Uncompensated care
Our commitment to our communities is to provide superior,
compassionate care to every patient we serve, regardless of an individual’s
ability to pay. Our hospitals provide a full write-off of charges for patients
with incomes less than twice the federal poverty guidelines and a 60 percent
write-off for uninsured patients above that income level. Our physician groups
provide similar discounts. We provided more than $77 million in uncompensated care during fiscal 2012. We also provide a number of services for which
little or no payment is received, as Medicare, Medicaid and state indigent programs
do not cover the full cost of those services.
Donations to community organizations
Some opportunities are too big for us to handle alone. So we
partner with other community and philanthropic organizations to share resources
and best practices, using our combined efforts to make a real impact on local,
and sometimes global, health issues. We support our communities through partnerships
with a variety of organizations, including the United Way, local YMCA affiliates,
Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the American Cancer Society, Children’s Miracle Network and more. In fiscal 2012, Wellmont donated more than $500,000 to community organizations. Additionally, our co-workers contribute tens of thousands of
hours of their personal time supporting organizations such as these.
Training and education for healthcare professionals
Every investment in our employees is an investment in our
communities. We support training for physicians, nurses, medical students and
other healthcare professionals. We also provide real-world experiences and
training to nursing students and medical residents through internships,
externships and residency programs. Additionally, our co-workers have access to
tuition assistance at area colleges and universities and leadership classes
through Wellmont University. Wellmont invested more than $6 million in healthcare training and education in fiscal 2012.
Community health education and outreach
Our role as a health system extends well beyond the walls of
our hospitals and into the communities we serve as we work to improve the
overall health status of our region. Several programs to help achieve this goal
include free screenings, health fairs, support groups, medical libraries and
health seminars offered throughout our service area. In fiscal 2012, Wellmont provided more than $5 million in community health and outreach programs on topics ranging
from weight loss to joint pain. We also offered free screenings to promote the early
detection of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other health concerns.
Clinical trials and research
Medicine is an evolving science, as new treatments and best
practices are discovered every day. We’re proud to help lead this effort
through a variety of medical research initiatives and clinical trials across a host
of different disciplines. From studies to improve the care in our neonatal
intensive care unit to the latest cancer drugs and treatments, we are building
a legacy of continuous care improvement. Last year alone, Wellmont provided more than $89,000 in clinical trials and research, which allowed more than 1,200
patients to benefit from cutting-edge studies led by Wellmont caregivers.
Caring for our communities
Often, the time and talent of our co-workers can help
prevent illness or injury. By using their expertise to educate our communities,
Wellmont’s employees, physicians and volunteers extend our healing environment
beyond their normal work days and into their personal lives, collectively
volunteering nearly 110,000 hours to help others in fiscal 2012.