Northwest Community Healthcare shares 2018 report

Northwest Community Healthcare is proud to announce the release of the 2018 Community Benefit Report, which details how the hospital has helped to care for patients and neighbors in the Northwest suburbs.

In 2018, Northwest Community Healthcare directed $50.9 million to enhance the health and welfare of those in need in the community.

"This includes a wide range of things, including caring for community members who don't have insurance or financial means to pay for care they received, training all of the local EMS paramedics, and programs we provide or collaborate on that address access to care and specific health needs, such as the Mobile Dental Clinic, Community Nursing, Community Health Workers and Food Insecurity Programs," says Executive Director of Community Services Karen Baker.

Of those $50.9 million, $35.6 million was spent on government-sponsored programs caring for Medicaid and Medicare patients. Another $8.4 million was allocated to charity care; $2.7 million on education; $1.4 million on subsidized health services; $951,000 on volunteer services; $633,000 on language assistance services; $865,000 on donations; $276,000 on other community benefits and $85,000 on research.

The report outlines the most predominant health needs of the community that were identified in the 2018 Community Health Needs Assessment. Northwest Community Healthcare has been conducting needs assessments in the community long before it was required by the Affordable Care Act.

"Conducting Community Health Needs Assessments helps us be good stewards of our resources and addresses the needs that we can impact the most," Baker says.

"Northwest Community Healthcare is truly an organization that is so committed to the community it serves. For 60 years, in both strong and challenging financial times, Northwest Community Healthcare has remained steadfast with its investment into outreach programs and services that impact the health and wellness of its community members."

The hospital's service area includes residents of Arlington Heights, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Lake Zurich, Mount Prospect, Rolling Meadows, Palatine, Prospect Heights, Schaumburg and Wheeling.

Anyone interested in reading the full report can visit nch.org/communityservices.

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