Presence
Inspiring stories and industry highlights at Saint Francis Health System.
A LETTER FROM CLIFF ROBERTSON, M.D.
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Where there is sickness, Saint Francis is there.
Where there is pain, Saint Francis is there.
Where there is need, Saint Francis is there.
From Monkey Island to McAlester, Saint Francis Health System lights the way for our fellow Oklahomans.
In this issue of Presence, we present our annual Community Benefit Report, an attempt in words, pictures and numbers to summarize the tremendous impact Saint Francis Health System has on the communities we serve.
In Fiscal Year 2024, Saint Francis had a total Community Benefit of more than $170.6 million. Over the past 10 years, the total exceeds $1.2 billion.
Such an impact only happens intentionally. It’s the result of planning and determination with a clear and constant connection to our mission: to extend the presence and healing ministry of Christ in all we do.
Beyond the dollars and cents, the Saint Francis impact is felt on an emotional level...
• In the happy cries of a new mother who received prenatal care at Xavier Clinic
• In the smiles of a lifestyle medicine patient embracing a new chance at life through wellness
• In the peals of joy from the family that will spend one more day, one more week, one more year together thanks to the healthcare professionals at one of our hospitals or clinics
On the front line of medical treatment and behind the scenes in board rooms, public health education and community outreach programs, Saint Francis serves our community with its money, its time, its leadership and its expertise.
None of this would be possible without the wonderful Saint Francis team, more than 12,000 of your neighbors working as one to serve our communities. Their dedication and compassion are the driving force behind every success story, every life saved, and every smile brought to the faces of those we serve.
Together, we are committed to making a difference, one life at a time.
Cliff Robertston, M.D. Chief Executive Officier Saint Francis Health System
OUR COMMUNITY BENEFIT
FROM CITY HALL TO HEALTHCARE:
Saint Francis Health System is deepening its commitment to the community by forming a team dedicated to guiding our investment in local nonprofits, schools and volunteer organizations and
collaborating with governmental entities to enhance the health of our region. This initiative aligns with the organization’s priority of serving the disadvantaged and all who need healthcare services.
As part of this effort, Saint Francis President and CEO Dr. Cliff Robertson recently announced that outgoing Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum had joined the health system as Vice President of Community and Government Affairs. Bynum began his new role following the end of his mayoral term in December 2024.
Bynum shared his enthusiasm for joining Saint Francis: “I love this health system— the team, the mission and the culture of excellence created by the Warren family and community leaders over the past
64 years. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve healthcare heroes and apply what I’ve learned over 25 years in public service.”
Elected Tulsa’s 40th mayor in 2016 and re-elected in 2020, Bynum led major initiatives such as the Vision Renewal capital campaign and Improve Our Tulsa, the largest street investment in city history. He also helped lead the city through the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 Father’s Day storm.
Before serving as mayor, Bynum spent eight years on the Tulsa City Council, becoming the youngest chair in its history. With a background in federal policy and deep family roots in Tulsa’s leadership, Bynum brings valuable experience to Saint Francis’ evolving community mission.
FRANCIS
FRANCIS
Saint Francis Health System is nearing completion on three major construction projects that will reshape the future of healthcare in eastern Oklahoma and create nearly 700 permanent jobs in our communities.
BUILDING UPDATE
LAUREATE PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC AND HOSPITAL
A $70 million project will add 60 new acute psychiatric beds, a crisis center for patients not requiring admission, renovation of some administrative spaces, expansion of the kitchen and patient dining facilities, and infrastructure upgrade. Scheduled completion: End of 2026.
SAINT FRANCIS HOSPITAL MUSKOGEE
A $275 million expansion that will add a new seven-story patient bed tower; 158 new patient beds, including an expanded 30-bed Intensive Care Unit and a 32-bed Progressive Care Unit, and additional patient and visitor parking. Scheduled completion: Later this year.
SAINT FRANCIS HOSPITAL SOUTH
A $358 million expansion that will add 283,600 square feet of new and 51,000 square feet of renovated clinical space to the hospital. Improvements include: a new 120-bed patient bed tower; renovation of surgery services expanding to eight operating rooms; consolidation of the pre- and post-anesthesia units, and expansion of inpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation services. Scheduled completion: 2026.
SAINT
HOSPITAL SOUTH
SAINT
HOSPITAL MUSKOGEE
LAUREATE GROUNDBREAKING
HELPING SENIORS STAY ON THEIR FEET
Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults. At Saint Francis Trauma Institute, patients aged 65 and older make up 40% of trauma cases— most due to falls. Recognizing this critical community need, the Trauma Institute launched free 12-week Tai Chi programs designed to help seniors improve balance, coordination and overall strength.
Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese martial art known for its slow, controlled movements, has been shown to significantly reduce fall risk among older adults. The classes are a part of Saint Francis Health System’s commitment to preventive care and healthy aging.
Held at Saint Francis Hospital, the program welcomes participants of all fitness levels. Each session promotes both physical and mental wellness in a supportive group setting.
By providing access to wellness initiatives like Tai Chi, Saint Francis Trauma Institute is addressing the root causes of injury and helping seniors stay active, independent and engaged in their communities.
LIGHTING THE WAY IN TRAUMA CARE
OUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN EVERY EMERGENCY
For decades, Saint Francis Hospital has set the standard for emergency care in Tulsa.
Later this summer, the Saint Francis Trauma Emergency Center will enter a new chapter of that storied history, when it will be considered for American College of Surgeons certification as a Level I Trauma Center.
Level I Trauma certification is not just an important milestone for the health system. It also will make a difference for the communities we serve – faster, safer, better emergency care.
Of the 45 states that had Level I Trauma facilities in 2020, Oklahoma ranked a disappointing 43rd in trauma centers per capita. Indeed, Oklahoma only has one Level I Trauma Center ... in Oklahoma City.
That means, for the sickest of the sick – especially those in rural Oklahoma – it takes longer to get to the highest rated level of care.
While an ambulance can arrive at your Tulsa home in minutes, transferring to a Level 1 Trauma Center from other parts of eastern Oklahoma can take significantly longer. Ground transport from Tulsa ranges from 90 minutes to
two hours, depending on traffic. Air ambulance transport times are typically 30 to 45 minutes.
As a state, we can do better – we must do better—and Level I Trauma Certification at Saint Francis is the key.
Achieving Level I standards has become a systemwide ambition for Saint Francis. From Vinita to McAlester, it involves the hard work of more than 12,000 Saint Francis employees.
From the person serving meals to the person balancing the books, everyone is involved in the effort. Everyone matters and everyone has a stake in the outcome.
Saint Francis has long been the leader in emergency care in Tulsa. Longtime Saint Francis medical leader Dr. C.T. Thompson literally wrote the book on trauma care.
Level I Trauma Certification recognizes the existing standard of Saint Francis excellence and tells the world that Saint Francis remains Tulsa’s leader in healthcare excellence.
To improve access to prenatal care for uninsured or underinsured women in the south Tulsa area.
XAVIER PREGNANCY PROGRAM EXPANDS TO SERVE SOUTH TULSA
Saint Francis Health System has expanded its Xavier Pregnancy Program to improve access to prenatal care for uninsured and underinsured women in the south Tulsa area.
The new extension—Xavier Pregnancy Program South—is based at Marian Medical Clinic at the Warren Clinic location on Elm in Broken Arrow.
The program offers free pregnancy testing, assistance with enrolling in Medicaid or Saint Francis Charity Care if
eligible, lab work, ultrasound scheduling and first OB appointment coordination. Services are available to anyone who thinks they may be pregnant.
This south Tulsa location builds on the success of the original Xavier Pregnancy Program at Xavier Clinic in east Tulsa, which serves more than 500 primarily Spanish-speaking women each year.
The expansion reflects Saint Francis Health System’s mission: to extend the presence and healing ministry of Christ
in all we do. Xavier Clinic might be one of the most tangible expressions of that mission, providing no-cost, non-acute care to the underserved. The new south location for the pregnancy program furthers that outreach, offering essential care and support to expecting mothers who may otherwise go without.
CAMP STRONG MARKS 10 YEARS
of healing, hope and summer fun for kids with serious illnesses
Camp STRONG, celebrating its 10th anniversary, is one of the many ways Saint Francis Children’s Hospital gives back to the community. Thanks to the generosity of the hospital and local donors, campers and one sibling can attend the weeklong summer camp at no charge for Summer 2025.
In 2024, 93 children and teens had the opportunity to enjoy activities like swimming, fishing, tie-dyeing, canoeing
and karate. With registration for 2025 expected to be even larger, the camp continues to grow each year.
Camp STRONG offers a unique experience for children with heart disease and cancer. These kids require high medical supervision and specialized care that would not be available at a traditional camp. Many of them need multiple medications, oxygen, feeding tubes and catheters, and some may
even need to use golf carts for mobility, especially during the summer heat. The camp serves as a special reunion, where patients can reconnect with the nurses, child life specialists and doctors who provide their care at the hospital or who used to provide their care, in the case of patients who no longer require hospitalization. Camp provides not only a fun and enriching experience, but also a sense of community and continuity for these children and their families.
AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN GET...
THE WILLIAM K. WARREN, JR. SIMULATION CENTER BRINGS REALITY TO HEALTHCARE TRAINING
The William K. Warren, Jr. Simulation Center doesn’t treat real patients, but it’s as close as you can get.
That makes it a safe place to learn the science and art of healthcare.
At the simulation center, nursing students, nursing professionals, physicians and other clinicians practice their craft in a realistic learning environment.
“We have state-of-the-art manikins and a certified simulation center coordinator who knows how to program
and coordinate some pretty difficult scenarios for people to learn skills and critical thinking before working on a real patient,” said Cindy Leathers, Saint Francis Health System chief nursing officer.
The 7,000-square-foot center at Saint Francis Hospital includes:
• Four simulation rooms, each equipped with high-fidelity manikins that replicate pediatric, surgical, critical care, emergency room, geriatric and obstetric medical scenarios
• A behind-the-scenes computerized control room where instructors direct simulations
• Two debriefing conference rooms where instructors can work with students after their simulations
• Two fully digital classrooms
The manikins can be set to present numerous medical scenarios and react to what students do.
They shout and squirm. One simulates childbirth. Others can replicate medical
conditions from throughout the life cycle of a patient.
“There’s not really anything that we don’t have the capacity to do at the simulation center,” said Cheryl Sherrill, simulation center coordinator.
Behind the scenes, instructors also can control the complexity of the simulation.
“As the simulations unfold, we can have the manikin react to the interventions the students do or don’t do and see how they respond to that situation,” Sherrill said.
Debriefings following a simulation session round out these real-to-life lessons.
“Mistakes are one of the biggest teachers in life,” said Janet Jackson, nursing education program coordinator. “It’s the mistakes that make us learn.”
The center is a key part of Saint Francis’ commitment to training the next generation of healthcare professionals for eastern Oklahoma. Opened in 2024, it was named in honor of William K. Warren, Jr., a trustee, former board chairman of Saint Francis Health
System, and the son of the health system’s founders, William K. Warren, Sr., and Natalie Warren.
During the center’s naming ceremony, RSU nursing student Michael Lamont said having a safe, realistic environment makes a difference.
“This is as close as you can get to being up there on the floor as I can imagine.”
From the moment the transport team arrives at a referring facility, it prioritizes education.
NICU TRANSPORT TEAM EXTENDS IMPACT BEYOND SAINT FRANCIS WALLS
The Neonatal Transport Team from the Saint Francis Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) safely transports more than 300 premature and critically ill newborns each year from hospitals across the region, including Arkansas and Missouri. But the impact reaches far beyond the ambulance doors.
Through ongoing educational outreach, the team is improving neonatal outcomes across eastern Oklahoma—supporting providers and building trust in the region’s only Level IV NICU.
From the moment the transport team arrives at a referring facility, it prioritizes education. Team members involve the local care team in treatments and procedures during the transfer process, often introducing techniques the facility
staff may not have previously been trained on. In some cases, the team leaves behind specialized equipment and offers guidance on how to order neonatal-specific tools for future use.
Following transports, the NICU team evaluates whether additional training may benefit the referring hospital. If so, a multidisciplinary team—led by the NICU education coordinator and often including a neonatologist, nurses and respiratory therapists—returns to provide customized training sessions. These may include code simulations, hands-on workshops and clinical presentations tailored to the facility’s needs. Hospitals may also request visits independently.
These sessions are offered to physicians, advanced practice
providers and nurses—sometimes even OB-GYNs—and any given facility may receive between one and five visits each year. For example, as a new women’s center and NICU prepares to open in Tahlequah, the Saint Francis team is helping staff run neonatal code simulations using the Saint Francis NICU’s specialized training manikin.
In addition to on-site outreach, the team also leads monthly and bimonthly education lectures for pediatric providers and APPs across the area.
NICU Education Coordinator Cynthia Moses says these efforts build rapport and long-term relationships that ultimately lead to better care for babies, even in communities far beyond the Saint Francis Health System footprint.
SAINT FRANCIS SERVES DAY:
GIVING BACK ACROSS EASTERN OKLAHOMA
On December 7, more than 250 Saint Francis employees volunteered across eastern Oklahoma for Saint Francis Serves Day — an annual tradition honoring the health system’s mission and the legacy of its founder, W.K. Warren, Sr.
Timed near the December 3 birthday of both Warren and the system’s patron, St. Francis Xavier, the event featured acts of service in Tulsa, Muskogee, McAlester, and Vinita. Volunteers handed out food baskets, decorated for the holidays, supported local nonprofits and prepared meals for community programs.
“This is how we light the way to a healthier tomorrow,” said President and CEO Dr. Cliff Robertson.
The effort, launched in 2020 during the pandemic, continues to unite staff in meaningful service beyond hospital walls. As Sister Marysia Weber, Vice President of Mission and Ministry, noted, “Our employees wanted to be part of something bigger.”
Organizations served included Catholic Charities, City Lights, Emergency Infant Services, Little Light House and many others.
“It’s about showing up for our community,” said Sandy May of the labor and delivery unit. “We want people to see us not just as hospital workers, but as neighbors who care.”
SAINT FRANCIS HOSPITAL MUSKOGEE:
ADVANCING HEALTH THROUGH EARLY DETECTION
Saint Francis Hospital Muskogee is committed to improving lives across Muskogee County and beyond. One of the most powerful tools in the fight against breast cancer is early detection—and we’re proud to be making a difference through increased access to life-saving screenings.
BREAST CANCER SCREENINGS: SAVING LIVES SOONER
Did you know that most breast cancers are found in women with no family
history? That’s why annual screening mammograms are recommended for women starting at age 40. These screenings can detect cancer long before it can be felt in a self-exam—often while it’s still microscopic.
In 2023, we performed 5,219 mammograms in Muskogee. By 2024, that number rose to 5,988. This growth reflects our commitment to helping more women catch breast cancer early, when treatment is most effective. When detected at Stage 1, breast cancer has a five-year relative survival rate of up to 99%.
One of the most powerful tools in the fight against breast cancer is early detection.
BONE HEALTH MATTERS, TOO
We’re also stepping up efforts to protect bone health in our community. In 2023, we completed 1,265 bone density screenings in Muskogee.
In 2024, that number increased to 1,825. These screenings are key to identifying osteoporosis early, assessing a patient’s risk of broken bones and monitoring the effectiveness of treatment.
By tracking bone strength and spotting changes early, we help patients maintain mobility, avoid fractures and enjoy a higher quality of life.
SAINT FRANCIS VINITA SUPPORTS STUDENTS AND FIGHTS HUNGER
WITH HYGIENE CARTS AND FOOD PANTRY INITIATIVES
Saint Francis Hospital Vinita and Warren Clinic Vinita are proud to support local schools and students through hygiene carts available at Ewing Halsell Middle School, Ketchum High School, and Vinita High School.
Launched in 2023, this program offers essential items such as deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste and feminine hygiene products—generously donated by hospital employees. The initiative ensures students have access to these vital products whenever needed, easing the burden on both
schools and families while helping students feel confident and prepared.
Additionally, Saint Francis Vinita is dedicated to addressing hunger in Craig County. In November 2024, the hospital launched an on-site food pantry in collaboration with the Oklahoma Hospital Association’s Health Improvement Initiatives Team and the Northeastern Oklahoma Food Pantry. Through this partnership, qualifying patients facing food insecurity receive 25 pounds of nonperishable food. The hospital also coordinates with the
monthly food bank for Craig County and Vinita to provide fresh produce to those in need.
With a food insecurity rate of 18.7% and 53% of the county’s residents living below the SNAP threshold (130% of the poverty level), this initiative plays a critical role in alleviating hunger. Saint Francis Hospital Vinita’s compassionate efforts were recently recognized by the Oklahoma Hospital Association for its impactful community service.
Let us pray for God’s healing presence for all the world.
For the sick and those impacted by illness of mind, body, or spirit, For those bound by injustice, or who live in fear. God of wholeness and hope, heal your people.
For the imprisoned and those who care for them, For those escaping violence and those who welcome them, For the elderly, and anyone who feels forgotten by society, God of wholeness and hope, heal your people.
Lord, we thank you for safe spaces of healing in all corners of creation: facilities, homes, churches, and everywhere in between. For those who offer and those who receive compassionate care therein, God of wholeness and hope, heal your people.
AMEN.