[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 18654-18655]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING ST. JOSEPH HEALTH SYSTEM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 11, 2007

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
St. Joseph Health System, which has received a prestigious 2007 Great 
Workplace Award from the Gallup Organization recognizing the company as 
one of the twelve best places to work worldwide. St. Joseph Health 
System operates hospitals and clinics throughout California and is an 
important healthcare provider for residents of California's First 
District.

[[Page 18655]]

  The First District is home to three of St. Joseph's hospitals: 
Redwood Regional Hospital in Fortuna, St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka, 
and Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa. I have had a long and 
productive working relationship with these hospitals--as has my wife, 
Jan, who fondly recalls her days working in Queen of the Valley with 
Sister Ann.
  These hospitals have been fixtures in the North Coast health care 
delivery system for decades. St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka opened in 
1920 in response to the influenza epidemic. It was the first full-
service hospital in that area, staffed by 18 Sisters and one lay nurse. 
Today, St. Joseph Health System is the second largest employer in 
Humboldt County.
  Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa is recognized as one of 
the region's premier treatment centers. Founded over 40 years ago, 
today it specializes in cardiovascular medicine and a full range of 
cancer prevention, diagnostic, and treatment services.
  St. Joseph Health System is one of the ministries of the St. Joseph 
Sisters of Orange, a religious order dedicated to social justice, 
education, and healthcare. In addition to the order's work at St. 
Joseph Health System, they are a sponsoring religious order of Loyola 
Marymount University and provide funding for Taller San Jose, a center 
for the empowerment and education of Latino young adults living in 
poverty.
  Madam Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we congratulate 
St. Joseph Health System for receiving a 2007 Great Workplace Award, 
and acknowledge the contributions they have made to the health of 
citizens throughout California and the other states in which they 
serve.

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