Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center Begins New Chapter as Via Christi Hospital
The cool temperatures did little to dampen the spirits of Mt. Carmel and Cornerstone Village staff, physicians and volunteers this morning as they celebrated the official switch to the new name of Via Christi. The health ministries will now be known as Via Christi Hospital at 1 Mt Carmel Way and Via Christi Village at 1502 East Centennial. The change is part of a positioning initiative announced by the hospital last fall which also includes nearly $7 million in capital improvements to the hospital.
“This is the latest step in a journey that began 107 years ago when Mother Bernard Sheridan first opened the doors of a small 20 bed hospital on the north side of Pittsburg,” said Randy Cason, president and CEO of Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg. “Although a woman of vision, I doubt even she could have imagined the strides her hospital would make in the subsequent years.”
Via Christi Health is the largest provider of health care services in Kansas and includes hospitals, outpatient centers, senior villages and services at home.
“Mt. Carmel has actually been part of Via Christi Health since the Sisters of St. Joseph and the Sisters of Sorrowful Mother came together to create the health system in 1995,” said Randy Peterson, senior vice-president of regional operations for Via Christi. “We are pleased to see the hospital take the next step in its journey as it becomes a regional medical hub for southeast Kansas.”
Signage announcing the hospital’s new name is currently being installed on its campus along with the new address of 1 Mt Carmel Way. “The history of our hospital is intertwined with that of our community,” said Ron Rhodes, president of the hospital Board of Trustees. “Today we begin a new chapter by joining with our fellow ministries throughout Via Christi Health and formally becoming known as Via Christi Hospital. We’re proud of our heritage but equally excited about what the future holds.”
