Empowering Lives: The Missionary Call of Catholic Health Care Unveiled – OSV News

Secularization in the West doesn’t always lead to more tolerance or religious neutrality. When we forget about God, we often forget to see His image in ourselves and others.

This is especially crucial in health care, where respecting the dignity of every person is key. Sadly, many see the healthcare system as being dominated by profit-driven private insurers. This situation opens up a chance for Catholic health care providers to show their mission and connect people with the love of Jesus, the Divine Physician.

The tragic death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson highlights a growing disrespect for human dignity. Some even celebrated this act, viewing his alleged killer as a hero. This reaction points to a deeper problem: widespread dissatisfaction with how health care is delivered.

A recent poll found that 70% of Americans believe the actions and profits of insurance companies contributed to this tragedy. Moreover, three out of ten respondents had experienced issues with claim denials or coverage problems themselves.

Before Thompson’s murder made headlines, I had already recorded episodes for my podcast, Catholic in America, discussing health care. These conversations emphasized how crucial Catholic health care can be in restoring a personal touch to medical services.

Historian Yuval Noah Harari warns that modern medicine may see patients merely as data points. This trend leads to impersonal treatment, where health care teams focus solely on symptoms rather than understanding and treating the whole person.

In her essay, “What is medicine for?”, Dr. Kristin Collier argues that medicine should nurture a person’s overall health and happiness, not just fix physical ailments. While evidence-based practices are important, viewing patients solely through a technical lens is insufficient.

Collier believes true medicine requires a holistic approach that fosters happiness through relationships and virtue. Medical professionals should aim to meet the full range of a patient’s needs, not just alleviate physical suffering.

Dr. Collier teaches at the University of Michigan Medical School. She points out that recognizing each person as made in God’s image enhances the practice of medicine. It prevents patients from being treated like machines and ensures their dignity is upheld.

When health care professionals embrace this vision, they open the door to divine encounters. Louis Brown, executive director of Christ Medicus, states that Catholic health care allows people to meet Christ through the healing provided by these professionals.

Brown also directs the Curo Foundation, which helps families step outside the traditional health insurance model. While it’s not for everyone, it enables families to share health care costs in a community-focused way.

Brown describes Curo as an entrepreneurial approach that makes access to good health care more feasible while adhering to dignified medical practices. More Catholics supporting health care workers living out their mission and participating in health-sharing networks can help combat the growing impersonal nature of health care.

By actively engaging in these practices, Catholic health care can continue to inspire and uphold its mission for future generations.

Jason Adkins hosts the Our Sunday Visitor podcast, Catholic in America, which delves into topics about faithful citizenship and its significance today.

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