2026 ANNUAL REPORT
Nursing
Thank you for choosing this profession and for using your talents to make a difference. Most of all, thank you for being united in the purpose and passion of caring for patients. — Kathleen Sanford, RN, DBA, FAAN, CommonSpirit Health SEVP and Chief Nursing Officer
FY26 Annual Report
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Navigating Today, Shaping Tomorrow Welcome to the sixth CommonSpirit Health Nursing Annual Report. This past year, as with many before, has been a testament to our collective strength, adaptability, and skillful balancing of persistent challenges. This report demonstrates how we never lose sight of the possibilities ahead. Our profession has always been dynamic, but the pace of change feels more accelerated than ever. As always, our nurses have risen to the occasion with remarkable flexibility and adaptability. Regardless of your role, from acute care to ambulatory settings, your dedication shines through. The power of our dyad partnerships with our physician colleagues — where we are working as a unified team on shared goals — has been particularly evident this year, fostering collaboration and driving impactful change across all domains of practice.
The following pages are full of examples of how our nurses are truly leading the way. You’ll discover inspiring narratives of innovation, dedicated patient care, and groundbreaking initiatives, which continue to transform how we approach critical aspects of our work across the ministry. Each year, I am amazed by the new and different ways our teams collaborate to make things better, not just for our patients and communities, but for each other. As we navigate today’s complexities, I am filled with immense admiration and optimism for what lies ahead. I encourage you to read this report and take pride in our extraordinary and collective achievements. As we continue this journey, I eagerly anticipate the new possibilities that await, knowing with certainty that through our continued dedication and ingenuity, we will continue to be leaders in bringing our mission to the individuals and communities we serve. Thank you for choosing to be a nurse and especially for choosing to be a nurse at CommonSpirit Health.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Sanford, RN, DBA, FAAN, SEVP and Chief Nursing Officer
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CommonSpirit Health Nursing
As always, our nurses have risen to the occasion with remarkable flexibility and adaptability.”
FY26 Annual Report
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Contents 06
Vision and Future Nursing by the Numbers...................................... 06 Nursing Vision and Goals..................................... 08 Selecting New Nursing Strategic Priorities...... 09 Elevating the Nursing Voice................................. 10 Career Paths for Nurses......................................... 11
National Nursing Initiatives.................................. 12
20
Regions Northwest............................................................... 22 Central.................................................................... 26 Mountain................................................................ 30 South....................................................................... 34
California................................................................ 38
42
Business Lines Senior Living.......................................................... 44
Health at Home..................................................... 46
Faith-Based Nursing............................................. 48
50
National Nursing Teams National Center for Advanced Practice, Ambulatory Nursing............................................. 52 Clinical Informatics, Patient Experience........... 53 Care Base............................................................... 54 Clinical Regulatory and Revenue Enhancement......................................... 55 Physician Enterprise Connection Center, Patient Care Services............................. 56
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FY26 Annual Report
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Nursing by the Numbers Nurses are essential healthcare professionals. At CommonSpirit Health, we recognize the quality care that nurses provide as well as their important role as patient advocates. These infographics detail who our nurses are.
2026 Totals Employ ee ,590 0 s 5 1
3.5% RN Leaders and Executives
Nurses comprise nearly
36.5% of CommonSpirit’s workforce
3%
87.9%
LVN/LPNs
RNs
5.6% APRNs
Nurses by Age
15.7%
29.9%
25.8%
19.2%
9.4%
20–30
30–40
40–50
50–60
>60
Please note that this does not include registered nurses who are practicing their profession outside of a patient care department. Data effective April 6, 2026.
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CommonSpirit Health Nursing
Tenure at CommonSpirit 0 to 1 yr
1 to 2 yrs
2 to 3 yrs
3 to 5 yrs
14.4%
12.0%
10.7%
14.8%
5 to 10 yrs
10 to 15 yrs
15+ yrs
18.3%
11.0%
18.7%
Ethnicity
56.8%
2.7%
19.7%
2.4%
White
Asian
12.1%
Hispanic or Latino
Two or More Races
Unknown
0.8%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
0.5%
5.1%
Black or African American
American Indian or Alaska Native
Words That Define Nursing Here’s what defines nursing at CommonSpirit Health:
• Head, heart, and hands: You use your head, your heart, and your hands to provide care. • Intellect with love: You’re bright, science-focused professionals who always practice with love.
• Compassion and skill: No matter how skilled you are, in healthcare, you must be compassionate — and nurses are a perfect blend of the two.
• Art and science: Nursing is both an art, which involves the heart, and a science that includes evidence-based practice and research.
• Collegiality and leadership: Collegiality defines the teamwork and spirit of our
profession, while leadership reflects the vital role nurses play in shaping patient care and driving healthcare innovation forward.
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Nursing Vision and Goals Our goal is for CommonSpirit Health to be the employer of choice for nurses and their teams in a system that is widely known for outstanding patient care.
Our nursing vision statement, developed with input from more than 16,000 nurses:
Today and every day, we will work together with humankindness for all to advance the science and art of nursing. This means we will…
1.
2.
3.
Be stronger together, achieving excellence in all we do, collaborating across the field, and growing our collective knowledge.
Let humankindness guide us as we treat every person with holistic, personalized care for the body, mind, and spirit.
Advance the science and art of nursing as innovative leaders who demonstrate the power of evidence-based, compassionate care.
Accomplishments
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CommonSpirit Health’s performance on Leapfrog’s Spring 2026 Hospital Safety Grades significantly exceeded the national average, with 86% of eligible CommonSpirit hospitals receiving A or B safety grades. We also exceeded national averages in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 2026 Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating for the sixth consecutive year. These achievements signify safe, high-quality care and come in part through the diligent efforts of our nurses.
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Seven CommonSpirit hospitals earned Magnet recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The Magnet Recognition Program is the highest national honor for professional nursing practice, achieved by only about 9% of U.S. hospitals.
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Ten CommonSpirit hospitals have been named Pathway to Excellence facilities by the ANCC. The Pathway to Excellence Program recognizes programs that create a positive and safe environment for frontline nurses.
CommonSpirit Health Nursing
Selecting New Nursing Strategic Priorities In FY21, CommonSpirit nurse leaders developed a five-year nursing strategic plan based on invaluable input from nurses across our ministry. As that plan concludes, we’re ready to build on the momentum of the progress made while continuing to focus on the key strategic priorities from the previous plan. Look for updates on related projects from the previous plan in the following pages, including our nurse residency program, internal nurse traveler program, enhanced professional governance, and Virtually Integrated Care.
Shaping Our Next Five Years: Listening to Your Voices As we move forward, we’re actively developing our next set of nursing strategic priorities. To ensure these priorities reflect what matters most to our nurses across all roles, tenures, and regions, we’ve implemented two key listening strategies: • FY26 MyVoice midyear check-in survey: All CommonSpirit nurses were invited to give their feedback as part of the MyVoice
midyear check-in survey in December 2025. Nearly 30,000 nurses ranked 11 priorities and had the chance to share additional ideas while 2,200 nurses volunteered to help provide future input. • Focus group with nurse leaders: 37 nurse leaders participated in focus group conversations to provide additional context for the information collected in the survey.
Your Top Priorities for the Future of Nursing Based on valuable feedback from both the survey and focus group discussions, here are your top priorities, presented in order: 1
Enhance well-being and workplace safety
2
Champion the value of nursing
3
Advance innovation in safe, highquality care delivery
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Foster a flexible, inclusive, and supportive workplace
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Promote skills development and career advancement for all team members
Next Steps: Turning Feedback Into Action These priorities resonate deeply with our vision for nursing. We’re already planning how we’ll delve deeper into each of these points through various engagement opportunities involving our nursing team, including engaging additional focus groups and nurse volunteers. We look forward to sharing these results and our next set of priorities in the coming months.
FY26 Annual Report
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Elevating the Nursing Voice Great strides have been made in recent years to ensure the clinical voice, including that of nurses, is a key part of decision-making across CommonSpirit Health. Nurse and physician leaders are working together in dyad partnerships in many areas to make joint clinical decisions and drive strategic initiatives. Nurse leaders are also actively involved in key governing bodies, including the following:
Clinical Leadership Council The Clinical Leadership Council (CLC) governs the clinical enterprise and amplifies the clinical voice at the top levels of the organization. It’s co-chaired by CommonSpirit’s Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Physician Executive Officer and includes system clinical leaders, along with Chief Medical Officers, Chief Nursing Officers (CNO), and Physician Enterprise leaders from each region. The CLC: • Provides clinical input for operational decisions • Helps optimize clinical processes Thomas McGinn, MD, MPH, SEVP, Chief Physician Executive Officer, and Kathleen Sanford, RN, DBA, FAAN, SEVP, Chief Nursing Officer, co-lead the Clinical Leadership Council.
• Informs the clinical goals and objectives of the organization • Oversees other clinical governance bodies across the ministry
Nurse Executive Council The Nurse Executive Council (NEC) is chaired by the system Chief Nursing Officer and includes all division Chief Nursing Officers; national direct reports to the CommonSpirit CNO; and the top nurse leaders of Senior Services, Health at Home, and the Physician Enterprise. The NEC: • Aligns nursing strategic plans with the CommonSpirit Health strategic plan • Improves and implements processes that enhance and affect nursing practice • Adopts and disseminates evidence-based national standards of nursing practice and competence • Facilitates the adoption of clinical technology initiatives and the reduction of variations in care • Identifies and recommends changes to nursing-related policies
Clinical Service Lines The system Service Line teams work to optimize clinical quality and outcomes, operational transformation, and financial performance in key clinical areas. Each service line is nationally led by a dyad leadership model consisting of both administrative and physician leaders. Many of the administrative leaders come from nursing and care delivery backgrounds, leveraging their patient care experience to elevate the needs of both patients and caregivers. Many frontline nurses are also involved in the service lines’ work and help set clinical standards.
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Career Paths for Nurses Becoming a nurse can open many career pathways within and outside of our organization. While remaining in direct patient care is commendable, your nursing degree and the skills learned on the job offer many possibilities, as explained by a few of our nurses working outside of traditional roles:
My clinical training and emergency nursing experience have greatly benefited me in my current role. My shared understanding with our caregivers influences my leadership, and our success is guided by the responsibility to consider all stakeholders and act in the best interest of the common good. Healthcare is a team sport. No matter what role you play here, we’re all in it together.” — Julie J. Sprengel, RN, MBA, President of California Region
My nursing background is both my history and the bedrock of my leadership. I need to stay connected to our team’s daily realities to make smart decisions. Every nursing shift taught me how deeply interconnected everything is. Nursing perfected my ability to prioritize under pressure. It’s how I learned to stay calm and triage challenges. Ultimately, my leadership stems from a deep sense of service: enabling our teams, removing barriers, and empowering everyone to excel.” — Jim Parisi, BSN, MBA, President of St. Luke’s Health – The Woodlands, Lakeside, and Springwoods Village Hospitals
My 40-year nursing career began in a busy outpatient department, where balancing high patient volumes and compassionate care was a daily priority. I constantly found myself asking, ‘How can we improve this experience so our patients feel cared for as individuals?’ Whether streamlining workflows, reducing wait times, or improving patient education, I was always looking for opportunities to enhance the patient experience. Those early years sparked a passion for quality improvement that continues to drive my work today.”
Nursing prepares us not only to care for individual patients, but also to improve the systems, communities, and organizations that support health. Every step I’ve taken beyond traditional clinical practice has been grounded in the values and perspective I gained as a nurse. While my work today looks different from bedside practice, the skills, values, and compassion continue to shape every decision. Once a nurse, always a nurse.”
— Debra Rockman, RN, BSN, MBA, CPHQ, CPHRM, System Vice President of Ambulatory Quality
— Lois Lane, MSN, JD, MA, FNP-BC, System Vice President of Mission Integration and Community Health
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National Nursing Initiatives We’re working on several national nursing initiatives to both enhance patient care and support nurses as clinical leaders. The following pages offer insight into a few of those important initiatives.
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National Nurse Residency Program The National Nurse Residency Program (NNRP) demonstrates our commitment to nurturing talent and ensuring clinical excellence. It’s a critical investment in our future designed to both bridge the transition from academia to professional practice and cultivate highly skilled and competent nurses within our unified ministry.
Credentialing Center, signifies the highest standards of excellence for nurse residency programs. With numerous markets already accredited or actively in process — including markets in Texas, Kentucky, California, and Nevada — we’re not just meeting but setting the national standard.
There are 78 CommonSpirit Health facilities actively hiring nurse residents, and more locations will be joining the program soon, ensuring new nurses across our ministry receive consistent professional development that exceeds nationally recognized benchmarks. More than 5,000 new graduate nurses have joined CommonSpirit through the program since February 2023. The more than 2,500 nurses who have completed the NNRP have an impressive one-year retention rate of 87.3%, which significantly reduces turnover costs and ensures continuity of high-quality patient care. The NNRP curriculum was refined in FY26 to meet evolving healthcare complexities. Major revisions were made to the curriculum for Professional Development, Perioperative, NICU, ED, and Well-Being. Driven by expert input and nurse resident feedback, these updates now focus on enhancing critical thinking through case studies and interactive elements. New curricula in Ambulatory Care and Critical Access are under development. CommonSpirit is also working to obtain Practice Transition Accreditation Program (PTAP) certification for all NNRP sites. This prestigious accreditation, overseen by the American Nurses
Residency program graduates.
The NNRP provides a pipeline of prepared, confident nurses who are essential to delivering humankindness and the highest standards of patient care. It’s a strategic investment that directly translates into improved retention, enhanced clinical competency, and superior patient outcomes across our ministry.”
— Amrit Kamboj, RN, DNP, System VP, Clinical Education and Professional Development
— Jennifer Hubek, RN, DNP, MS, NPD-BC, System Director, National Nurse Residency Program
Noteworthy Numbers
94
Participating facilities
78
Facilities currently hiring new graduate nurses
5,000+
Nurses enrolled in the program
2,500+ Program graduates
87.3% Retention rate
FY26 Annual Report
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The National Internal Travel Program The National Internal Travel Program (NITP) continues to grow as a meaningful workforce solution across the ministry, with an employee roster now exceeding 375 internal travelers. These caregivers are deployed to meet the dynamic needs of our inpatient operations as well as remote clinical functions, ensuring our facilities remain staffed during vacancy or transition. This growth reflects the continued need for a flexible, high-quality internal staffing model that supports access to care, reduces reliance on external agency labor, and creates career mobility opportunities for our own employees. We’re actively working to implement the program within the Mountain Region, further expanding the NITP’s reach and ability to support critical staffing needs across CommonSpirit Health. A major advancement for the program is the development of an online software platform. This mobile-friendly application will allow hospital administration to post staffing needs directly with the NITP, giving internal travelers the ability to review and apply to open assignments across the ministry. This technology will improve visibility, streamline assignment placement, enhance the traveler experience, and create a more efficient connection between facility needs and available internal talent.
The platform is being piloted now in Arizona and will be broadly available soon. In addition to continued regional expansion, the team is exploring opportunities to provide staffing services within outpatient and ambulatory settings, positioning the program to evolve beyond traditional inpatient staffing and further support CommonSpirit’s broader workforce strategy.
Noteworthy Numbers Savings per year: Since inception, the NITP has demonstrated a strong financial impact, with approximate savings reaching: FY23
$2 million FY24
$4 million FY25
$2.5 million FY26
$17 million YTD
It has been a privilege to watch the Internal Travel Program and its people continue to grow. It represents CommonSpirit Health’s commitment to investing in our workforce by creating flexible opportunities for employees to explore new roles, gain valuable experience, develop professionally, and bring their talents to the communities we serve across the country.” — Travis Gesell, RN, MSN, MBA, System Director, National Internal Travel Program
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Virtually Integrated CareSM
Noteworthy Numbers
Virtually Integrated Care (VIC) brings expert nurses behind the camera as extensions of the care team, helping stabilize the nursing workforce and improve quality of care. VIC expanded in FY26 to include critical care. The model will be expanding into critical access hospitals, senior living, ambulatory care, and service line support in FY27, along with several more acute care expansions for the Central and South regions.
The VIC model provides care across the continuum, including inpatient, outpatient, and the emergency department.
VIC represents a continuous journey of enhancement and transformation of quality patient care. Innovative, technologydriven models support clinical teams, reduce the workload and burden on frontline nursing staff and providers, and ensure every patient receives the highest standard of care.” — Linda Goodwin, RN, MSN, MBA, NEA-BC, FACHE, System SVP and Chief Nursing Transformation/Clinical Nursing Informatics Officer
Laura Barker, RN, MSN, South Region VIC RN Director A VIC team member shared the following about Laura: “If I were asked to reflect upon the qualities of a nurse that best exemplify humankindness, I’d simply provide those of Laura Barker. In my almost 18 years of nursing, Laura has been the most compassionate, understanding, educational, and driven manager I’ve ever had.
VIC nurses
808,200
Virtual visits from Feb. to Dec. 2025
43% Reduction in voluntary first-year RN turnover
Unified Ministry
Humankindness Hero
380
37%
Reduction in central line-associated bloodstream infections and catheterassociated UTIs
20%
Increase in “communication with nurses” HCAHPS patient survey scores
21%
Decrease in ED hold hours
Laura goes above and beyond her duties for our ever-expanding teams of virtual nurses and the populations we serve. She has embraced so much change in her role as a VIC regional director. The grace with which she faces challenges, supports others, and helps other leaders grow is so encouraging. Personally, she has mentored me to a new level of leadership through tailored guidance and encouragement. She elevates the entire team by representing all the values of CommonSpirit with excellence, integrity, collaboration, and inclusion of all.”
FY26 Annual Report
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Human Trafficking Response Program Our Human Trafficking (HT) Response Program equips physicians, advanced practice providers (APPs), and staff to identify and assist patients experiencing human trafficking or other types of violence.
• “Centering Lived Experience in HT Recovery,” published in Public Health Reports
Accomplishments 1
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Public policy: Holly Gibbs, MPH, System Director, HT Response Program, serves on the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking, which provides a platform for survivors to advise the U.S. government on federal anti-trafficking policies. Community presentations: Program leaders presented study findings at multiple national conferences, such as Shared Hope International’s JuST Conference in Orlando, Florida; the virtual International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference; and the U.S. Catholic Sisters’ Alliance to End Human Trafficking conference. Our teams have also co-authored articles in peer-reviewed journals this past year, including:
CommonSpirit shared resources with Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey to support human trafficking awareness around the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 3
• “HT Survivor Advocate,” published in the Journal of Emergency Nursing
Institutional: The Abuse, Neglect, and Violence policy continues to be implemented in all CommonSpirit regions, requiring acute and continuing care facilities to adopt procedures that guide staff in identifying victims of violence, offering trauma-sensitive assistance, and completing mandated reporting. To support staff, we’re leveraging AI-powered technology to identify red flags in the EHR and partnering with Clinical Informatics to help measure the impact of these efforts. The HT Response Program team also leads a grant-funded Patient Care Navigator Program in Houston, Texas, that includes two patient care navigators supporting victim outreach and case management for survivors of human trafficking. This program recently published a trauma and recovery booklet for survivors.
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Interpersonal and intrapersonal: The HT Response Program team onboarded Master of Social Work student interns to support HT task forces in an effort to socialize the policy, procedures, and other resources. Using social support theory, our CNO-led task force teams support physicians, APPs, and staff in identifying and assisting patients who may be experiencing human trafficking or other types of violence.
Connie Clemmons-Brown, System SVP of Patient Care Services (right), joins nationally recognized speakers on a panel at the 2025 AONL Conference.
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CommonSpirit Health Nursing
Cultivating Excellence Through Evidence-Based Practice CommonSpirit is steadfast in its commitment to fostering a vibrant culture of inquiry and evidence-based practice (EBP), bringing improved patient outcomes, enhanced patient experiences, optimized nursing practices, and robust support for nurses. This year, our ministry made significant investments in strategic initiatives to elevate EBP integration across the organization. A cornerstone of this advancement is the Patient Care Service team’s introduction of Ovid® Synthesis, an innovative electronic platform that streamlines EBP and quality improvement initiatives while tracking their progress. This powerful online tool transforms how we drive change in patient care and brings consistency and efficiency to EBP and quality improvement processes, further empowering our teams. The platform has been rolled out to strategic groups across CommonSpirit. Upon full implementation, this will significantly reduce time spent on manual EBP tasks. Ovid Synthesis also fosters team engagement and collaboration, contributing to improved job satisfaction and stronger project follow-through. To date, a dedicated design team, comprising nursing representatives from each region, has successfully developed essential templates for EBP, quality improvement, and literature reviews. The National DNP Project Review Committee evaluated and approved 22 initiatives that address critical areas of patient care and operational efficiency, including: • Implementation of a patient preference card to enhance nurse-patient communication in the ICU • Incorporation of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Scoring Tool for monitoring sepsis mortality rates • Evaluation of the impacts of second victimhood in the ED
Additional EBP initiatives were successfully approved by regional councils. The monthly Nursing Excellence Showcase is an invaluable platform for the dissemination of research, EBP, and quality improvement projects. Our employees proudly presented five research studies, five EBP initiatives, two quality improvement projects, and six special sessions in FY26, highlighting the breadth and depth of nursing innovation.
What’s Next? We’ll continue to cultivate a vibrant culture of inquiry and leverage EBP to continuously improve outcomes, decrease redundancies, and deimplement practices not supported by current evidence. By prioritizing EBP at every level, we’ll solidify our position as a national leader in clinical excellence, where nurses are empowered to thrive and practice at the highest level.
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Nurses as Thought Leaders, Publishers, and Researchers CommonSpirit Health is dedicated to advancing patient care and professional practice through nursing science and research initiatives. There were 21 RN-led research studies conducted across the ministry in 2025, two of which were federally funded and are in the final stages of data collection. Our research and science portfolio includes diverse areas such as: • • • •
Vascular access selection Infection prevention Virtually Integrated Care Nursing professional governance • Human trafficking • Artificial intelligence • Nurse well-being
included pressure injury prevention, night-shift nurse wellness, implementation of a standardized approach to discharge education, and the use of a postpartum wristband. The next symposium is scheduled for 2027. Conference presentations: CommonSpirit nurses presented at local, regional, national, and international conferences this past year, with internal dissemination of webinars for nurses and interprofessional team members — reinforcing the outstanding research and clinical excellence throughout our ministry.
The Writing Workshop series: CommonSpirit conducted our second six-session Writing Workshop series in early 2026. A total of 100 nurses have attended the Writing Workshop since 2024. Marcia Ericson, a participant in the inaugural workshop, authored an article published in the online Nurse Leader journal in August 2025. Marcia shared, “The Writing Workshop offered thorough and comprehensive publishing tips. The team’s support was truly invaluable!” Inaugural National Nursing Research and EBP Symposium: The first CommonSpirit National Nursing Research and EBP Symposium was held virtually in September 2025, drawing 769 attendees and featuring 26 speakers. Topics
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CommonSpirit Health Nursing
Noteworthy Numbers
21
Active, nurse-led research studies in 2025
• Two CommonSpirit researchers presented their qualitative study, “The Lived Experience of Virtual Nurses,” at the American Nurse Enterprise Research Symposium in Atlanta, Georgia.
Anne Schoening and Tamara Oliver.
• Four CommonSpirit nursing leaders presented their study, “Integrated Wellbeing: Building Resilient Nurses in Residency Programs,” at the American Organization for Nursing Leadership Conference in Chicago, Illinois.
100
Writing Workshop attendees since 2024
769 + 26 Attendees
Speakers
At the first CommonSpirit National Nursing Research and EBP Symposium
Amrit Kamboj, Heather Wallace, Karen Magnani, and Jennifer Hubek.
Participating in nursing research is fundamental to our profession. It empowers us to shape our practice, generate new knowledge, and demonstrate the profound impact nurses have on patient outcomes.” — Anne Schoening, RN, PhD, CNE, Nursing Practice Coordinator and Nurse Researcher
Elevating Professional Governance With the Ambulatory Nursing Clinical Practice Council CommonSpirit Health launched a new Ambulatory Nursing Clinical Practice Council (ANCPC) in FY26, empowering our ambulatory nursing workforce with a unified voice and platform.
• Empowering top of scope and licensure work for all clinical staff within the ambulatory setting
Council membership encompasses nurses from every region and a wide array of settings, including specialty and primary care clinics, infusion centers, Care Base teams, triage, home health, hospice and palliative care, urgent care, freestanding ERs, and more. This ensures the council’s work reflects the unique experiences and needs of nurses across the ambulatory continuum.
• Promoting systemness by standardizing clinical workflows, protocols, and procedures
Serving as a shared decision-making body, the ANCPC supports CommonSpirit’s National Executive Nursing Council, Patient Care Services Council, and the Nursing Professional Practice Council. The ANCPC’s purposes include: • Advancing equitable, high-quality, and evidence-based ambulatory nursing practices across all settings to ensure mission alignment • Acting as a central forum for identifying, developing, and disseminating best practices to foster continuous improvement in patient care
• Championing initiatives that enhance well-being and professional growth
• Advocating for the professional development and engagement of ambulatory care nurses The ANCPC’s current initiatives include standardizing the clinic RN job description, promoting RN-led visits for both annual wellness and chronic disease management, and hosting certification readiness work groups and study sessions. Other priorities include clinical staff education; the creation, standardization, and branding of specialized patient education materials; and the promotion of ambulatory shared governance in all regions.
The formation of the Ambulatory Nursing Clinical Practice Council demonstrates our commitment to empowering our ambulatory nurses; recognizing their invaluable contributions; and ensuring they have the voice, resources, and support necessary to provide exceptional care and shape the future of health.”
— Shawna Sharp, RN, System Director of Clinical Transformation
— Leslie Russel, RN, BSN, MBA, Mountain Region VP of PE Clinical Outcomes
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CommonSpirit Health’s Regions
CommonSpirit National Office
South
Northwest
Mountain
Central
California
Community Health Service Organizations (CHSOs)
CommonSpirit Health’s five regions foster a cohesive network of care that supports standardized best practices and coordinated efforts across diverse geographical areas, ensuring high-quality, patient-centered outcomes.
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FY26 Annual Report
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Northwest Region
I couldn’t be prouder of the meaningful work our teams have accomplished to help strengthen and align shared governance across the Northwest Region. By engaging nurses directly in the process, we’re building a stronger, more connected culture shaped by their insight, experience, and perspectives.” — Heather Coleman, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, Northwest Region
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CommonSpirit Health Nursing
Noteworthy Numbers 15,735 Total employees
6,827 Total nurses
1,666 Total beds
42,722 Inpatient admissions
628,751 Outpatient admissions Data from FY26.
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REGIONS: Northwest
Continually Improving for Better Outcomes Accomplishments • Northwest Region nursing teams are improving processes using the Virginia Mason Production System (VMPS). For example, Mercy Medical Center in Roseburg, Oregon, used VMPS to cut nurse-physician connection time by over 70% and reduce patient perception of missed rounds from 35% to 11%, with 96% of rounds now including both nurses and physicians. St. Anthony Hospital used VMPS to redesign pulse oximetry monitoring, decreasing routinely monitored patients from eight to six within 90 days while maintaining stable rapid response rates. • The Northwest Region is bolstering workplace violence prevention to protect nurses through education, updated policies, enhanced security, and technology. St. Clare Hospital installed a new weapons detection system in its Emergency Department in addition to implementing expanded parking
lot camera coverage, regular violence prevention rounds, police collaboration, drills, and badge access controls. Following a successful launch at Virginia Mason Medical Center — and continuous expansion efforts — regional sites will see more use of the Strongline Staff Safety System, discreet, wearable devices that allow caregivers to quickly alert security and colleagues for urgent assistance. • The region’s third annual Nurses Week Celebration Conference and Ceremony, beginning with the Professional Development Conference, was a daylong event filled with connection, inspiration, and recognition. This year, it brought together nearly 300 attendees, with educational sessions covering resilience, workplace safety, shared governance, and the evolving role of AI in medicine. Ten outstanding nursing professionals were recognized during an evening awards ceremony.
Above: St. Michael Medical Center’s new patient tower opened in Silverdale, Washington, in December 2025, adding 74 beds.
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CommonSpirit Health Nursing
Unified Ministry The Northwest Region’s Centralized Monitoring Unit (CMU) services transitioned to CommonSpirit’s national Care Base in Phoenix. Teams worked as a unified ministry to develop more consistent processes around telemetry utilization, helping reduce unnecessary monitoring while ensuring patients who truly require telemetry continue to receive it safely and appropriately. The result is a more connected approach to patient monitoring that supports safer care, clearer workflows, improved efficiency, and stronger coordination across the system.
Humankindness Hero Lauren Pier, RN, Intensive Care Unit Charge Nurse, St. Anthony Hospital As Lauren worked to calmly de-escalate a patient in a Code Gray event during a recent shift in the ICU, a Code Blue was called in the neighboring room. Before that emergency had concluded, another patient required a Rapid Response. Lauren transitioned seamlessly between each event, calmly coordinating care, guiding her team, and ensuring every patient received attention and the best possible care. The three patients experienced positive outcomes thanks to the coordinated efforts of everyone involved, led by Lauren’s steady leadership, clear communication, and ability to adapt in real time. While these circumstances were extraordinary, Lauren’s coworkers say it demonstrates how she approaches nursing every day. She’s known for her clinical excellence and creating an environment where people feel heard, supported, and respected.
Top: St. Joseph Medical Center Neuro-Trauma ICU nurse Lori Cloud was invited to throw the ceremonial first pitch during the Seattle Mariners’ Nurse Appreciation Night baseball game. The pitch was caught by Jamila Taylor, a Washington state representative and one of Lori’s former patients. Bottom: Graduates from Allied Healthcare Academy’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program who passed the state CNA exam and accepted positions within the Northwest Region.
“Lauren is the kind of nurse every patient hopes will be by their side,” said Sunny Porter, RN, MSN, NE-BC, Chief Nursing Officer at St. Anthony Hospital. “She leads with compassion, communicates with clarity, and brings a calm confidence that helps both patients and care teams through challenging moments.”
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Central Region
I’m profoundly proud of the resilience, compassion, and clinical excellence our nursing teams demonstrated this year. Together, we advanced patient-centered care, embraced innovation, and strengthened care safety in the communities we serve.” — Tim Plante, RN, MSN, MHA, Chief Nursing Officer, Central Region
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CommonSpirit Health Nursing
Noteworthy Numbers 33,809 Employees
12,686 Total nurses
4,913 Total beds
221,401 Inpatient admissions
2.69M Outpatient admissions Data from FY26.
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REGIONS: Central
Supporting Every Stage of Patient Care
Accomplishments • CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center: Bergan Mercy patients are walking during ECMO therapies with nurse and therapist support, which is shown to prevent muscle deconditioning, improve physical health, and reduce hospital stays. • CHI St. Alexius Health Bismarck: The hospital opened the Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), offering a supportive environment for adolescents to receive outpatient behavioral health treatment while remaining connected to family and community. St. Alexius also launched its Adult PHP to reach a broader population. Our nursing teams have adapted for seamless integration of both programs. • Dignity Health – St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Siena Campus: The NICU team demonstrated its skill when a baby was born at 22 weeks five days weighing 1.43 pounds. The baby not only thrived but went home at a corrected age of 42 weeks and two days weighing 8.7 pounds, defiantly overcoming ~25% survival rate odds. Top: The CHI Health St. Francis Hospital team celebrate their Magnet with Distinction designation. Middle: Members of the CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center Perioperative team. Bottom: CHI Health Immanuel nurses being treated to a special coffee bar by the Employee Engagement team.
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Humankindness Hero Cathy Schmidgall, RN, ADN, Discharge Planner, CHI St. Joseph’s Health Cathy approaches every individual with genuine care and a steadfast commitment to ensuring their smooth and successful postdischarge transition. While her official title is Discharge Planner, her actions reveal a dedication to seeing every patient discharged and supported in their journey toward well-being. Cathy has gone above and beyond by picking up patients’ medications, accompanying them on bus rides, and coordinating difficult post-discharge plans. She once coordinated a hotel stay for a patient in need with the help of a local priest. In a healthcare environment that can feel impersonal, Cathy stands out as a shining example of human connection and unwavering empathy. She’s a lifeline, problemsolver, and true testament to the power of kindness.
Unified Ministry The International Recruitment Project, developed in the Central Region and now available ministry-wide, supports new international staff members and their families through relocation, cultural transition, and family adjustments. Its programs include new hire orientation, onboarding, fellowship curriculum, preceptor training, individualized lists of community resources and more. Top right: Bethany Kinney, Chelsea Ehlers, Sue Matthews, and Stephanie Leonard celebrate Matthews receiving the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Leaders. Bottom: Nurses, team members, family members, and patients attend the Norton Thoracic Institute’s annual hike to raise awareness for lung transplants.
FY26 Annual Report
29
Mountain Region
We’ve seen significant gains by consistently applying evidence-based practices and simultaneously positioning essential safety training as a strategic imperative. Our nurses deserve a safe environment, and our progress in quality and safety reflects their commitment to excellence.” — Stacey-Ann M. Okoth, RN, PhD, DNP, MBA, Chief Nursing Officer, Mountain Region
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Noteworthy Numbers 17,580 Employees
6,247 Total nurses
2,828 Total beds
88,442 Inpatient admissions
1.06M Outpatient admissions Data from FY26.
FY26 Annual Report
31
REGIONS: Mountain
Advocating for Safer Care Everywhere Accomplishments • Several new initiatives were implemented in the Mountain Region to help prevent and respond to workplace violence. The Gray Alert — a standardized visual indicator placed outside patient rooms where there’s an active risk of violence — launched in all region hospitals, clinics, and ambulatory care sites. A Visitor Management Program is also being piloted at six Mountain Region care sites, which introduces a standardized visitor check-in and temporary badging process for non-staff. • St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, Colorado, skillfully responded to a mass casualty event on September 10, 2025. Within minutes, they activated incident command and the hospital’s specialized “T10” room, an integrated clinical environment designed to bridge emergency department, operating room, and intensive care services.
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• Mountain Region forensic nurses are enhancing trauma-informed care for sexual assault survivors across Colorado through their dedicated efforts in legislative advocacy, clinical innovation, and expanded community education. Their efforts contributed to the successful passage of Colorado House Bill 22-1309, which enables emergency departments to provide full, 28-day HIV prevention treatment courses to sexual assault patients. They also created multidisciplinary order sets, preassembled take-home medication kits, provider education, and standardized traumainformed workflows. And they’ve recently led community training, such as a two-day training event for law enforcement. Above: Wendy Buttermore, Sadie Wilson, and Nickolas Vasquez at the ED nurses’ station at St. Francis Hospital – Interquest.
Humankindness Hero Kirk Roberts, RN, MSN, MBA, Clinical Nurse, Holy Cross Hospital – West Valley Emergency Department Kirk serves vulnerable communities locally and internationally. Over the last several years, he’s participated in humanitarian medical missions in Nepal, Peru, and Thailand, with trips planned for Guamote, Ecuador, this year and Ulziit, Mongolia, next year. Closer to home, Kirk volunteers his time teaching refugee communities in Salt Lake City. He also serves as a medical mentor and certified Spanish interpreter, helping support communication, learning, and teamwork across the ED. “Kirk goes above and beyond for his patients and the team,” said Laura Malaise, RN, the hospital’s Chief Nursing Officer.
Unified Ministry The region hosted its inaugural Mountain Region Nursing Excellence Awards in FY26, marking the first regional nursing awards program. It also launched the Nursing Excellence Fund, the first regional philanthropic fund dedicated to supporting nursing professional and leadership development, well-being, innovation, education, research, and evidencebased care. These initiatives help nurses come together as a unified ministry.
Top left: Amber Kilby, clinical nurse at St. Anthony Summit Hospital, receives the Nursing Humankindness Award at the Mountain Region Nursing Excellence Award Gala. Middle: Attendees at the Mountain Region Nursing Excellence Awards. Bottom: St. Anthony North Hospital’s oncology department team members Meg White, Lauren Carlson, Deidre Martinez, Alisa Tyus, Lynn Capozzi, Sabrina Cummings, Jordan Fowler.
FY26 Annual Report
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South Region
I’m continually inspired by the achievements of our South Region frontline teams. Their collective commitment to excellence includes actively seeking innovative solutions, fostering a collaborative spirit, and consistently raising the bar for patient care services. The resilience and ingenuity they show is a testament to their extraordinary professionalism and deep-seated compassion.” — Veronica Martin, RN, DNP, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer, South Region
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Noteworthy Numbers 25,110 Employees
9,336 Total nurses
5,387 Total beds
178,583 Inpatient admissions
2.4M Outpatient admissions Data from FY26.
FY26 Annual Report
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REGIONS: South
Transforming Care Through Collective Action
Accomplishments • The South Region is the first CommonSpirit region to receive accreditation for our nurse residency programs in every market.
• The Arkansas market received CommonSpirit’s Clinical Excellence Vision Award for Quality as the highest-performing market across all scorecard goals.
• The region’s Virtually Integrated Care (VIC) program saw multiple improvements, including implementation of the dyad and triad models, which focus on including virtual nurses as a key part of the care team to enhance patient care and experience. They also implemented the first VIC critical care mentorship model, achieving a reduction in first-year RN turnover and a decrease in central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). Top: Nurses celebrate CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs receiving Magnet with Distinction designation. Bottom: Nurses attend the Kentucky PTAP accreditation celebration.
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Unified Ministry CommonSpirit implemented new VIC critical care mentorship and ED models across the ministry, resulting in positive outcomes such as reduced first-year RN turnover, decreased CLABSIs, improved patient experience, and decreased ED length of stay.
Humankindness Hero Mohammad Alserhan, RN, BSN, CMSRN, MBA, Manager of Nursing, 3NW Medical, CHI St. Vincent Infirmary Mohammad led his nursing team in becoming the support system and safety net for a young mother and wife diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who was facing dire complications. Mohammad’s team, alongside many other caregivers throughout the hospital, seamlessly coordinated to offer her the best possible care.
Top right: Nurses attend the Tennessee/Georgia 2025 DAISY Awards. Middle: Nursing leaders Sherry Cramer, Cindy Garcia, Misti Lowe, and Thomas Brown celebrate Nurses Week at St. Luke’s Health Memorial Hospital–Lufkin. Bottom: Interim Trinity Health System President Dwayne Richardson looks on as Andrea Hale, president of the Trinity School of Nursing Alumni Association, speaks during Nurses Week.
After weeks of intensive treatment, the patient’s cancer went into remission, and she walked out of the hospital weak but smiling. She later returned to share her complete recovery. Mohammad’s 3NW team met the patient’s trust with skill, unity, and hope.
FY26 Annual Report
37
California Region
I’m continually astounded by our nurses’ compassion, resilience, and commitment. The California team continues to live out our values, embodying humankindness and profoundly impacting lives.” — Ron Yolo, RN, DNP, MSN, MBA, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer, California Region
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Noteworthy Numbers 47,318 Employees
17,674 Total nurses
5,990 Total beds
271,401 Inpatient admissions
6.6M Outpatient admissions Data from FY26.
FY26 Annual Report
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REGIONS: California
Extending Care Beyond the Bedside Accomplishments • The new Virtual Discharge Nurse program at St. John’s Hospital Camarillo transforms the discharge process for patients and bedside nurses. Virtual discharge nurses connect with patients and family members to review medications, discuss follow-up appointments, offer wound care instructions, answer questions, and monitor warning signs that prompt a return to care. They also handle discharge paperwork, relieving bedside nurses. • Several California Region ICUs received the American Association of CriticalCare Nurses’ Silver Beacon Award by successfully demonstrating healthy
work environment standards like skilled communication, collaboration, and appropriate staffing, as well as commitment to safety, nurse satisfaction, and improving outcomes. • The Dignity Health Medical Foundation rolled out a new standard work process for in-person and telephone encounters. Standardized assessments by trained nurses ensure patients are directed to the appropriate care level, reducing unnecessary ED visits and expediting specialist access. This approach provides clear guidelines and protocols for nurses, empowering them to efficiently make critical decisions.
Above: Mercy General Hospital’s surgical nurses assist in the hospital’s first Whipple procedure.
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Humankindness Heroes Sarah Czora, RN, and Emily Ochoa, RN Float Pool, Marian Regional Medical Center, Wound Ostomy Sarah and Emily first crossed paths when Emily asked if she could observe Sarah providing patient ostomy education, mentioning she might need an ostomy herself one day. And in January 2025, when Emily was scheduled for ostomy surgery, Sarah was there to help. The two met for pre-op education, and Sarah visited daily following surgery, along with sharing texts and calls. During a second hospital stay, Sarah urged Emily to pursue certification in wound and ostomy care. When Emily was ready to return to work, she trained directly with Sarah. “Sarah helped me reclaim my identity as a nurse and empowered me to care for others,” Emily said. Emily now confidently cares for numerous wound and ostomy patients, directly crediting Sarah’s mentorship. Sarah teaches nursing students and is working toward launching a dedicated ostomy clinic.
Unified Ministry Ten California Region hospitals earned the 2025 Perinatal Center of Excellence Gold Status Award from our Women and Infants Service Line. We also received the “Best Region Award” with 70% of our facilities honored. Marian Regional Medical Center uniquely met all nine metrics, surpassing the eight required to achieve Gold status. This accomplishment signifies Women and Infants teams across the region are working as a unified ministry to provide the same excellent, evidence-based care at all our hospitals.
Top right: Timothy Gandapermana, RN, reading to local students for the Read Across America program. Middle: Dominican Hospital’s ICU Nursing Unit Based Council members Stephanie Brunetti, BSN, CCRN; Brittany Pasquini, BSN; Britta Torgerson, BSN, CCRN; Nicole Carl, BSN, CCRN; and Rene Chavez, BSN, CCRN. Bottom: Mercy General Hospital nurses are honored at Fire Survivors Social.
FY26 Annual Report
41
Business Lines CommonSpirit Health’s business lines are integral to driving excellence through specialized care, innovative practices, and strategic leadership. By focusing on evidence-based practices and continuous professional development, the nursing teams ensure the highest standards of patient support and care.
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FY26 Annual Report
43
BUSINESS LINES
Senior Living
Supporting Mission-Driven Senior Care CommonSpirit Health Senior Living and Transitional Care provides a full continuum of senior services across multiple states, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and adult daycare. Serving around 3,000 residents at a time — and 5,181 annually — the service line supports holistic, mission-driven care with community benefits and expansion of transitional care programs.
Accomplishments • In FY26, Senior Living and Transitional Care developed a comprehensive strategy across all communities for pressure injury prevention and quality improvement in support of our National Quality Goals. This includes strengthening wound documentation, optimizing admission and weekly skin assessments, and harnessing wound data analytics to proactively identify trends and allocate resources to high-risk areas. The initiative integrates resident prevention audits, provides vital staff education through “Skin Fairs,” and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure a dramatic reduction in acquired pressure
injuries, improved clinical outcomes, and a consistently high standard of residentcentered care across all skilled nursing communities. • We’re also advancing innovative resident care by expanding services through virtual nursing and monitoring, beginning with the Cottage Recovery Program at St. Leonard CHI Living Communities in Centerville, Ohio, and expanding into other skilled nursing communities. This initiative enhances clinical support, improves response times, and strengthens the resident-centered care experience. • Our Staff Development Coordinators are building a comprehensive orientation program designed to decrease turnover rates, increase employee engagement, and improve satisfaction. This initiative focuses on fostering open communication from the outset, providing new hires with necessary tools and offering support for success. By prioritizing clear communication and thorough integration, the program aims to significantly improve retention rates and cultivate a more engaged workforce.
Across our system, we’re working together as one team — aligning clinical, operational, and strategic initiatives to enhance the resident experience, expand Age-Friendly Care, strengthen compliance, and support innovation through collaboration across all CommonSpirit communities.” — Dianne McFarland, RN, BSN, MBA, VP of Clinical Operations
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Unified Ministry The team has developed system-wide enhancements for collaborative electronic health record security initiatives, including password protection improvements. By aligning clinical, IT, operations, finance, and business development teams, we’re creating a more efficient, secure, and future-ready model of care across our campuses.
Noteworthy Numbers
1,859 Employees
291 Total nursing staff
2,775 Total beds
1,400 Short-term rehab residents Top: Dianne McFarland, VP of Clinical Operations, with team members from Franciscan Villa. Bottom: Casey Howard, Prentice Lipsey, and Dianne McFarland recognize Kim Duncan, LPN, Franciscan Care Center, as 2025 Employee of the Year.
Humankindness Hero Molly Schoen, LPN, The Commons of Providence Molly has made a tremendous impact on our campus over the past 24 years. She’s frequently praised by residents, families, and staff for her dedication and the care she provides.
Data from FY26.
Molly is highly knowledgeable in her role and committed to ensuring each resident receives the best possible care. Her team members know they can depend on her, and her genuine compassion continues to make a lasting difference in our community.
FY26 Annual Report
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BUSINESS LINES
Health at Home
Strengthening Health at Home Services CommonSpirit Health at Home is a national provider of home-based services, including home health, hospice care, palliative care, home infusion therapy, and supplemental staffing.
Accomplishments • The Nestmed AI documentation technology, which launched in May, is dramatically reducing documentation time up to 80% — allowing nurses to deepen patient engagement, enhance clinical observation, and dedicate more valuable time to direct patient care and education rather than administrative burden. This technological leap empowers our nurses to practice at the top of their licenses and elevate the patient experience for millions of encounters ahead. • The Network Integrity Initiative has successfully launched at pilot sites like Immanuel and Lexington facilities, where
Health at Home nursing teams are actively enhancing care coordination, ensuring seamless transitions, and fostering robust interdisciplinary collaboration with our Physician Enterprise partners. This initiative helps nurses proactively manage patient journeys, advocate for comprehensive care plans, and ultimately achieve superior patient outcomes across our ministry. • Clinical Education and Competency programs expanded in FY26 with a new training series and robust competency development, including advanced functional assessments and proficiency with new clinical technologies and skilled procedures. This commitment to continuous learning ensures our nurses possess the cutting-edge skills and confidence required to deliver the highest standard of complex care, positioning them as leaders in contemporary, homebased healthcare.
Our Health at Home nursing teams truly distinguished themselves in FY26 through their unwavering resilience and exceptional clinical skill. Across millions of patient encounters, they’ve proven high-acuity care can be delivered safely and effectively in the home, and their efforts have also fortified crucial partnerships across CommonSpirit, ensuring seamless transitions of care and integrated support. Their ability to adapt, innovate, and maintain the highest standards of compassionate care under dynamic conditions, even at this immense scale, is a profound source of pride and a cornerstone of our strategic growth.” — Kendra Onsgard, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, CommonSpirit Health at Home
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Humankindness Hero Shelby Fultz, RN, CommonSpirit Health at Home A patient said the following about Shelby, their “favorite nurse”:
Top: Health at Home leaders write thank-you cards for Employee Appreciation Day. Bottom: Health at Home team members Angila Stephenson and Jerry Brown at a community event.
“Thank you for standing by me through thick and thin. You became so much more than a nurse, you became part of our family. Your kindness, your patience, and the way you cared for me touched my life in ways I’ll never be able to fully describe. I’m beyond grateful for everything you have done — more grateful than words could ever express.”
Noteworthy Numbers Serving 24 of 35 CommonSpirit Health markets.
94
4,175
Locations nationwide
Employees
921
58
Nurses
Home health locations
31
5
Hospice care locations
Home infusion locations
1.4M
15M
Annual patient encounters
Miles driven annually
Data from FY26.
FY26 Annual Report
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BUSINESS LINES
Faith-Based Nursing
Amplifying the Impact of Faith-Based Nursing
CommonSpirit Health partners with faith-based and community organizations to improve the health of those we serve. Our Faith Community Nurse (FCN) Coordinators provide education, resources, and support to help FCNs address the diverse needs of congregations and communities. Benefits include in-kind services from our partners; improved access to care, food, and transportation; and fewer ED visits and readmissions.
Accomplishments • FCN Coordinators successfully launched a “Foundations of Faith Community Nursing” course in Fall 2025. This 36.5-contact-hour program empowers nurses to establish new FCN ministries or elevate their general nursing practice. This collaborative model saved hundreds of preparation and facilitation hours and enriched participants’ experience. One attendee said, “I learned so much from everyone in the cohort and am so grateful I was able to share this time with everyone involved.” The course will be repeated in October 2026 for interested nurses. • FCN Coordinators facilitated the training of 20 faith community partners as Peer Educators for the Diabetes Empowerment Education Program, a six-week, evidencebased initiative focused on diabetes selfmanagement. Workshops begin this fall. • The Nebraska FCN Coordinator established a partnership with Creighton University’s Center for Interprofessional Practice, Education and Research to design an innovative, nurse-led educational curriculum for Advance Care Planning. The grant-funded community education program integrates advance care planning, fundamental financial planning, and funeral or burial alternatives.
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It also helps interdisciplinary students gain the expertise and clinical confidence to facilitate critical discussions. • Grants were awarded to 10 faith communities for the implementation of the Advance Care Planning curriculum. To date, the program has achieved: • Successful delivery of eight workshops serving 225 participants • Training of 62 students who subsequently participated in individual follow-up consultations with program attendees • Creation of sustainable community education and training assets designed for future collaborative use.
Our FCN Coordinators and their faith community partners are transforming health through their compassionate presence and evidence-based interventions that amplify our ministry’s impact, creating healthier lives and stronger communities, one connection at a time.” — Lois Lane, MSN, JD, MA, FNP-BC, System Vice President of Mission Integration and Community Health
Noteworthy Numbers
6
130
Employees
Nurse volunteers
19,932
94,699
Hours served
Points of contact
645,641
1,442,921
Cost savings
Return on investment
Data from FY26.
Humankindness Hero Denise Viker, RN, BSN, Faith Community Nurse, RN Coordinator, Center for Faith/Health Partnerships in Gilbert, AZ Denise has been the cornerstone of our Faith/Health Partnerships at Dignity Health Arizona for nearly a decade. She supports a network of FCNs and health ministers, providing them with resources, support, and
encouragement as they implement evidence-based health ministry programs. Denise’s deep commitment to CommonSpirit’s mission shines through in her frequent reminders that “we are doing God’s work,” embracing both its joys and inevitable frustrations. Known for her ready smile and compassionate listening, Denise often uses humor to bring levity to challenging situations.
FY26 Annual Report
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National Nursing Teams CommonSpirit Health’s national nursing teams play an important role in maintaining and elevating nursing standards across the organization. These teams provide critical support, clinical expertise, and compassionate service at every touchpoint.
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FY26 Annual Report
51
National Center for Advanced Practice The National Center for Advanced Practice positions CommonSpirit Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) as patient care leaders.
Accomplishments • A new Advanced Practice Clinical Orientation to Excellence program rolled out across all markets. Upon orientation completion, 89% of participants felt prepared for their role, and 98% of preceptors had high confidence in the program. Next year’s focus will be on new graduate orientees and launching an Orientation to Excellence Dashboard to track operational readiness. • We expanded our comprehensive APP education campaign to clarify APPs’ vital role, including training 4,290 patientfacing ambulatory staff, achieving a 90% completion rate, and distributing 12,930
pieces of educational materials to patients. Additional components included staff tip sheets and prompts for marketing teams. • We’re actively developing an academic APP pipeline initiative to cultivate a sustainable source of new talent.
“We’re committed to ensuring the ongoing success of APPs as vital members of the care team.” — Barbara Martin, PhD, ACNP-BC, MPH, System SVP, Advanced Practice
Ambulatory Nursing Ambulatory nurses play an essential role in preventive care, chronic disease management, and convenient access — reducing hospital admissions and improving community health.
Accomplishments • CommonSpirit is expanding shared governance models and prioritizing best practice standardization to ensure consistent, high-quality care delivery. • The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit RN program in Nebraska implemented new models to improve patient access and engagement in annual wellness visits. • In addition to the tandem model, an RN-led module was implemented, increasing access for primary care providers. Nurses have expressed increased satisfaction with practicing at the top of their scope.
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Unified Ministry Ambulatory nurses in the Mountain Region are implementing a certification preparedness program to support professional development. We hope to expand this program in conjunction with the Ambulatory Nursing Clinical Practice Council, with cohorts from every region participating.
“Our ambulatory nurses are innovators, educators, and the very heart of accessible, patient-centered care.” — Shawna Sharp, RN, System Director of Clinical Transformation
Clinical Informatics Clinical Informatics’ transition to dyad leadership has been vital. The combination of clinical and technological expertise helps leadership teams offer training and support for going live with the new Epic Gold electronic health record (EHR), implemented for more than 60,000 clinicians.
Accomplishments • Innovation training education tools improved understanding of documentation processes in various EHRs. • Work with frontline staff helped align nursing policy within Epic Gold. • The Sustain 360 launch assured a structured transition from implementation support to regional ownership. • The Mountain Region and system AI teams built an end-of-shift summary report to capture care and align with the patient plan of care. Training will continue as Community Connect programs expand.
Unified Ministry The restructured team helps dyad CCIOs and CMIOs work with regional CIOs to address needs, including ambient documentation for medical staff and Rover communication devices for nursing and ancillary staff.
“Dyad leadership empowers two distinct clinical voices to lead as one in Informatics to achieve One CommonSpirit.” — Linda Goodwin, RN, MSN, MBA, NEA-BC, FACHE, System SVP and Chief Nursing Transformation
Patient Experience Patient Experience leads strategy, goal development, and improvement.
Accomplishments • Unleashing Humankindness retreats enhance our culture through respect, empathy, and kindness. Trained care settings have achieved improvements throughout FY26. Janelle Reilly, Market President for the Tennessee/ Georgia market, said: “The retreat was a powerful recalibration reinforcing that ‘humankindness at every touch’ is a living principle demanding our full attention in every interaction.” • Patient experience improved across acute inpatient, emergency department, ambulatory surgery, home health, and medical practices. Four out of five goals were achieved, and the “Likelihood to Recommend” score increased to 82%.
Unified Ministry Behaviors are being standardized through local facilitator training and leadership retreats to help ensure all patients receive humankindness at every touchpoint.
“We’ve seen steady improvement across care settings by maintaining consistent goals and gradually increasing targets rather than frequently changing priorities. We owe these amazing achievements to our clinical teams and leaders.” — Camille Haycock, MS, APN, NEA-BC, System SVP, Patient Experience
FY26 Annual Report
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Care Base The Care Base virtual hospital supports patients whether in a hospital, post‑acute setting, or at home. Care Base nurses provide continuous care, surveillance, education, and support for earlier interventions, smoother transitions, and more personalized care.
Accomplishments • Care Base dispatches and activates more than 130 emergency codes a day. The Care Base team partnered with hospital leaders to design standard emergency codes for our ministry, reducing confusion and improving emergency response. • Care Base supports centralized bed placements, placing more than 410,000 patients in hospital beds and coordinating 94,556 transfers and telemedicine consults. • In FY26, 10 locations were centralized to streamline patient flow and access, resulting in an 87% increase in patient placements and a 28% increase in transfer cases over the prior year — representing more than 14,000 new patients served.
Unified Ministry CommonSpirit Health was the 2025 recipient of the AvaPrize Centralized Care Champion Award, which honored our successful scaling of a centralized virtual care model with impressive outcomes across facilities — setting the pace for others in the industry to follow.
Noteworthy Numbers
412
Locations supported, including 103 clinics
23
Hospitals with remote cardiac monitoring
5.5M Monitored hours
158,408 Adverse events prevented by Virtual Companion
26,000 Patients supported by Virtual Care Continuum nurses
28%
Increase in Transfer Center and bed placement operations
$60M In operational improvements
Care Base embodies the feeling of believing you’ve grasped its design, only to discover deeper layers of complexity and possibility. The partnerships we have within our ministry fuel the exploration of what our collective imaginations can design and operationalize — what a great feeling.” — Gail Daly, RN, System SVP, Clinical Operations, Integration, and Optimization
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Clinical Regulatory and Revenue Enhancement Clinical Regulatory and Revenue Enhancement strives to optimize compliance and revenue integrity across CommonSpirit Health.
Accomplishments • New, standardized documentation templates enhanced regulatory compliance. • Patient access improved through the new Complex Placement Financial Assistance program. • We helped advance nurses’ skills and ensured a coordinated care model through the Active Care Coordination program as well as achieving California Board of Registered Nursing Continuing Education Provider status. • An integrated technology platform for medical necessity reviews helped
Utilization Management standardize and streamline workflows. • Physician Advisory expanded to provide expert status determination and peer-to-peer reconsideration support while also working to establish a clinical appeals process with greater success in overturning payer denials.
Unified Ministry Clinical Regulatory and Revenue Enhancement unites Care Management, Utilization Management, and Physician Advisory workstreams into a seamless support continuum through standardized policies, practices, and data.
At the core of our mission is the holistic support of hospitalized patients, from admission through recovery. We recognize a patient’s journey is shaped by our clinical excellence, their overall experience, and financial peace of mind. We champion both optimal care delivery and equitable reimbursement, affirming our unwavering commitment to individual well-being.” — Elizabeth Quinn, MD, System SVP, Clinical Regulatory and Revenue Enhancement
FY26 Annual Report
55
Physician Enterprise Connection Center The virtual nursing force of 50+ nurses at the Physician Enterprise Connection Center (PECC) provides crucial telephonic medical guidance to patients in diverse locations. They utilize evidence-based protocols and patient EHRs to triage and deliver timely expert care with humankindness.
Accomplishments • PECC nurses handled 103,973 patient calls, increasing access across the ministry as a virtual front line. PECC also grew significantly, expanding services and integration across more regions. • A transformative upgrade to the Zoom Contact Center in the Mountain and Northwest regions enabled seamless audio-to-video call upgrades for enhanced visual assessments. This innovation solidifies PECC’s position at the forefront of telehealth nursing.
Unified Ministry PECC developed standard work for triage protocols and communication, ensuring consistent, high-quality care for all patients and fostering trust and clinical excellence.
“Our nurses embody our CommonSpirit values. Their daily dedication to providing excellent care with compassion is commendable.” — Erika Runyan, RN, BSN, Interim Supervisor, Connection Center Clinical Operations, Physician Enterprise Connection Center
Patient Care Services Patient Care Services is responsible for the strategic direction and oversight of patientfacing clinical services, helping foster a culture of clinical excellence centered on patients.
Accomplishments • The National Nursing Professional Practice Council sponsored and supported several professional practice changes and clinical policy updates. • The National Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Council introduced an updated Journal Club toolkit and enhanced evidence-based practice education, fostering five new research studies and five evidence-based practice initiatives. • The National Clinical Education Council successfully deployed a standardized onboarding platform for clinical students and refined our International Nurse Fellowship Curriculum.
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• The Nursing Perioperative Services Council drove improvements in surgical care and implemented revised Universal Protocol policies to help prevent retained surgical items.
“Our visionary nurses are forging new pathways in patientcentric care — helping shape a future where every patient journey is defined by excellence, innovation, and profound human connection across our ministry.” — Connie Clemmons-Brown, RN, DNP, CENP, NEA-BC, System SVP, Patient Care Services
Nurses are essential partners in how we deliver care. Through our physician-nurse dyad model, nurses and physicians work side by side by bringing clinical expertise, operational insight, and shared accountability for quality, safety, and patient experience. To all our nurses at CommonSpirit Health, thank you for everything you do each day. You are central to who we are and how we serve our patients and communities. — Thomas McGinn, MD, MPH, SEVP, Chief Physician Executive Officer, CommonSpirit Health