is a not-for-profit, Catholic health care system operating multiple hospitals across seven states, with headquarters in Renton, Washington. The health system includes 51 hospitals, more than 800 non-acute facilities and numerous other health, supportive housing and educational services on the west coast of the United States (Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California) as well as Montana, New Mexico, and Texas. Providence Health & Services was founded by the Sisters of Providence in 1859. History. Providence Health System was established by the Sisters of Providence, 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 the Washington Territory) to serve the native people and settlers. In 1859, the Sisters incorporated their work, creating the network of health care services known as Providence Health & Services. In 1891, they founded St. Elizabeth Hospital, the Pacific Northwest's first permanent hospital (now PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center). The sisters later established several schools and hospitals in Washington, Montana, Oregon, Alaska, British Columbia, and California. Providence Health System was managed by the Sisters of Providence  until December 31st, 2009, when a Council of Sponsors known as Providence Ministries was created to serve as the canonical owners. In 2003, Health Management Associates purchased the Providence Health System properties in Central Washington including Providence Yakima Medical Center (formerly St. Elizabeth) and Toppenish Hospital. In 2012, Providence acquired Swedish Health Services in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Rod Hochman, CEO of Swedish Medical Center was hired by Providence Health & Services when Providence affiliated with Swedish in 2012. In April 2013, Dr. Hochman became the president and CEO of Providence. In 2014, Providence entered in an affiliation with Pacific Medical Centers  (PacMed). PacMed joined Swedish as part of Providence's Western HealthConnect division. The Providence Medical Group operates more than 250 clinics in neighborhoods throughout Alaska, California, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Providence Medical Group is part of Providence Health & Services. Providence Medical Group employs more than 1,600 physicians offering expertise in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, dermatology and other specialties. Providence Health & Services provides outpatient services, transitional care, home and hospice care, substance abuse programs, mental health treatment, prevention and wellness programs, long-term care, and assisted living and housing. Providence Health Plan provides or administers health coverage to  more than 375,000 members nationwide. Sponsorship. In 2014, Providence signed a sponsorship deal with the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer, naming Timbers' stadium Providence Park. Environmental initiatives. The company has a program in place designed to reduce the amount of food scraps that it sends to landfills. The program focuses on more accurate food purchasing and preparation practices, composting food scraps and donating edible food to nonprofits. Providence requires the chefs throughout its system to use centrally developed recipes and portion sizes that are designed to reduce waste and improve the nutritional value of the food served. In 2016 , the company said, its program helped divert 204 tons of food waste from the landfill. Controversies. In 2018, Providence paid its chief executive, Rod Hochman, more than $10 million. In 2020, Providence Health System had a nearly $12 billion cash reserve and obtained $509 million in government funds earmarked to prevent health care providers from going under during the coronavirus pandemic. The normal annual yield for the reserve fund nets approximately $1 billion in profits per year. In August 2021, Andrea Caballero, an infectious disease doctor who works at Providence Alaska Medical Center, said they were  on the verge of a hospital system collapse due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There were staff shortages, lack of equipment and supplies, and too many unvaccinated people among the population for the hospitals to effectively treat. There were no mask or vaccine mandates in Anchorage, at the time; it was a policy of the recently elected mayor who successfully ran on a platform of no mask or vaccine mandates. Hospitals. Providence hospitals include the following: Providence Health & Services Providence Health & Services (since 2016: Providence St. Joseph Health) is a not-for-profit, Catholic health care system operating multiple hospitals across