Ms. Hatch said the hospitals provide the following benefits through their not-for-profit status.
Keeping costs low. In Utah, where most hospital care is delivered by not-for-profits, residents spend less of their paychecks on healthcare than residents in any other state, the Congressional Budget Office reported in 2008.
Providing millions in charity care. For example, 245-bed Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, Utah, provided $18 million in charity care in 2009.
Plowing profits back into the community. “Any money we make goes back into the community in the form of buildings, equipment, services, charity care, community education and outreach,” Ms. Hatch said.
Allowing community input on hospital boards. Overseeing quality, service, safety, physician credentialing, philanthropy and the fiscal health, the hospital boards are “responsible to make sure that our hospital is meeting the needs of our community,” he said.
Buying from local businesses whenever possible. “Whenever we can, we buy from local businesses,” she said. “We want to be good partners with others in our community.”
Directing employees to volunteer in the community. Employees in hospital departments are encouraged to clean up the highway, volunteer, participate in the chamber of commerce and serve on local boards.
Read the Spectrum’s report on Intermountain Healthcare.
