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 covenant is to be one of the premier Texas healthcare systems by 2015, known for our clinical excellence, Christian service, and commitment to healthy communities.

Our core values are: Dignity, Service, Excellence and Justice.

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