Medical pioneers of the Seventh-day Adventist Church established an innovative healthcare program in Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1866, looking to the healing ministry of Christ for inspiration.

Part of this worldwide network, Adventist Health System was founded in 1973 to support and strengthen Seventh-day Adventist healthcare organizations in the southern and southwestern regions of the United States. It quickly became the largest not-for-profit Protestant healthcare provider in the nation.

Today, Adventist Health System organizations provide 36 hospitals, totaling more than 6,000 licensed beds, care for nearly 4 million patients each year in inpatient, outpatient, and emergency room visits, and employ almost 43,000 members of their communities in full- and part-time positions.

Many Adventist Health System hospitals offer home health and other services to meet community needs. Seventeen extended-care centers provide more than 2,000 beds for patients who need long-term medical or rehabilitation services. Adventist Care Centers, Adventist Health System's long-term care connection, contracts with 16 of these facilities. As recognized leaders in the delivery of skilled care, these sites provide specialized services including respiratory therapy, cardiac care, and others.

To best meet the exact needs of their communities, every Adventist Health System entity operates independently in hiring employees and delivering care and services. The corporate office reinforces these efforts by sharing management and clinical expertise, providing access to a greater number of managed care plans, and making available a wide range of additional resources and services.

Although separated by geography and as unique as the varied communities we serve, Adventist Health System organizations will always be united in their efforts to improve every aspect of life.

The pursuit of excellence and promise of compassion that formed the foundation of Seventh-day Adventist healthcare continue today in the largest hospitals and the smallest clinics.

Within our region, Adventist Midwest Health operates four hospitals as part of the Adventist Health System with a fifth under construction. In addition, they provide hospice and care at home programs, and operate a medical clinic.

In the Adventist tradition, Adventist Midwest Health provides more than acute health care. Part of their healing ministry is leading the community to better health. Through a number of health education programs and services, many are led to a better and more abundant life.

When Seventh-day Adventist healthcare began, philosophy was translated into life-saving and life-enhancing service when mission was put into action. Today, our mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ depends not only on our commitment to Christian ideals, but on our efforts to provide nothing less than extraordinary compassionate care.

Gary Burns is the Lake Union Conference communication director.

Portions of this article are from the Adventist Health System and Adventist Midwest Health websites.