SaintFrancisGI.org

Community Benefit Report

Treating the Sick and Keeping People WellCOMMUNITY BENEFIT DOLLARS IN ACTION

Nebraska Sports Concussion Network partnershipSaint Francis Medical Center has teamed up with the Nebraska Sports Concussion Network (NSCN) to offer the

ImPACTTM concussion-testing program. In 2011, nine area schools representing approximately 355 student athletes participated in the program. Of those 355 student athletes, 42 underwent a post-injury ImPACT test to help determine the extent of the injury.

Saint Francis hosts several ImPACT training sessions, where coaches are trained to facilitate the baseline concussion tests for student athletes. The trainings also include physicians, physician assistants, and physical therapists who either facilitate post-concussion tests or interpret test results.

Prescription drug take-back eventsTwo times each year, Saint Francis Medical Center and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) take in hundreds of pounds of unused medications during prescription drug take-back events.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in homes are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses.

Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends

and are often taken directly out of the home medicine cabinet. In

addition, Americans are now advised that flushing unused medications down the toilet or throwing them in the trash pose potential safety and health hazards.

Kohl’s “Growing Up Safe” programSaint Francis Medical Center began the Kohl’s “Growing Up Safe” program in 2011. This free program is a proactive effort to keep children—prenatal through preteen—in central Nebraska safer by providing parents with important safety information that is personalized and relevant to their child’s age and stage of development.

For example, new parents may receive tips on how to purchase a car seat or information on choosing a safe sleeping surface for their baby. As the child gets older, the information is adapted to his or her stage of growth.

Project SEARCHSaint Francis Medical Center serves as the host site for Project SEARCH, which is a high school transition program. It uses internships designed to transition young adults with disabilities into employment.

Throughout the school year, interns participate in a functional academic curriculum that stresses employability and independent living skills, including career exploration, money management, and job seeking. The goal for each intern is to achieve employment.

Stroke and heart attack awareness For people experiencing a stroke or heart attack, quick medical attention offers the best chance for a full recovery. Saint Francis is educating our community about how to recognize the symptoms of a stroke or heart attack and seek immediate medical care. The public education campaign includes online advertising, billboards, and a presence at public events such as the Nebraska State Fair and Husker Harvest Days.

Smoking cessation classesTobacco use is a risk factor for a multitude of health problems. To help people quit successfully, Saint Francis Cancer Treatment Center offers Freedom from Smoking, a program developed by the American Lung Association. This free, seven-week, eight-session class supports people who are ready to live tobacco-free and gives them strategies to be successful.

For 125 years, Saint Francis Medical Center has been

committed to building a healthier community by providing medical care

to all, advocating for the most vulnerable, and creatively addressing

health needs. In the face of a changing healthcare environment, our

commitment to this mission is steadfast. In fact, we see a future filled

with exciting opportunities to be pioneers and develop innovative ways

of bringing health and wholeness to the people we serve. Working

together with community partners and our sponsoring organization,

Catholic Health Initiatives, we are helping people become and stay well—

creating a society where all people thrive.

In this report, we share some of the work we’ve done throughout fiscal

year 2012 to improve the health and well-being of the people in the

communities we call home, starting with our efforts to assess the

needs of our community and the opportunities to create change.

Community Needs AssessmentThrough our community needs assessment, Saint Francis aims to understand Grand Island residents’ vision for a healthy community and to set priorities for improving our collective health. Below, we list our priorities and detail the efforts that are already beginning to move us closer to our goals.

Better access to health care for low-income and minority residents

Continuing our mission to care for the most vulnerable, Saint Francis provides charity care and supports programs such as Medication Assistance, Third City Community Clinic, and the Parish Nursing program.

As we look to the future, we’re focusing on helping patients with chronic diseases. Teaching people to manage their health conditions, navigate the healthcare system, and make healthy lifestyle changes can help prevent hospitalization and give people a better quality of life.

Reduce gang violence and gang recruitment of at-risk youth A cornerstone of our mission to build healthy communities is creating a culture of nonviolence—an essential element of a healthier society. Our sponsoring organization, Catholic Health Initiatives, has provided millions in grant funding for violence-prevention programs in the communities it serves.

1

To address gang violence in our own community, Saint Francis has partnered with the Hall County Juvenile Diversion Program and Grand Island Public Schools to implement the SANKOFA Gang Resistance Project for middle school students. This 12-week program for high-risk youth helps kids become more aware of problematic situations and the potential impact of their decisions.

Improve the obesity rate in Hall County If current trends continue, half of all Nebraskans will be obese and at risk for poor health by 2030. Saint Francis supports activities being championed by Grand Island Public Schools, Central District Health Department, and the Heartland United Way that encourage everyone to make healthy lifestyle changes and remove barriers to good nutrition and exercise.

Help teen parents become self-sustaining and promote healthy child care A teen parenting program at Grand Island Senior High is focused on keeping students in school and breaking the cycle of teen pregnancy in families. Saint Francis has provided funding for the program, which has seen great success.

The project goals are to have 90 percent of participants stay in school one grade past pregnancy and to achieve a 60 percent graduate rate. To date, we’ve seen approximately a 90 percent graduation rate. Teen mothers are learning to be self-sufficient while keeping their children healthy and getting a diploma to increase their future opportunities.

Ensure patients can receive quality cancer diagnosis and treatment in their own communityPrevention and early detection are very important to successful cancer treatment. The Saint Francis Cancer Treatment Center offers comprehensive cancer care services, including radiation and medical oncology, clinical research trials, certified genetics counseling, tobacco cessation classes, nurse navigation, survivorship services, support groups, and educational seminars.

Saint Francis educates our community about cancer risk and prevention by promoting the importance of regular screenings, such as mammograms and colonoscopies. To do this, we utilize a risk assessment kiosk, screening programs, and educational campaigns.

Community Benefit: $10,093,589

Saint Francis Medical Center uses the protocol of the Catholic Health Association to accurately and consistently account for and evaluate its Community Benefit Program. The difference between costs to deliver care and payments received from Medicare are not reported as community benefit dollars. The Catholic Health Association recommends excluding these because serving Medicare patients is not a true differentiating feature of not-for-profit hospitals. In fiscal year 2012, Medicare shortfalls totaled $15,889,978.

1

2

3

4

5

67

89

2

UNPAID COSTS OF MEDICAID AND OTHER PUBLIC PROGRAMS: $3,280,033

Saint Francis served 13,265 recipients of Medicaid and other public programs. The difference between reimbursements received and the actual cost of providing care exceeded $3 million.

CHARITY CARE: $3,080,618

Saint Francis provided more than $3 million in care to 5,649 people who were uninsured or underinsured and could not afford to pay.

4

5

6

7

8

9

COMMUNITY BUILDING: $638,281

Saint Francis invested in programs, activities, and coalitions that work to address the root causes of health care issues. One example is improving access to health care by recruiting physicians to fill shortages in our community.

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: $200,042

Monetary donations were invested in community organizations that provide activities and services focused on improving community health and that complement the mission of Saint Francis.

SUBSIDIZED HEALTH SERVICES: $10,343

Saint Francis provided financial support for programs that address vital health needs but don’t sustain themselves.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT OPERATIONS: $3,240

We work very hard to be good stewards of our resources. Keeping community benefit operational expenses low ensures that the dollars we invest in our community are spent where they do the most to improve the health of our friends and neighbors.

3 RESEARCH: $1,259,300

Saint Francis invested more than $1 million in medical research that is shared publicly and advances medical care for everyone. This includes our participation in the National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Center Program.

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EDUCATION: $907,437

Saint Francis invested in educational experiences for current and future physicians, nurses, and other health professionals.

COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT: $714,295

Saint Francis invested in services that extend beyond patient care and work to improve overall community health. These services included community health education, support groups, and health-screening events.

Community Needs AssessmentThrough our community needs assessment, Saint Francis aims to understand Grand Island residents’ vision for a healthy community and to set priorities for improving our collective health. Below, we list our priorities and detail the efforts that are already beginning to move us closer to our goals.

Better access to health care for low-income and minority residents

Continuing our mission to care for the most vulnerable, Saint Francis provides charity care and supports programs such as Medication Assistance, Third City Community Clinic, and the Parish Nursing program.

As we look to the future, we’re focusing on helping patients with chronic diseases. Teaching people to manage their health conditions, navigate the healthcare system, and make healthy lifestyle changes can help prevent hospitalization and give people a better quality of life.

Reduce gang violence and gang recruitment of at-risk youth A cornerstone of our mission to build healthy communities is creating a culture of nonviolence—an essential element of a healthier society. Our sponsoring organization, Catholic Health Initiatives, has provided millions in grant funding for violence-prevention programs in the communities it serves.

1

To address gang violence in our own community, Saint Francis has partnered with the Hall County Juvenile Diversion Program and Grand Island Public Schools to implement the SANKOFA Gang Resistance Project for middle school students. This 12-week program for high-risk youth helps kids become more aware of problematic situations and the potential impact of their decisions.

Improve the obesity rate in Hall County If current trends continue, half of all Nebraskans will be obese and at risk for poor health by 2030. Saint Francis supports activities being championed by Grand Island Public Schools, Central District Health Department, and the Heartland United Way that encourage everyone to make healthy lifestyle changes and remove barriers to good nutrition and exercise.

Help teen parents become self-sustaining and promote healthy child care A teen parenting program at Grand Island Senior High is focused on keeping students in school and breaking the cycle of teen pregnancy in families. Saint Francis has provided funding for the program, which has seen great success.

The project goals are to have 90 percent of participants stay in school one grade past pregnancy and to achieve a 60 percent graduate rate. To date, we’ve seen approximately a 90 percent graduation rate. Teen mothers are learning to be self-sufficient while keeping their children healthy and getting a diploma to increase their future opportunities.

Ensure patients can receive quality cancer diagnosis and treatment in their own communityPrevention and early detection are very important to successful cancer treatment. The Saint Francis Cancer Treatment Center offers comprehensive cancer care services, including radiation and medical oncology, clinical research trials, certified genetics counseling, tobacco cessation classes, nurse navigation, survivorship services, support groups, and educational seminars.

Saint Francis educates our community about cancer risk and prevention by promoting the importance of regular screenings, such as mammograms and colonoscopies. To do this, we utilize a risk assessment kiosk, screening programs, and educational campaigns.

Community Benefit: $10,093,589

Saint Francis Medical Center uses the protocol of the Catholic Health Association to accurately and consistently account for and evaluate its Community Benefit Program. The difference between costs to deliver care and payments received from Medicare are not reported as community benefit dollars. The Catholic Health Association recommends excluding these because serving Medicare patients is not a true differentiating feature of not-for-profit hospitals. In fiscal year 2012, Medicare shortfalls totaled $15,889,978.

1

2

3

4

5

67

89

2

UNPAID COSTS OF MEDICAID AND OTHER PUBLIC PROGRAMS: $3,280,033

Saint Francis served 13,265 recipients of Medicaid and other public programs. The difference between reimbursements received and the actual cost of providing care exceeded $3 million.

CHARITY CARE: $3,080,618

Saint Francis provided more than $3 million in care to 5,649 people who were uninsured or underinsured and could not afford to pay.

4

5

6

7

8

9

COMMUNITY BUILDING: $638,281

Saint Francis invested in programs, activities, and coalitions that work to address the root causes of health care issues. One example is improving access to health care by recruiting physicians to fill shortages in our community.

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: $200,042

Monetary donations were invested in community organizations that provide activities and services focused on improving community health and that complement the mission of Saint Francis.

SUBSIDIZED HEALTH SERVICES: $10,343

Saint Francis provided financial support for programs that address vital health needs but don’t sustain themselves.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT OPERATIONS: $3,240

We work very hard to be good stewards of our resources. Keeping community benefit operational expenses low ensures that the dollars we invest in our community are spent where they do the most to improve the health of our friends and neighbors.

3 RESEARCH: $1,259,300

Saint Francis invested more than $1 million in medical research that is shared publicly and advances medical care for everyone. This includes our participation in the National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Center Program.

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EDUCATION: $907,437

Saint Francis invested in educational experiences for current and future physicians, nurses, and other health professionals.

COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT: $714,295

Saint Francis invested in services that extend beyond patient care and work to improve overall community health. These services included community health education, support groups, and health-screening events.

SaintFrancisGI.org

Community Benefit Report

Treating the Sick and Keeping People WellCOMMUNITY BENEFIT DOLLARS IN ACTION

Nebraska Sports Concussion Network partnershipSaint Francis Medical Center has teamed up with the Nebraska Sports Concussion Network (NSCN) to offer the

ImPACTTM concussion-testing program. In 2011, nine area schools representing approximately 355 student athletes participated in the program. Of those 355 student athletes, 42 underwent a post-injury ImPACT test to help determine the extent of the injury.

Saint Francis hosts several ImPACT training sessions, where coaches are trained to facilitate the baseline concussion tests for student athletes. The trainings also include physicians, physician assistants, and physical therapists who either facilitate post-concussion tests or interpret test results.

Prescription drug take-back eventsTwo times each year, Saint Francis Medical Center and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) take in hundreds of pounds of unused medications during prescription drug take-back events.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in homes are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses.

Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends

and are often taken directly out of the home medicine cabinet. In

addition, Americans are now advised that flushing unused medications down the toilet or throwing them in the trash pose potential safety and health hazards.

Kohl’s “Growing Up Safe” programSaint Francis Medical Center began the Kohl’s “Growing Up Safe” program in 2011. This free program is a proactive effort to keep children—prenatal through preteen—in central Nebraska safer by providing parents with important safety information that is personalized and relevant to their child’s age and stage of development.

For example, new parents may receive tips on how to purchase a car seat or information on choosing a safe sleeping surface for their baby. As the child gets older, the information is adapted to his or her stage of growth.

Project SEARCHSaint Francis Medical Center serves as the host site for Project SEARCH, which is a high school transition program. It uses internships designed to transition young adults with disabilities into employment.

Throughout the school year, interns participate in a functional academic curriculum that stresses employability and independent living skills, including career exploration, money management, and job seeking. The goal for each intern is to achieve employment.

Stroke and heart attack awareness For people experiencing a stroke or heart attack, quick medical attention offers the best chance for a full recovery. Saint Francis is educating our community about how to recognize the symptoms of a stroke or heart attack and seek immediate medical care. The public education campaign includes online advertising, billboards, and a presence at public events such as the Nebraska State Fair and Husker Harvest Days.

Smoking cessation classesTobacco use is a risk factor for a multitude of health problems. To help people quit successfully, Saint Francis Cancer Treatment Center offers Freedom from Smoking, a program developed by the American Lung Association. This free, seven-week, eight-session class supports people who are ready to live tobacco-free and gives them strategies to be successful.

For 125 years, Saint Francis Medical Center has been

committed to building a healthier community by providing medical care

to all, advocating for the most vulnerable, and creatively addressing

health needs. In the face of a changing healthcare environment, our

commitment to this mission is steadfast. In fact, we see a future filled

with exciting opportunities to be pioneers and develop innovative ways

of bringing health and wholeness to the people we serve. Working

together with community partners and our sponsoring organization,

Catholic Health Initiatives, we are helping people become and stay well—

creating a society where all people thrive.

In this report, we share some of the work we’ve done throughout fiscal

year 2012 to improve the health and well-being of the people in the

communities we call home, starting with our efforts to assess the

needs of our community and the opportunities to create change.