Akron Children’s Reports $85.5M in Community Benefits
AKRON, Ohio – In 2011, Akron Children’s Hospital reports, its community benefit totaled more than $85.5 million, 18% more than in 2010 mostly because of the increased costs of provide caring to Medicaid patients and patient families unable to pay for all or part of their care.
Conducting research to grow ear cartilage, providing medical education to a resident who went on to become a pediatrician, helping a toddler manage his chronic asthma and providing language interpretation for a family who immigrated from Myanmar are among the ways the hospital contributed to the northeastern Ohio community in 2011, says Bernett L. Williams, vice president for external affairs.
Of the $85.5 million in community benefits, Akron Children’s reported $74.7 million in unreimbursed Medicaid uncompensated care, including charity care; $5.2 million in community programs and services; $3.9 million on education and training physicians, residents and fellows, students interns and nurses; and $1.7 million on research, advocacy and community partnerships.
Akron Children’s community benefits are directed by a 2010 community health assessment, a survey of more than 1.3 million residents in Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit and Wayne counties in conjunction with Akron General Health System and Summa Health System.
Akron Children’s Hospital is the largest pediatric provider in northeastern Ohio. With two pediatric hospitals, as well as 20 primary care and nearly 70 pediatric specialty locations, the staff handles more than 650,000 patient visits a year.
SOURCE: Akron Children's Hospital.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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