Community Benefit is More than Words
The formal definition of community benefit may be “hospital programs and services designed to meet an identified community need,” but its true meaning is much more personal.

For patients without health insurance who are facing a medical crisis, community benefit means financial relief in the form of free care or reduced bills.

For women of conservative cultures who are anxious about mammography screenings that are important for breast health, it means a specially trained, all-female staff to guide them through the process with sensitivity and respect for their culture.

For a car crash victim in need of critical care, it means access to the highest level of lifesaving trauma services at any hour of the day or night.

During 2010, BJC and its hospitals and health services provided more than $495 million in community benefit. In a struggling economy, more than half of that total took the form of charity care and other financial assistance to ensure medical care for patients regardless of their ability to pay. More than one-fourth supported education of health professionals and advancements in medical research to help ensure the future of health care. Another $77 million provided for safety net programs; and nearly $19 million funded community outreach programs including mobile health vans, health screenings, education and wellness activities.

Community benefit is more than words. Community benefit in countless forms makes a difference in the lives of patients and community residents each and every day.

BJC Community Benefit in Action

Charity care
Charity care at cost	$77.9 million
Unreimbursed Medicaid at cost	$91.7 million
Charity-eligible care at cost	$82.7 million
Safety net services
Subsidized services	$71.6 million
Emergency response planning	$1.3 million
Community partnerships	$4 million
Education and research
Educating health professionals	$120.5 million    10,924 students
Medical research	$26.7 million
Community health programs	$18.7 million providing more than 449,000 individual services
Total	$495.1 million (2010 data)