HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland generates $86.8M annual impact
A new report says HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland is making a community impact, with 198 full-time equivalent health-care professionals, resulting in 260 additional jobs and a total annual impact of $86,782,045 on the local and state economies.
The report, “HSHS St. Joseph’s Highland: Our Impact on the Economy,” was developed in conjunction with the Illinois Health and Hospital Association and its statewide economic impact report, Illinois Hospitals and Health Systems $95.3 Billion State Economic Impact.
“We are proud to serve our community by both providing essential health care services and strengthening our local and state economy,” said John Ludwig, president and CEO of HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland. “By employing highly skilled health-care professionals and spurring more economic activity through our spending on goods, services and capital improvements such as the establishment of our new private outpatient waiting area and reconstruction of the Women and Children’s Center to include a private lactation room and a separate space for 3D mammography, St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland has a critical role in the local and state economies.”
“To continue to retain and create jobs, attract businesses to our community, and provide access to high-quality health care services, Illinois hospitals must have the funding support they need to remain fiscally sound,” said Ludwig.
Among the report’s key findings:
• HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland employs 198 FTE health care professionals, expending $15,660,377 a year on payroll, creating an additional 290 jobs for the local economy and generating approximately $37,389,377 in economic activity in the community.
• HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland spends $20,590,947 on goods and services, resulting in $49,292,668 in economic activity in the local and state economies.
• HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland has a total annual economic impact of $86,782,045.
HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland continually takes steps to boost the local economy and advance health care services offered to the residents of this region. For example, St. Joseph’s Hospital has the Friends Van program, which brings those who cannot drive or do not have means for transportation to medical appointments, dental appointments, the grocery store, etc. at no charge.
According to the report, during the last fiscal year (July 1, 2016-June 30, 2017), St. Joseph’s provided $3.5 million in Community Support through benefits to those who are uninsured/underinsured and for community health services. Included in this amount was $762,000 provided for Charity Care at cost and $2.3 million for unreimbursed care provided under the Medicaid program and other public programs. The remaining amount of Community Benefit funds were invested in areas such as research, education for health professionals, and other community health services.
IHA’s statewide report, “Illinois Hospitals and Health Systems $95.3 billion State Economic Impact” is available on IHA’s Web site, team-iha.org.
