St. Louis-based SSM Health revealed plans to consolidate each of its member hospital's foundations into a larger, more influential philanthropic entity to serve the entire region, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
To date, SSM Health consolidated five of its hospitals' foundations and hired several executives to hone the consolidated organization's mission. Among those brought in to oversee the foundation was Paul Ross, who will serve as vice president of philanthropy.
Officials are also in the process of creating a 24-member board to govern the combined entity. SSM Health named 13 individuals to the board thus far, the report states.
SSM Health officials said the combined foundation's primary objectives will be to raise funds to improve behavioral health in the region, invest in ongoing staff education and to raise money for capital projects, according to the report.
Candace Jennings, RN, MSN, regional president of hospital operations for SSM Health, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch officials decided to consolidate because having a foundation at nearly every hospital proved to be an inefficient operation model.