The Carle Foundation Hospital

Programs: Serving people through high quality medical care the carle foundation hospital is an illinois not-for-profit corporation established for the purpose of operating the carle foundation's 393-licensed bed hospital and related facilities and, conducting patient care related activities of the foundation. The hospital, a level one trauma center, offers a full range of inpatient and outpatient diagnostic and therapeutic services for medical, surgical, obstetrical and gynecological patients. The hospital provides various ancillary support services to both inpatients and outpatients such as autopsy, blood bank, emergency services, respiratory therapy, operating room, occupational therapy, pastoral counseling, social services, pharmacy and physical therapy. The carle foundation hospital's mission is to serve people through high quality care, medical research and education. We make sure those who need care, get care, whether or not they can pay. Through our community care discount program for hospital services and our partnerships with area health agencies, access to dental, vision and general healthcare has been improved for those who are struggling financially. As the second tenet in our mission, research gives us tomorrow's answers, today. In collaboration with the university of illinois scientists and the carle physician group physicians, we are turning the latest medical knowledge into practical applications for the bedside. We are now conducting more than 150 active and pending studies relating to cancer, gastro-intestinal disease, cardiovascular disease and more. Educational programs for both our professionals and the community ensure everyone is better prepared. For the community, we offer a myriad of opportunities like babysitting certification and new dad courses, along with free cpr and first aid classes. For our professionals, we have continuing education courses, three levels of management training classes and courses for physician leaders. The carle foundation hospital's continued success is rooted in our ability to adapt to a changing healthcare environment, plan diligently for our future and maintain a commitment to our patients and community. Not-for-profit hospitals have a long standing practice of providing support, donations and services to their communities. This stems not from economic opportunity, but rather from a responsibility to address and improve the health of all the people they serve. At the carle foundation hospital, we also believe that we have an obligation to generously give back to our community in exchange for our tax exemption. All of these factors lead to the carle foundation hospital being a champion of access to healthcare and a pillar of community support. Community benefit programs are based on assessed needs and designed to improve the health of those who live and work in our area, with a focus on serving those less fortunate. Areas of community benefit include: hospital services that operate at a loss, cash and in-kind donations, translational research, community education, community-building activities and workforce development. The carle foundation hospital strives to eliminate barriers that keep area residents from receiving the care they need. The carle foundation hospital's community care discount program is one of the most generous financial assistance discount programs in the country. We want to make sure that the people who qualify know about their options. Our advertising throughout the region is targeted to reach people who qualify so they are aware financial assistance is available. As a not-for-profit hospital, it is our obligation to reach out to those who cannot afford healthcare.

the carle community care discount program (financial assistance) as a tax-exempt organization, carle provides care to patients regardless of their ability to pay for that care or source of payment. We also recognize that some patients need help to pay their bills. The carle foundation hospital's community care discount program (financial assistance) provides discounts or free care to those who need it. Our community care discount program is continually evaluated and managed as needed to meet the needs of our community. Evaluation involves input from administrative leaders, patient accounts staff, local consumer advocacy groups, and patients. For the twelve months ended december 31, 2014 (cy14), financial assistance totaled $24,557,104 and served 31,608 people.

research and education initiatives the carle foundation hospital is actively involved in research and education initiatives in order to discover new diagnostic and treatment modalities that will improve delivery and/or quality of healthcare. The research program is predominantly done in conjunction with carle physicians, the university of illinois scientists and entrepreneurial companies. Emphasis has been on continuing to create an infrastructure for a robust research program. Program successes in 2014 included: - carle ophthalmology started a research program in 2014. There were eight active and three pending studies including collaborative studies with the university of illinois. - a new physician and two research coordinators joined and are enhancing the research program in carle's digestive health center to support the expected 25-35 industry sponsored clinical trials. - neuroscience now has a contracted director of research. As of december 2014, the carle research institute had 164 active and pending research studies underway. Besides patient and community education, significant resources are expended on the education and training of medical students, physician residents, nurses, allied health professionals and the general healthcare workforce. Through a variety of activities including significant donations, scholarship programs, and physician, nurse, and allied health education, almost $4. 5 million was invested in programs that address community-wide workforce issues, strengthening the training and availability of professionals to care for our communities' healthcare needs now and in the near and distant future. - graduate medical education programs. Maintaining a geriatric fellowship and three medical residency programs, and serving as a clinical site for a fourth. There are 30 residents practicing on carle's campus at any point in time. - continuing medical education programs for regional providers who are not members of the carle foundation hospital medical staff. This includes carle foundation day, which is an event for providers held at the hospital. There are multiple presentations, speakers and displays which count toward required continuing medical education credit for physicians in the region who attend. - support of the university of illinois college of medicine at urbana-champaign, with monies earmarked for the md/phd program.