Dear Friends,
When reading this Community Benefit Report, I am very proud of the commitment of our employees, physicians, and volunteers both to the patients we care for in the hospital and to the communities we serve; I also realize how many lives we touch each year through a very wide array of programs and services. In addition to the 165,000 patients we cared for at the hospital, more than 35,000 people in our community benefited from hospital outreach and education programs; we also collaborated with more than 100 community organizations, providing financial, in-kind, and educational and human resources.
As you will read in the following report, we have reached out even further into our community to bring healthy information and screenings to you. A central source of our efforts this past fiscal year has been in our partnership with The Mall in Columbia. In addition to offering quarterly health clinics at the mall, the construction of the Mall Playground has touched many families in our community.
In our efforts to support the diverse community we serve, the hospital was, again, pleased to cosponsor Howard County’s fourth Latino Health Fair in March. In April, we were proud to present the second Korean American Health Fair, as well as to support the fifth Living Well Health Fair cosponsored with the Howard County Muslim Foundation. In total, the hospital participated in more than a record 46 health fairs during the past fiscal year. Health screenings and educational programs in the hospital’s Wellness Center and those presented throughout the community promote wellness, prevention, and early detection for a wide range of diseases. Howard County General Hospital provided 2,205 blood pressure screenings through our Community Cardiovascular Project in 22 churches and faith communities throughout Howard County last year, and more than 4,671 blood pressure screenings were taken at libraries, senior centers, and the mall. In addition, 15 Speakers Bureau presentations were made to non-profit organizations.
The ultimate goal of our community outreach activities is to assist all residents of our community to live healthier, happier, and more productive lives. On the following pages, you will read about how Howard County General Hospital is working to achieve that goal. Please know that we are anxious to partner with you, the residents of the communities we serve. In that regard, please call Ms. Cindi Miller (410-740-7601) if you need additional information about these, or other, community health initiatives.
Sincerely,
Vic Broccolino
President and CEO
Howard County General Hospital
Community Benefit Report FY2008
|
Community Services |
|
| Community Education & Outreach |
$938,980 |
| Health Screenings/Assessments |
153,301 |
| Support Groups |
105,380 |
| Educational Partnerships |
7,588 |
|
|
|
Funding for Nursing & Other Professional Education |
563,621 |
|
Subsidized Health Services |
1,599,893 |
| Disaster Preparedness |
62,238 |
|
Donations |
278,451 |
|
Community Volunteerism |
1,036,210 |
|
Charity Care |
1,393,340 |
| Other |
27,442 |
| Total Community Benefit |
$6,164,444 |
|
|
| Hospital Financial Performance |
|
| Financial Data |
|
| Total Revenue - |
$203,625,000 |
| Total Expenses - |
$196,570,000 |
|
|
| Surplus for Future Investments |
$7,055,000* |
| Community Benefit as % total of expenses |
3.13% |
Howard County General Hospital is committed to improving the health and well-being of our entire community. This commitment does not begin and end solely within the walls of our hospital; hospital participation in community-based events is an extension of our mission. To truly make an impact, HCGH continually sponsors or participates in a myriad of events as well as partners with local businesses or organizations; this enables HCGH to provide health care screenings, information, and outreach to thousands who live and work in Howard County.
During fiscal year 2008, HCGH developed a new partnership with The Mall in Columbia, which paved the way for the construction of a play area in the JC Penney Court area of the mall. Now up and running, 
Howard’s Play Area offers families an additional safe and fun activity during shopping excursions; it also stimulates minds and imaginations and reinforces the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle.
The play area is only one of the benefits that The Mall in Columbia partnership has afforded HCGH and the community. In fiscal year 2008, HCGH sponsored two health clinics: the Cardiovascular Clinic in February and the Fitness and Sports Medicine Clinic in June. These clinics, attended by roughly 400 people, included presentations by specialists on staff at HCGH as well as a variety of health screenings. Bolstered by the success of these two clinics, HCGH has held two clinics thus far in fiscal year 2009: the Healthy Kids Clinic in August, which featured numerous child-related health screenings, and the Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Clinic in October, which included information booths, a chance to speak with physician experts about a variety of cancers, and health screenings. Additional clinics will be held quarterly.
Interacting with the community and providing citizens with access to health information empowers our community to take charge of their health. To facilitate this, HCGH sponsored the first annual Healthy Howard Day on June 1 to promote well-being in the community. With more than 3,000 people in attendance, this was a terrific opportunity to educate the public about health and wellness.
As part of Columbia’s 40th birthday celebration, HCGH’s Community Health Fair in July 2007 featured 
approximately 70 exhibitors who provided screenings, health and safety information, health education, and access to local nonprofits providing services in our community to more than 2,500 attendees.
Reaching out to local businesses, HCGH provides educational programs or health screenings for employee health fairs. Over the past few years, HCGH has played a key role in the Latino Health Fair, Living Well Fair cosponsored by the Howard County Muslim Foundation, Korean Health Fair, and Howard County’s 50+ Expo for senior citizens and their families. The Wellness Center also provides health screenings at events hosted by local nonprofits. In addition, through the Community Cardiovascular Project, the Wellness Center works with area churches, providing equipment and volunteer training to conduct blood pressure screenings.
Training the next generation of health care providers is yet another way HCGH is reaching out to the community. Currently partnering with 20 area schools, HCGH offers educational sessions for elementary students, career days and health information for children in middle school, and unique programs for each of the participating high schools.
HCGH is a part of Howard County, and it’s important to do our part to improve the lives and well-being of those in the county. We thank you for your continued support and participation in HCGH events and programs. Together, we can make a difference.
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