"Whether it's ensuring health care is available to all, or finding ways tolower costs while maintaining quality, CHW believes that we have aresponsibility, as leaders in our field, to re-examine how health careresources are distributed," said Lloyd H. Dean, CHW's president/chiefexecutive officer. "In short, we believe every American has a right toquality, compassionate care."

The series of full-page ads, created by the San Francisco advertising firmEngine Company 1, will appear in the western editions of The New York Timesand The Wall Street Journal, through May 2008. To view the first ad, pleasevisit www.chwHEALTH.org. The campaign uses visual images to link theconcepts of the human body with issues directly related to health care.

CHW has launched the campaign in tandem with a new health care blog,http://blog.chwHEALTH.org. Designed to capture multiple viewpoints andinsights, CHW believes that no organization or individual alone has theanswer to the current health care crisis. Rather, it will take many voicesfrom many fields to find the right solution.

"Access to health care is a fundamental human right," Dean said. "All ofus must work together and support our state and national leaders as theydrive the debate for change nationwide."

CHW has long supported that health care be available for all Americans. In1992, the Board of Directors took an official position in support ofuniversal access. And in 2003, the organization established four principlesfor reform -- universal access, stable financing, improved quality andimproved accountability.

In 2004, CHW implemented one of the most generous financial assistancepolicies in the nation, offering free and discounted care to uninsuredfamilies earning up to 500 percent of the federal poverty level ($106,000in 2008 for a family of four).

In 2007, CHW launched its first series of advertisements advocating forhealth care reform in California. The organization also convened two-dozenleaders in business, academia, health care, labor, religion, and researchfor a think-tank style, invitation-only discussion designed to generate newideas for reforming the U.S. health care system. The Healthcare LeadershipSummit was moderated by Leon Panetta, former White House Chief of Staff toPresident Bill Clinton.

And in March 2008 CHW released the findings from its second Health SecurityIndex, based on a nationwide survey of more than 1,150 adults. The surveyfound the gap in health security is widening between low- and high-incomeAmericans and between those covered by health insurance and those who areuninsured.

In other survey findings, affordability is the number one concern forAmericans worried about their health security. Nearly half (46%) of adultssurveyed believe the health care system is getting worse and seven out of10 (69%) say the time has come for universal health care in America. Forthe full data on other information about the Health Security Index, pleasevisit www.healthsecurityindex.org.

"If we don't immediately address the flaws in the health care system, theconsequences will intensify because the need for health care servicescontinues to grow," said Dean. "As a society, I know we can do better."

About Healthcare West

Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) is the eighth largest hospital system in thenation and the largest not-for-profit health hospital provider inCalifornia. Founded in 1986, the CHW network of more than 9,500 physiciansand approximately 53,000 employees serves a population spanning 22 millionpeople at 41 hospitals across California, Arizona and Nevada. CHW iscommitted to delivering compassionate, high-quality, affordable healt hcareservices with special attention to the poor and underserved. In 2007, CHWprovided $922 million in charity care, community benefits, and unreimbursedpatient care. For more information, please visit our website atwww.chwHEALTH.org.