From St. Joseph’s Health System website:
Founded in the healing mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton, St. Joseph’s Health System (SJHS) was established in 1991 to meet the challenges of the changing environment for the delivery of health and social services, and takes pride in a system-wide commitment to caring for the whole person: body, mind and spirit.
Regardless of faith or culture, the one characteristic our people share is a deep belief in the values our founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton instilled in our organization: that it is an honour to serve – and in particular to ensure that those most vulnerable and marginalized have access to compassionate, high-quality care.
The first Sisters arrived in Hamilton in 1852 and began to work for the poor and needy residents of this growing and important trade centre. For the Sisters, it was an honour to serve others, and, with the onset of a cholera epidemic, the Sister’s health care mission began in earnest. Working in railway sheds near the Hamilton harbour, they risked their lives to care for the sick and dying victims of the deadly disease.
Today, we are one of the largest corporations in Canada devoted to health care. Our member organizations are known for genuine compassion and caring, both locally and around the world. Each of the organizations offer services according to their strengths, from acute care, long-term care, and community care, to rehabilitation, hospice, community outreach, and mental health. SJHS is also a well-recognized leader for innovation in models of patient-centred integrated care at each stage of the patient experience.