History, Mission, Values, Facts and Statistics
History
Covenant Health System is a member of St. Joseph Health System, one of the most successful not-for-profit health systems in the United States. It was founded in 1998 through the merger of two of Lubbock's most venerable heath care facilities, St. Mary of the Plains Hospital and Lubbock Methodist Hospital System.
St. Mary Hospital was founded in 1937 as the 10-bed Plains Hospital and Clinic, becoming St. Mary of the Plains Hospital in 1939, when the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, California, purchased the facility. Today, St. Mary of the Plains Hospital is known as Covenant Medical Center–Lakeside.
The facility now known as Covenant Medical Center began as the 25-bed Lubbock Sanitarium in 1918. The facility became known as Lubbock General Hospital in 1941, then Lubbock Memorial Hospital in 1945. In 1954, it became Methodist Hospital.
Mission
To extend Christian ministry by caring for the whole person—body, mind and spirit—and by working with others to improve health and quality of life in our communities.
Vision and Values
Our vision is to bring people together to provide compassionate care, promote health improvement and create healthy communities.
Our covenant is to be one of the premier Texas healthcare systems by 2015, known for our Christian service, clinical excellence and commitment to healthy communities.
Our Values:
DIGNITY
We respect each person as an inherently valuable member of the human community and as a unique expression of life.
SERVICE
We bring people together who recognize that every interaction is a unique opportunity to serve one another, the community, and society.
EXCELLENCE
We foster personal and professional development, accountability, innovation, teamwork, and commitment to quality.
JUSTICE
We advocate for systems and structures that are attuned to the needs of the vulnerable and disadvantaged and that promote a sense of community among all persons.
These are the guiding principles for all we do, shaping our interactions with those whom we are privileged to serve.
Facts and Statistics
Covenant Health System is the largest health care institution in the West Texas and Eastern New Mexico region.
Geographic information: Serves a 62-county area with a population of more than 1.2 million people.
Our four cornerstone ministries are located in Lubbock, TX - Covenant Medical Center, Covenant Medical Center-Lakeside, Covenant Specialty Hospital and Covenant Children’s Hospital. Combined, these hospitals have:
977 licensed beds
More than 5,000 employees
More than 600 physicians on staff
Average daily patient census of 400
28,250 annual discharges
62,000 annual adult Emergency Department visits
25,500 annual pediatric Emergency Department visits
Community Benefit:
- Provided $73 million in community health and education services in 2011 (includes care for the underinsured)
- Total regional impact of $1.2 billion annually for the greater Lubbock region
- Ongoing operations sustain 12,600 jobs annually
- Total economic impact includes an annual household earnings/salaries impact of $500 million
- Employees contribute more than $565,000 per year to the Lubbock Area United Way, and more than $600,000 to the Covenant Cares Fund