Taken from Form 990 (Federal tax return of tax-exempt
organization) Part VIII, line 93.
The hospital provides medical
care, counseling and other related services to the community on a not-for-profit
basis. The provision of care is provided without regard for the ability
to pay. This furthers the charitable purpose of the promotion of health
care as provided by Revenue Ruling 69-545 and regulation 1.501 (c) (3)–1(d).
Taken from Form 990 (Federal tax return of tax-exempt organization), Part
III, line a.
Washington County Hospital Association (WCHA) is
affiliated with the Washington County Health System, Inc., and the
Washington County Hospital
Endowment Fund, Inc. The system has created an affiliated medical care
delivery system for Washington County and the surrounding area. The
system focuses the collective resources of the institutions in association
with the affiliated group.
WCHA is a 298-bed, acute care, non-profit medical
center that has been serving the Tri-State region since 1904. Our mission is to be the most
effective provider of health services in our region through leadership
and responsiveness to our community’s healthcare needs; accessibility
of those services in partnership with our extended community; and the
high level of respect we afford our patients, physicians, customers,
and employees.
WCHA promotes the health of its constituents, while
at the same time enhancing the quality of health care available in
Maryland. WCHA provides
its patients with a broad range of general and specialty health care
services.
WCHA has maintained an open admission policy to provide
health care to the public and does not discriminate regardless of race,
color, sex,
religion, creed, or national origin. The hospital has met its obligation
throughout the years to render gratuitously our services to the indigent
and less fortunate in our community and surrounding region. The hospital
provides benevolent care to indigent patients that do not have adequate
income to cover their health care bills. The difference between the
Medical Assistance fee payments and the hospital’s charges for services
is written off as uncollectible. Benevolent care provided by the hospital
during this fiscal year was $4,114,000.
WCHA also alleviates the government burden by participating
in both the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The government relies extensively
on nonprofit hospitals to deliver hospital care to the elderly, reaffirming
the charitable role of non-profit hospitals. WCHA accepts and treats
all Medicaid recipients needing our services. The hospital provides
medical care, counseling and other related services to the community
on a not-for-profit basis. The provision of care is provided without
regard for the ability to pay. This furthers the charitable purpose
of the promotion of health care as provided by Revenue Ruling 69-545
and regulation 1.501 (C) (3)-1(d).
A |
General |
|
|
Patient Days |
78,440 |
|
Admissions |
17,034 |
|
Outpatient Visits |
213,631 |
|
Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross and other payor differentials/bad
debt and charity reduction |
$27,580,243 |
|
Complete diagnostic lab, x-ray and therapeutic services |
|
|
Nutritional counseling |
|
|
Total facility cost |
$169,703,171 |
|
|
|
B |
Mental Health |
|
|
Patient Days |
4,862 |
|
Admissions |
923 |
|
Outpatient Visits |
16,067 |
|
Provision of psychiatric acute inpatient service and outpatient
counseling without regard for the ability to pay |
|
|
Provision of spousal and child abuse counseling, including consultation
to the court system regarding custody cases |
|
|
Provision of outpatient addictions counseling and group therapy
without regard for the ability to pay; outpatient program provides
option to patient to remain with family during recovery |
|
|
Total costs |
$2,938,525 |
|
|
|
C |
Extended Care Facility |
|
|
Patient Days |
8,034 |
|
Admissions |
492 |
|
Provision for patients requiring extended care after hospital discharge;
program is designed to bridge the gap between the acute care phase
of treatment and the patient’s return home; program offered without
regard for the ability to pay |
|
|
Total costs |
$1,795,904 |
|
|
|
D |
Home Health Care |
|
|
Provision for nursing and therapeutic services in the patient’s
home without regard for the ability to pay, seven days a week, 24
hours a day |
|
|
Total costs |
$2,385,817 |
|
|
|
E |
Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Clinic |
|
|
Provision for counseling and family group therapy with persons
with dementia related illnesses without regard for the ability to
pay; includes diagnosis, treatment, counseling and support |
|
F |
Employee Assistance Program |
|
|
For WCHA employees to seek counseling, guidance and support for
virtually any problem |
|
|
Total costs |
$261,669 |
The hospital
has established family practices throughout the county that were designed
to meet identified voids in the community for patients who have no family
physician,
have no insurance or have medical assistance. We provide prenatal, delivery
and postnatal care to virtually all of the medical assistance and uninsured
maternity patients in the county (approximately 908 deliveries per year).
|
Total Revenue |
Total Visits |
Total Gain/(Loss) |
Women’s Health Center |
$4,695,554 |
22,755 |
$(749,078) |
Walnut Street Practice |
$1,304,308 |
19,970 |
$(494,352) |
In addition to uncompensated care, WCHA also incurs
other costs related to community service activities that are listed
below:
- Recognizing
that good health involves many factors outside the scope of community hospitals
and that local organizations contribute to the wellness of residents in the
Tri-State region, WCHA, as an affiliate of the Washington County Health System,
participates in the funding of the Community Benefits Fund. The fund was
established to encourage area non-profit organizations to develop innovative,
cost effective, and collaborative projects that will have a positive impact
on the health and well being of community residents. Grants are awarded
to organizations proposing projects to prevent health problems and promote
health improvement for underserved populations at risk. The Community Benefits
Fund is funded through an endowment created by the Washington County Health
System. Grants are awarded annually in June. Recipients must submit reports
summarizing their work and its results. In fiscal year 2003, the Community
Benefits Fund awarded a grant totaling $100,000 to the following: $50,000
to Community Free Clinic, $20,000 to Turning Point of Washington County,
Inc., $25,000 to Boys & Girls Club of Washington County and $5,000 to
Community Foundation of Washington County MD, Inc.
- The
hospital participates in Employment Programs that help individuals
to enter the healthcare field. Through a partnership with Hagerstown Community
College, all of the clinical rotations for the nursing program, paramedic
program, and the radiology program are performed at the hospital. The nursing
students from Shepherd College also perform their clinical rotations at WCHA. There
are community internships available. The hospital hosts approximately 600
people annually for observations, internships, and clinical rotations.
Each
year, the hospital provides financial assistance for individuals pursuing
specific healthcare careers. In fiscal year 2003, $35,391 was awarded in
academic assistance.
- WCHA spends $2,700,000 to ensure proper trauma care
in Washington County and the surrounding area. The Trauma Center at WCHA has been
designated as a regional Trauma Center by the State of Maryland,
serving Frederick and Washington counties in Maryland and Berkeley
County in West Virginia. WCHA provides back up for government facilities
located in it tri-state service area. The hospital also has a heliport
located on its campus to provide transfer services.
The Trauma Center also provides safety education to children in the community and participates
in the annual Stop Red Light Running
campaign.
- The Emergency Department at WCHA provides 24-hour a
day, seven days a week emergency services. In fiscal year 2003, there
were 60,807 emergency visits.
- The H.W. Murphy Community Health Center
at Walnut Street provides free health care to individuals and families
that
cannot afford it. The health center houses the Walnut Street Family Practice
and the Children’s Dental Clinic. In fiscal year 2003, the community health
center had $517,363 in losses.
- The hospital is also involved in promoting
Community Wellness throughout Washington County and surrounding areas. The
hospital provides the following programs and services to the community:
- Free blood pressure
screenings to hundreds of senior citizens at
the annual Senior Fair held
in Washington County
- Free Support Groups – Man-to-Man prostate cancer
support group; diabetes support group; fibromyalgia
support group; headway support group for individuals with head
trauma; Labor of Love support group
for those who have experienced the loss of
an infant; larynegectomy support group; breastfeeding support group;
Mended Hearts support group for cardiac
patients; Second Wind support group for persons
with breathing difficulties and respiratory diseases; stroke survivors
support group; and Cancer Crossroads
support group for cancer survivors.
- Swims – arthritis swim, diabetes
swim, and Wet ‘N’ Wild swim for children
ages 8-12 who lead a less active lifestyle.
- Sports Injury Clinics – For student athletes who
need aggressive post-injury rehab or for high school athletic team
coverage.
- The
hospital sponsors numerous educational programs for free or at a nominal
fee to promote Community Education. In fiscal year 2003, approximately
1,966 people from the community participated in CPR training sponsored by
the hospital. Other educational opportunities included:
- Stroke Awareness
Day to promote awareness of stroke risks through education and screenings;
- Diabetes
Alert Day to promote awareness of diabetes
through education, activities and screenings;
- Educational classes – Infant CPR classes, breastfeeding
classes, early pregnancy classes, prepared
childbirth classes, refresher childbirth classes, sibling classes,
wee care classes and weekend childbirth
classes; ·
- Tours of the hospital for all first grade
students in Washington County to educate children and promote
awareness of the hospital’s role
in the community;
- Tours of the Family Birthing Center to promote
healthy pregnancy and delivery;
- Camp Breath Easy to promote the development
of asthma self-management skills in children age 7-11 through
a positive day-camp
environment
- Camp Christy to promote the development of
diabetic self-management skills in children age 7-11 through
a positive day-camp environment.
- Each year, the hospital donates medical supplies
and equipment to the Community Free Clinic and other community health
providers.
- The staff at WCHA
willingly shares their knowledge with the community
through free presentations at local community functions and group
meetings. Members of the hospital
also serve on boards of other nonprofit organizations, civic organizations,
community service agencies, and Chamber of commerce task forces. The hospital
is an active participant in the life of the service area’s
community.
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