COMMUNITY BENEFIT REPORT 2012

Young people are the future of our community. Making sure they grow up in healthy families and graduate to become valued workers in our economy is a responsibility we share. Learn more about how Salem Hospital and West Valley Hospital support these goals.

The future of our community

Health care for people unable to payEvery year, Salem Health provides needed health care to people for whom the reimbursement, if any, does not cover the cost of providing services. Without Salem Health, many of these patients would go without treatment. In 2012, Salem Health provided $89 million in unreimbursed health care services. The community benefit was distributed as follows:

• Charity care: The cost of treating uninsured or underinsured community members who could not afford health care totaled $21.1 million. This cost includes services for patients enrolled in the Marion Polk Medical Foundation’s Project Access, a physician-coordinated care network serving uninsured and low-income community members.

• Medicare: Government underpayments for Medicare patients fell short of the actual cost by $46.1 million.

• Medicaid: Government underpayments for Medicaid patients fell short of the actual cost by $21.8 million.

Community servicesAs the largest health care provider in the mid-Willamette Valley, Salem Health actively participates in services that help improve the health of the community. These services include improving access to care through physician recruiting, community health education and prevention programs. Salem Health has an active speaker’s bureau and provides health lectures to community groups, free of charge. Health screenings, support groups and education classes are offered on an ongoing basis. In 2012, people benefitted more than 692,000 times from Salem Health-sponsored activities aimed at improving health and well-being.

In 2012, Salem Health gave $5.6 million of unfunded or underfunded health services that typically would not be available to the community if Salem Health did not provide them.

Charity care and unmet cost of Medicaid$42,922,745

Unmet cost of Medicare and other public programs$55,169,397

Community health improvement, subsidized health services and community benefit operations$8,088,241

Research$2,829,923

Health professional education and workforce development$2,262,771

Cash and in-kind donations$538,274

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CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITYCaring for our community means understanding its needs and being actively involved. Salem Health collaborates with community partners to serve those who depend on us for health care. Our investments in talent, services and outreach benefit the mid-Willamette Valley.

Total unreimbursed costs and community benefits: $111,811,351

�ĂƐŚ�ĂŶĚ�ŝŶͲŬŝŶĚ�ĚŽŶĂƟŽŶƐ� by Salem HealthSalem Health provides cash and in-kind donations to community programs such as Project Access, MedAssist and Salem Free Clinics. In 2012, Salem Health gave more than $538,000 in support of these and other health programs.

COMMUNITY BENEFITS, FISCAL YEAR 2012

More information: If you have questions about Salem Health’s contributions to the community, contact the Community Health Education Center at 503-814-CHEC (2432).

Source: Data from Salem Hospital and West Valley Hospital community benefit reports filed with the state of Oregon for Oct. 2011—Sept. 2012.

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Salem Health, in partnership with community organizations, local businesses and hospital departments, has made childbirth and early parenting education a priority.

In their 2011 and 2012 community health reports, the Marion and Polk county departments of health both identified the need for mental health services and prenatal care as pressing concerns for our region. Salem Health is helping to fill those needs by offering Childbirth Preparation classes and support groups to fit every schedule. Recognizing that not everyone can attend classes on weekday evenings, many of these vital classes

are available during the day, on weekends and online as well.

New parents also benefit from the mental health support of free group meetings that address the stresses of having a new baby. The

New Moms’ Connections group is a place to make friends and discuss common concerns. Nursing mothers may prefer Breastfeeding Support (which meets in both Salem and Dallas) as a comfortable place to talk openly about the challenges and rewards of choosing to breastfeed.

A HEALTHY START FOR BABIES

Another important way Salem Health contributes to healthy homes for babies is through hosting the Perinatal Depression Prevention and Intervention Program through Easter Seals. In Oregon, nearly one in four new mothers (24 percent) reports symptoms of depression either during or after pregnancy. Women living with postpartum depression often feel isolated by their emotions. This program helps them learn skills to work through the anxiety, so they can enjoy their new families to the fullest.

Many of these vital classes are available during the day, on weekends and online as well.

Safe travels. At our car seat safety events, safety technicians and trained volunteers check children’s car seats for correct installation; appropriate fit for height, weight and age; and possible damage or manufacturer recalls.

Preparing tomorrow’s workforceSalem Hospital and West Valley Hospital have contracts with colleges throughout the nation to provide professional training for their clinical or business students. In 2012, Salem Hospital contributed nearly $2 million to these students’ experiences.

Training at the hospital is an extremely important part of a nurse’s education because it gives him or her real-life experience in a field that is constantly changing.

Not all the students are training to work in clinical areas. Students of other disciplines can gain work experience in nutrition services, human resources, marketing and other administrative roles, too.

In the past two years, students have come to the program from almost every university, college, and community college in Oregon as well as multiple universities across the country.

Keeping school-age kids on trackStudies show that healthy habits start young… but so do unhealthy ones. Salem Health’s Community Health Education Center (CHEC) hosts field trips and activities to show youngsters the joys that can come from making simple, healthy choices every day.

And they’re doing more than learning about handwashing from Scrubby Bear or moving to the hot Latin beats of Zumba!

• Children who visit the hospital with school groups learn that doctors and hospitals can be fun and friendly—they don’t have to be scary.

• Cooking classes for families teach about good nutrition and kitchen safety.

• The 5210 program, which has spread from the CHEC to schools across Salem, challenges kids to eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day; spend 2 hours or less looking at TV, computer or phone screens; get at least an hour of cumulative exercise and drink 0 servings of sweetened beverages.

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eat 5 servings of fruits & vegetables

eliminate sweetened drinks

reduce screen time to 2 hours or less

move 1 hour a day

To learn more about student training and internships at Salem Hospital and West Valley Hospital, visit salemhealth.org/cep.