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Catholic health system drops saint names from hospitals

MISHAWAKA, Ind. (AP) – A large Catholic health system is dropping saint names from its hospitals to create a more unified identity.

Franciscan Alliance treats more than 1.3 million patients in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. The Indiana-based organization announced Tuesday it will rename 12 of its 14 hospitals.

The decision means Franciscan St. Francis Health in Indianapolis will become Franciscan Health Indianapolis. Franciscan St. James Health in Chicago Heights, Illinois, will become Franciscan Health Chicago Heights. Other hospitals also will drop saint names.

Franciscan Alliance board chair Sister Jane Marie Klein says the changes underscore the system’s combined strength and still reflect the heritage of the founding Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration.

Changes to signs and printed material will happen gradually to keep costs down.

  • Franciscan St. Anthony Health – Crown Point will become Franciscan Health Crown Point
  • Franciscan St. Anthony Health – Michigan City will become Franciscan Health Michigan City
  • Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health – Crawfordsville will become Franciscan Health Crawfordsville
  • Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health – Lafayette Central will become Franciscan Health Lafayette Central
  • Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health – Lafayette East will become Franciscan Health Lafayette East
  • Franciscan St. Francis Health – Carmel will become Franciscan Health Carmel
  • Franciscan St. Francis Health – Indianapolis will become Franciscan Health Indianapolis
  • Franciscan St. Francis Health – Mooresville will become Franciscan Health Mooresville
  • Franciscan St. James Health – Chicago Heights will become Franciscan Health Chicago Heights (Ill.)
  • Franciscan St. James Health – Olympia Fields will become Franciscan Health Olympia Fields (Ill.)
  • Franciscan St. Margaret Health – Dyer will become Franciscan Health Dyer
  • Franciscan St. Margaret Health – Hammond will become Franciscan Health Hammond

Franciscan Health Munster and Franciscan Health Rensselaer will retain their current names.