RiverView Health’s Community Contributions Total $5,369,735

RiverView Health’s contributions to Crookston and the surrounding area totaled $5,369,735 in 2006, marking a significant benefit to the community. The organization’s free and reduced-cost services programs and services encompass everything from free health screenings to charity care services. In 2006, RiverView Health’s community contribution efforts represented 14.9 percent of its total operating expenses.

“RiverView is very committed to fulfilling its mission to serve this community’s health needs and that often means we offer health services at a loss or provide programs free of charge,” said Debra Boardman, President/Chief Executive Officer of RiverView Health. “This report helps quantify and communicate the magnitude of this commitment.”

The hospital’s figures are part of a statewide report released today by the Minnesota Hospital Association. The second-annual Community Benefit Report highlights the contributions of all 131 of the state’s acute-care hospitals. "The report illustrates the myriad of ways Minnesota hospitals improve the quality of life and economy here in Minnesota,” said Bruce Rueben, president of the Minnesota Hospital Association in St. Paul.

Minnesota hospitals provided$1.37 billion of services in 2006 in the form of reduced-cost and free care for the uninsured, medical research and work-force training, for example. That figure represents 9.2 percent of Minnesotahospitals’ operating expense. That’s an increase over the total benefits in 2005, which equaled 8.2 percent of operating expenses that year.

The statewide report includes a variety of contributions hospitals made to their communities in 2006.

Government underfunding: With reimbursement rates set by the government, programs like Medicare and Medicaid pay Minnesota hospitals below what it costs to provide services. The gap between the cost of care and payment was $1.3 billion statewide in 2006. RiverView’s estimated costs in excess of its payments from Medicaid alone totaled $431,000 in 2006. In additional to Medicaid, it is estimated that RiverView’s un-reimbursed costs for servicewhere payments fell below the costs for provision of the service were $2,900,000 in 2006.

Education: Minnesota hospitals help train physicians, nurses, radiology technicians and a host of other highly skilled health-care professionals. Unreimbursed investments through clinical rotations, training programs and more exceeded $207 million statewide in 2006.

Services responding to unique community needs: Hospitals continue to run money-losing departments or services, such as mental-health units, hospice programs or emergency departments, because their communities’ need this service locally. Hospitals also invest money in health screenings and other community outreach. All total, these unique contributions were $147 million statewide in 2006. “This last year, we offered free health screenings at five or six different events, along with ongoing provision of health information and education,” said Boardman. “All these have costs associated with them but they are important to preserve the health of our community.”

When those and other contributions by Minnesota hospitals are considered, Minnesota hospitals’ 2006 community contributions total $2.7 billion. To view the statewide report, visit www.mnhospitals.org.

“We will be sharing more information about our community benefits and the ways we live out our mission at RiverView’s annual meeting on January 28th,” stated Boardman. “We hope we will have a good turnout from our community membership to hear our story.”

RiverView Health in Crookston, Minnesota is kicking off a new program designed to connect the women of the region with needed health information, services and programs. Entitled My New View-A Health Connection for Women, this free membership program will collect information from females of all ages on their unique health interests, personal health concerns and history, as well as their personal demographic information. Based on information collected from My New View membership, RiverView will help women gets answers to their health and wellness questions and meet their individual medical needs. My New View will provide features that take advantage of the convenience of the Internet, but will also offer opportunities for those less technology- savvy. “We recognize that more and more women are using the Internet to research their families’ health needs and problems,” said Joy Johnson, Vice President of Planning and Ancillary Services at RiverView Health, “but we also recognize that many women are still looking for information through more traditional channels such as health seminars and written publications. Our program will strive to serve both.”

Starting in May of this year, women will be asked to fill out a My New View membership application, either on the Internet or on paper. The application will request basic information such as name and address, as well as a brief inventory of health interests and concerns. This data will begin to create a basis for upcoming health education programs and resource development for women and their families.

“Women are such a vital part of health decision making for every member of the family,” said Deb Boardman, President/CEO at RiverView Health. “Whether it is for their children, their spouse, an aging parent or themselves, women need to have access to the latest health information and programs designed to meet their unique needs. Knowing what women need and want in terms of healthcare is top priority for us,” Boardman added.

In the near future, RiverView Health will be hosting a kick off event for the My New View program, as well as other activities to inform women of the new program and encourage them to enroll. Those interested in becoming members of My New View are asked to call 218-281-9405.