Programs: Commitment to benefiting our communities - patient care services st. Vincent hospital, located in santa fe, new mexico, is a community-based, private, nonprofit hospital serving more than 300,000 people in seven counties in a 19,000-square-mile area, encompassing north central and northeastern new mexico and southern colorado. St. Vincent was founded in 1865 by the sisters of charity of cincinatti and is new mexico's first hospital and the largest private employer in the city of santa fe. St. Vincent's mission is as follows: our healing ministry is to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve. We care for all the people of santa fe, northern new mexico and southern colorado, regardless of their ability to pay. Our vision is exceptional medicine, extraordinary care, every person, every day. In april 2008, christus health and st. Vincent regional medical center finalized the formation of a partnership that allowed st. Vincent to benefit from the resources of christus health's international 60-hospital system. St. Vincent is designated as a "sole community provider" by the centers for medicare and medicaid services (cms) and is accredited by the joint commission on the accreditation of healthcare organizations (jcaho). St. Vincent hospital is the only trauma center (level iii) in north central/northeastern new mexico. As the largest hospital facility north of albuquerque, new mexico and south of pueblo, colorado, st. Vincent has 200 licensed beds, 30 physician and outpatient locations, and 516 medical staff representing 34 medical specialties (110 employed physicians). In fiscal year 2017, st. Vincent hospital served nearly half a million individuals, including 48,872 visits to our emergency department; 193,478 outpatient visits; 12,190 inpatient surgeries; and 12,131 admissions. St. Vincent hospital provides direct care services, including those provided by employed physician practices, to inpatients and outpatients, including indigent, medicaid, other payor classes and uninsured patients. St. Vincent's community benefit includes the cost of providing uncompensated care and services for patients with limited or no means to pay, government programs where expenses exceed payments, and non-billed services directed to improving the health and well-being of all members of the community we serve. St. Vincent hospital provides a full range of inpatient and outpatient services to the people from the communities it serves. It conducts its activities and serves all patients without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, orientation, disability, age or national origin. By collaborating with communities, schools, churches, businesses and other healthcare organizations, st. Vincent hospital has strengthened its role as a major provider of comprehensive, accessible healthcare services. These partnerships within the community have been a blessing by helping st. Vincent better serve those in need. These partnerships help to insure that the people of our community receive integrated health care and have access to an array of services that addresses the social determinants of good health. Additionally, our dedicated associates and volunteers play a significant role in contributing to improving the health and well-being of the community by dedicating their time to support community health activity. They help to build strong relationships between st. Vincent and other healthcare organizations and the community, nurturing christus' mission to meet healthcare needs and make a difference in the lives of others. Our employees work both inside and outside the walls of our healthcare facility and are committed to reaching beyond the traditional hospital structure to help our communities maintain good health. Among the general medical/surgery services offered at st. Vincent hospital and its employed physician practices are: day surgery, orthopaedics, neurosurgery, interventional cardiology and vascular surgery, cancer treatment center, cardiopulmonary inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, sports medicine, diagnostic imaging services, wellness programs, occupational and speech therapy, respiratory care, inpatient behavioral health services, women's services and pediatrics, inpatient and outpatient laboratory services, diabetes care, sleep center, wound and hyperbaric care, specialized care to victims of domestic violence, and nutrition and dietary services. St. Vincent hospital provides a 24-hour emergency room that is open to serve all those in need of emergent care, regardless of their ability to pay. As a nonprofit organization the governing board is comprised primarily of community members representing the area we serve and guides st. Vincent hospital in achieving its mission. St. Vincent hospital is privileged to have an open medical staff comprised of qualified physicians who work with us to provide care to our communities. All qualified physicians who are granted privileges to serve with us in our facility and outpatient locations must undergo a thorough and comprehensive credentialing process.
other government sponsored services in addition to the provision of charity care and other community services, st. Vincent hospital provides services to persons covered under government-sponsored programs, including medicare and tricare. The unreimbursed costs of these services are reported to the state of new mexico but are not included in reports prepared following catholic health association guidelines. Christus health, a member organization, provides services to persons covered under the federal medicare program, and in fact, this is the largest single payor classification of patients served by the health system. The payment rate for inpatient services is on a per-case rate, calculated based on the diagnostic-related group (drg) into which the patient is categorized. Medicare reimburses outpatient services based on its fee schedule.
community benefit reporting - charity care and medicaid christus health, a member organization, adheres to the catholic health association's a guide for planning and reporting community benefit (2015). Community benefit, reported as unpaid costs, includes both charity care and community services. To the limits of its resources, christus health is an institution of purely public charity; thus, the most tangible expression of christus health's charitable purpose is the provision of health care services to those persons who are unable to pay. This falls into two categories: charity care and unpaid government indigent care. In keeping with the mission, values, and vision of christus health, st. Vincent hospital provides charity care services in a manner that respects the dignity of the patients and their families. Charity care is provided without charge or at a charge that is less than the usual charge for such services. The determination as to the amount to be charged, if any, is made according to a patient's ability to pay as determined by established eligibility criteria. For uninsured patients whose economic circumstances place them at or under 200 percent of the federal poverty level (fpl), services are provided without any expectation of payment. No patient is refused necessary medical care based on his or her ability to pay. St. Vincent hospital provides direct care services, including those provided by employed physician practices, to inpatients and outpatients, including indigent, medicaid, other payor classes and uninsured patients, totaling approximately 254,540 encounters. St. Vincent hospital's community benefit includes the cost of providing uncompensated care and services for patients with limited or no means to pay, government programs where expenses exceed payments, and non-billed services directed at improving the health and well-being of all members of the community we serve. St. Vincent hospital is an active participant in new mexico's medicaid programs. Those programs seek to provide payment for health care services to individuals who meet certain financial and other requirements, which include evaluation of both assets and income. New mexico has accepted the opportunity to expand medicaid eligibility through the health care reform act. This will have a positive impact in promoting the ability of st. Vincent to provide care to this larger population.
