
Ascension Via Christi Health is a Catholic-sponsored healthcare system that is the largest provider of healthcare services in Kansas and northeast Oklahoma. It fully or partially owns or manages 12 hospitals and 15 senior villages and nursing homes, including Via Christi Hospital on Harry (formerly Wichita Hospital) and Via Christi Hospital St. Joseph (formerly St. Joseph Hospital). Via Christi Hospital on Harry was temporarily closed after a tornado destroyed its east wing in 1953, but it has not been destroyed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Ascension Via Christi Health |
| Ownership | Ascension Health |
| Type | Catholic-sponsored health care system |
| Location | Kansas, Wichita, Manhattan |
| Number of Hospitals | 12 |
| Number of Senior Villages and Nursing Homes | 15 |
| Number of Employees | More than 10,000 |
| Number of Doctors | 300 |
| Number of Mid-level Providers | 117 |
| Services | Emergency, primary, specialty, cancer, stroke, maternity, neonatal, OB-GYN, pediatric, surgical, trauma, burn, behavioral health |
| Awards | HealthGrades America's 100 Best Hospitals Award, Stroke GOLD PLUS with Target award for stroke care, Highest distinction for maternity care by U.S. News & World Report |
| History | Founded in 1883 by Mother M. Frances Streitel, the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother took over St. Francis Hospital in 1889, purchased a new building in 1893, opened the Chapel of the Sorrowful Mother in 1947, formed Via Christi Health System in 1995, became full owner of Mercy Regional Health Center in 2014 |
| Related Organizations | St. Francis Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph Medical Center, Wichita Clinic, Memorial Hospital Association, Children's Mercy Kansas City |
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What You'll Learn
- A tornado destroyed the east wing of Wichita Hospital in 1953
- Via Christi Health owns or manages 12 hospitals and 15 senior homes
- Via Christi Stroke Center received the Stroke GOLD PLUS with Target award
- Via Christi Health is the largest healthcare provider in Kansas
- Via Christi Health is a Catholic-sponsored healthcare system

A tornado destroyed the east wing of Wichita Hospital in 1953
The Via Christi Health System is a Catholic-sponsored healthcare provider and the largest healthcare service in Kansas. It was founded by Mother M. Frances Streitel, who, in 1883, established a community that later became known as the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother.
In 1889, the Sisters learned of a dilapidated 12-bed hospital named St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kansas. They took over its operations, and the hospital became profitable. Over the years, the hospital expanded several times, with the Sisters purchasing a new building and adding new services. In 1947, the Chapel of the Sorrowful Mother was opened on the hospital grounds.
In 1925, the Sisters also became responsible for Wichita Hospital, which had been founded in the 1800s near Douglas and Seneca in Wichita. This hospital was impacted by a tornado in 1953, which destroyed its east wing and caused it to close temporarily. The hospital was repaired and remodelled after the disaster, but it ultimately closed permanently in 1961, with patients being transferred to St. Joseph Hospital.
Wichita and its surrounding areas have a long history of tornado activity. The Wichita Falls area, in particular, has been visited by tornadoes numerous times, with a notable tornado occurrence in 1953. On August 11, 1953, an F2 tornado touched down in Wichita Falls and moved through the city's suburbs. Several homes were demolished, and numerous other structures and oil installations were damaged. This tornado was one of several that struck the region that year, causing significant damage and disruption.
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Via Christi Health owns or manages 12 hospitals and 15 senior homes
Via Christi Health, a Catholic-sponsored healthcare system, is the largest provider of healthcare services in Kansas and northeast Oklahoma. It is fully owned by Ascension Health of St. Louis, the largest Catholic and nonprofit health system in the country. Via Christi Health owns or manages 12 hospitals and 15 senior villages and nursing homes throughout Kansas, where it employs more than 10,000 people, including 300 doctors and 117 mid-level providers.
The history of Via Christi Health can be traced back to 1883 when Mother M. Frances Streitel founded a community that, by 1885, became known as the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother. In 1889, the Sisters learned of a dilapidated 12-bed, three-story house named St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kansas. They took over the operations, and in 1893, they purchased a new building and expanded the hospital's services. The hospital has since been renamed and now operates as Ascension Via Christi St. Francis.
In 1903, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wichita, a congregation formed under the direction of a Jesuit priest in 1650, entered the healthcare sector by opening Mt. Carmel Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas. This hospital expanded in 1908 and again in 1916. In 1925, the Sisters also became responsible for Wichita Hospital, which was founded by the Ladies' Benevolent Society in the 1800s.
On October 1, 1995, the sponsoring ministries of St. Francis Regional Medical Center and St. Joseph Medical Center, the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother and the Sisters St. Joseph, joined forces to create the Via Christi Health System. In 2014, Via Christi Health became the sole owner of Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan, Kansas, further expanding its healthcare network.
Via Christi Health has received recognition for its contributions to healthcare. In 2012, it was awarded the HealthGrades America's 100 Best Hospitals Award. The organization is committed to integrating care across home care, clinics, hospitals, and senior services to improve the health of the populations it serves, while also focusing on controlling healthcare costs.
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Via Christi Stroke Center received the Stroke GOLD PLUS with Target award
Ascension Via Christi Health, a Catholic-sponsored healthcare system, is the largest provider of healthcare services in Kansas and also serves northeast Oklahoma. It fully or partially owns or manages 12 hospitals and 15 senior villages and nursing homes in Kansas, employing more than 10,000 people, including 300 doctors and 117 mid-level providers.
The Via Christi Stroke Center has received the Stroke GOLD PLUS with Target award from the American Heart Association. This award recognises the center's commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognised, research-based guidelines. The neuroscience care team at Ascension Via Christi is dedicated to providing high-quality, coordinated stroke care from the moment a patient enters the emergency room through recovery and rehabilitation. The multidisciplinary team has specialised training to provide the highest quality stroke care.
Ascension Via Christi has received numerous other accolades for its healthcare services. For instance, in March 2012, it was awarded the HealthGrades America's 100 Best Hospitals Award. Via Christi Wichita and Manhattan also received the highest distinction for maternity care by the U.S. News & World Report.
Ascension Via Christi's hospitals have a long history, with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wichita joining six other congregations to form the Congregation of St. Joseph in 2007. The Sisters took over the operations of St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kansas, in 1889, and expanded the services over time. In 1941, construction began on St. Joseph Hospital, which later became known as Via Christi Hospital St. Joseph Medical Center. While the Wichita Hospital, founded by the Ladies' Benevolent Society in the 1800s, was temporarily closed due to tornado damage in 1953, it is unclear if any Via Christi hospitals have ever been completely destroyed.
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Via Christi Health is the largest healthcare provider in Kansas
Via Christi Health, now known as Ascension Via Christi Health, is the largest healthcare provider in Kansas. It is a Catholic-sponsored healthcare system that is fully owned by Ascension Health. Ascension Via Christi Health fully or partially owns or manage 12 hospitals, including the Via Christi Stroke Center, and 15 senior villages and nursing homes throughout Kansas. The health system employs more than 10,000 people, including 300 doctors and 117 mid-level providers.
The history of Via Christi Health dates back to the 1800s when the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother took over operations of St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kansas. The Sisters expanded their healthcare ministries over the years, and in 1995, the sponsoring ministries of St. Francis Regional Medical Center and St. Joseph Medical Center came together to form the Via Christi Health System. In 2014, Via Christi Health became the full owner of Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan, Kansas.
Via Christi Health has received recognition for its healthcare services. In 2012, it was awarded HealthGrades America's 100 Best Hospitals Award. The health system has also received distinctions for its maternity care and stroke care. For instance, Via Christi Wichita and Manhattan received the highest distinction for maternity care by the U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, Via Christi St. Francis's Comprehensive Stroke Center was recognized by the American Heart Association for its stroke care.
Via Christi Health serves a diverse range of patient needs, including stroke care, cancer care, and maternity care. The health system also has a NICU in Wichita, KS, that provides specialized care for newborns. Furthermore, Via Christi in Wichita has an affiliation with Children's Mercy Kansas City, enabling advanced care for newborns with complicated conditions.
Ascension Via Christi Health is committed to serving the community and those in need. The Wichita-based Sisters maintain a presence in Wichita and continue their ministries at Via Christi's hospitals. They also serve low-income individuals and those escaping domestic violence.
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Via Christi Health is a Catholic-sponsored healthcare system
Via Christi Health, a Catholic-sponsored healthcare system affiliated with the Marian Health System and Ascension Health, is the largest provider of healthcare services in Kansas. It employs more than 10,000 people across its hospitals, senior villages, physician offices, and health services in Kansas and northeast Oklahoma. This includes over 300 doctors and 117 mid-level providers. Via Christi Health is fully or partially responsible for 12 hospitals and 15 senior villages and nursing homes.
The history of Via Christi Health can be traced back to 1883 when Mother M. Frances Streitel founded a community that, by 1885, became known as the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother. In 1889, the Sisters took over operations of St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kansas, and expanded the hospital's services over the years. In 1947, the Chapel of the Sorrowful Mother was opened on the hospital grounds. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Wichita, who had been providing education in the region since 1883 and opened a hospital in 1903, joined six other congregations to form the Congregation of St. Joseph in 2007. On October 1, 1995, the sponsoring ministries of St. Francis Regional Medical Center and St. Joseph Medical Center, including the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother and the Sisters St. Joseph, merged to form Via Christi Health System.
Via Christi Health has continued to expand and acquire other healthcare providers. In December 2010, it acquired Wichita Clinic, an independent physicians' group, which was renamed Via Christi Clinic. In 2012, Ascension Via Christi Health was recognised as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals by HealthGrades. As of 2014, Via Christi Health became the full owner of Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan, Kansas.
The organisation has also faced challenges, including a tornado in 1953 that destroyed the east wing of Wichita Hospital, leading to its temporary closure. However, the hospital was repaired and remodelled, demonstrating the resilience and dedication of Via Christi Health.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Via Christi Hospital has never been destroyed. The hospital has been awarded for its services and has been caring for Kansas families for over 120 years.
Ascension Via Christi Health is a Catholic-sponsored health care system that is fully owned by Ascension Health. It is the largest healthcare provider in Kansas and northeast Oklahoma.
Via Christi Hospital is located in Wichita, Kansas, and Manhattan, Kansas.
Via Christi Hospital provides emergency, primary, and advanced specialty care. It is also a Level I Trauma Center and the region's only burn center that provides 24/7 critical care.














