The Value of Our Community Benefit
Over my 10 years of service on the board of Children’s Health System, I have seen time and again that for every sick and injured child who comes through the doors of CHKD, our caregivers have one focus only: returning each child to health. When it comes to fulfilling that mission, the family’s ability to pay is irrelevant.
It’s a commitment CHKD made more than 50 years ago: assuming the financial responsibility of caring for all children, knowing we will never be fully reimbursed for many of the services we render. Yet parents and fellow healthcare providers also trust us to fill the equally essential role as the regional referral center for pediatrics, leading the way in pediatric technology, training and care.
CHKD has been able to meet both commitments because year after year, the community we serve comes through to support our mission. Your generous and steadfast support is the reason why in 2011, the monetary value of the community benefits we provided grew to $63.84 million, an increase of $13.65 million over 2010.
This special edition of Kidstuff offers insight into our community benefit programs –– measured for accounting purposes as our costs, after reimbursements, of providing medical care, community and medical education, and support services available nowhere else in our region.
As you read about our services, please remember that CHKD could not provide them without its compassionate family of donors, doctors, caregivers and employees. On behalf of the children we care for, thank you for enabling CHKD to serve the community.
Sincerely,
John Lawson, Chairman
Children's Health System
Community Benefit Snapshot
As a nonprofit organization, we consider every service we provide at CHKD to be a benefit to the community. However, in the world of IRS reporting, the term “community benefit” is taking on new meaning.
Specifically, community benefit refers to programs or activities that provide treatment or promote health and healing in response to identified community needs. Community benefit activities also meet at least one of the following goals: improving access to care, enhancing public health, advancing knowledge or relieving government burden.
Last year (July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011), according to this definition, CHKD provided more than $63 million in community benefit services.
2011 Total Community Benefit: $63.84 million
(Community Benefit Services by Category)
Subsidized Health Services: $30.63 million
As Virginia’s only full-service, freestanding children’s hospital, CHKD is committed to providing a comprehensive range of pediatric medical and surgical specialties, despite sustaining financial losses on a number of clinical programs. This enables children to access the care they need in an environment that is rich with collaborative pediatric expertise and geared exclusively to their unique medical and developmental needs.
Community Health Improvement: $13.62 million
CHKD commits significant resources to improving the health and well-being of children and families, emphasizing education, prevention and safety.
Charity Care and Unreimbursed Medicaid: $12.94 million
CHKD provides care to all children, regardless of the family’s ability to pay, and assumes responsibility for the difference between the cost of providing care to Medicaid patients and reimbursements from the Medicaid program.
Education of Health Professionals and Research: $6.65 million
The education and training of pediatric leaders is a core element of CHKD’s mission.
To read our complete 2011 Community Benefit Report in an online magazine format, click here. Right mouse click to zoom in or out.
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To read our complete 2011 Community Benefit Report as a PDF, click here. 
To read our complete 2010 Community Benefit Report as a PDF, click here.