Methodist Community Benefit Report

The community benefits plan adopted by Methodist is about improving health; the health of each individual, and the health of the community.  In developing the plan, several sources of information were utilized to help identify specific healthcare needs.  These sources include Healthy People 2010 and the Peoria city/county Health Department Community Health Needs Assessment among others.  The Methodist community benefits plan includes four major goals.  The goals, together with the specific initiatives being undertaken by the Medical Center to achieve the goals, are summarized below. 

 

Improve access to high quality healthcare services.

As a charitable organization, the Methodist Medical Center provides care without regard to a person’s ability to pay or economic wherewithal.  The hospital, physician offices and outpatient clinics have an open access policy, accepting all patients and all payers.  This fact is evidenced by the volume of indigent patients served and by the financial support given to subsidize the care of the uninsured, underinsured and government programs.  In 2010, Methodist provided charity care to 546 inpatients and 3,463 outpatients at a cost of $6,661,375 (at cost).  Additionally, Methodist underwrote $41,101,645 in expenses that were not fully reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid, and wrote off $8,771,550 in bad debts at cost. Historically, Methodist has been either the largest or second largest provider of healthcare to the Medicaid population for many years. 

As one of the region’s largest employers of physicians and mid-level providers, Methodist plays a key role in assuring access to primary care and specialty services.  Methodist currently employs 105 physicians and 38 mid-level providers operating out of 37 clinical sites.  These providers saw 61,644 Medicaid patients in 2010. 

Reduce the incidence of disease through prevention and education programs

Perhaps the greatest opportunity for long-term health improvement is to empower individuals to make informed health decisions through education and to encourage prevention of disease through wellness and early detection.   Education is highly correlated to the health status of the population.  In general, population groups with the lowest health status are those with the highest poverty rates and the least education.  In response, Methodist has partnered with several school districts to integrate healthcare into the schools.  Last year (2010) the school health program had 69,351 student visits, an increase of 33% from 2009.   

Connected to education are individual behaviors that influence health.  Methodist offers a variety of programs aimed at behavior modification such as smoking cessation classes, weight loss classes, dietary counseling and a wellness facility that has a wide array of cardiac and muscle development activities.  Methodist is also a major sponsor of the “Moonwalk,” a community-wide effort to engage people in exercise.  Other forms of prevention activities include immunizations for both children and older adults.  In 2010, Methodist immunized 16,920 adults against influenza (e.g. the flu shot).  Methodist offers a wide array of community health screenings either free of charge or at little cost.  Screenings offered by Methodist include blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, ABI, PSA, pulmonary function, and stroke.  Combined, the Methodist Wellness Center screened 23,710 Central Illinois residents during 2010. 

Decrease mortality through chronic disease and population health management.

Methodist is focused on reducing mortality through a series of chronic disease management initiatives.  Specific objectives for 2011 include:

• Pilot a medical home within the Methodist Medical Group. 
• Implement evidenced based protocols to manage heart failure, diabetes, and COPD across the continuum.
• Develop and deploy a case management infrastructure.   

 

Improve the quality of life for the residents of Peoria and the surrounding communities.

As Central Illinois’ second largest healthcare provider, Methodist fully recognizes its responsibility for meeting the healthcare needs of the communities we serve.  The Medical Center’s corporate responsibility, however, extends well beyond healthcare.  Methodist is also the third largest employer in the Peoria metropolitan area and as such has a significant influence on the community’s overall quality of life.  Unlike many hospitals, Methodist does not use its not-for-profit status as a means to avoid charitable contributions.  In 2010, Methodist provided $1,711,520 in financial support to the local community.  While much of the financial support goes toward the funding of health-related agencies, other proceeds are earmarked for enhancing the area’s quality of life.  As an example, Methodist is a major sponsor of Bradley University, United Way, and the Heartland Community Economic Foundation.  In addition to Methodist’s economic contributions, Methodist’s management team is encouraged to get involved in their communities through volunteerism.  Every member of the hospital’s executive staff serves on at least one civic board.  Methodist promotes volunteerism by linking executives to non-profit organizations, and allowing them to volunteer on Methodist’s time.  Last year (2010) nearly 12,554 volunteer hours were documented.  Methodist also plays a key role in the economic development of Peoria.  In 2010, Methodist completed construction of a new medical office building, a new hospital entrance, and a new parking deck representing a combined investment of $75 million dollars. 

In 2011, Methodist will continue to invest in the community’s quality of life through donations, volunteerism and economic development.

Community Benefits Summary (In Millions)

Charity, Discounted, and Unpaid Health Care	$15.4
Unfunded Cost of Government Health Plans	$41.1
Unfunded Cost of Medical Education	$1.3
Community Health Programs	$3.0
Sponsorships and Donations	$1.7
Other	$1.2
Total Community Benefits Provided	$63.7

View Methodist's Community Benefit Report