Daughters of Charity, Catholic Hospitals, and the Expansion of American Healthcare

Carl F. Ameringer is a former Maryland assistant attorney general and professor of health policy and politics at three different universities. He is the author of several books, most recently US Health Policy and Health Care Delivery: Doctors, Reformers, and Entrepreneurs.

"Ameringer's work on the hospital ministry conducted by the Daughters of Charity for over two centuries expertly places their work within the larger story of the history of healthcare in the United States. This meticulously researched book is a welcome addition to the growing body of work detailing the many ways in which religious congregations developed ministries dedicated to serving those in need." —Margaret M. McGuinness, author of Called to Serve"It is a timely book. In light of recent Supreme Court decisions, debates over religious freedom, and the criticisms of Catholic hospitals over abortion and reproductive procedures, readers need to be reminded of Catholic sisters' work. Historically, they adapted, which should serve as a role model for Catholic hospitals today that are increasingly being criticized for losing sight of their mission." —Barbra Mann Wall, author of American Catholic Hospitals"Ameringer's book tells a fascinating and important story. The successes and failures of the sisters, their battles with medicine and influential churchmen, and the controversies over reproductive health, all had extraordinary implications for the American health care system. This is a fascinating story well told." —Sioban Nelson, co-author of Creating the Health Care Team of the Future"Meticulously researched and compellingly argued, Ameringer's book shows how the Daughters of Charity — often overlooked in traditional histories of our health care system — were central architects of the US health care industry. The book tells the story of their influence on the evolution of the healthcare system we have today." —Diane Hoffman, University of Maryland

• List of IllustrationsList of TablesPrefaceList of AbbreviationsList of Featured HospitalsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. The Hospital, a Place They Could Call Their Own2. Immigration, Epidemics, Anti-Catholicism, and Slavery3. Wartime Service4. Daughters, Doctors, and Outpatient Clinics5. "More Active, Vocal, and Visible"6. Reconciling Divisions Over Access to Reproductive Services7. "Time to Leave"Appendix: Chronological List of Mother Superiors and VisitatrixesNotesNote on Archival SourcesBibliographyIndex