4A (Expenses $ 349484481 including grants of $ 75590) (Revenue $ 349622408)
"Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center (""Fort Sanders Regional"") traces its beginnings to May 1919, when a group of physicians received a charter from the State of Tennessee for a new hospital to be built on the site of the Civil War Battle of Fort Sanders. Fort Sanders Regional has grown throughout its 100-year history to include 517 acute care beds serving 45 specialties, including the 73-bed Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center, and 24 beds in the Fort Sanders Transitional Care Unit. SERVICEThe hospital is known for excellence in stroke care, cardiology, surgery, oncology, orthopedics, obstetrics, bariatrics, and rehabilitation medicine. In 2021, Fort Sanders Regional completed a $115-million building project to expand emergency and critical care capacity in the region. The hospital's new emergency department opened on March 7, 2020, and critical care department opened on February 24, 2021.In 2021, Fort Sanders Transitional Care Unit received a 5 star overall rating by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services.Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center served 232,945 patients in 2021. Of these, 213,914 were outpatients and 19,031 were inpatients, with an average length-of-stay of 5.26 days. PUTTING PATIENTS FIRSTAs a neuroscience and rehabilitation center of excellence, Fort Sanders Regional has made a commitment to providing the latest advancements for neurological care, including stereotactic neurosurgery and neuro-interventional radiology. When coupled with its comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation center, the neuroscience and rehabilitation program provides programs to optimize clinical and functional patient outcomes.Neurologic technology at the hospital includes an innovative 3D-imaging system that uses global positioning technology to give physicians real-time views inside the body, without radiation, and facilitates less invasive and more precise surgeries. Fort Sanders Regional also offers diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis.Fort Sanders Regional continued to invest in technology and services to care for the people of East Tennessee. In 2021, the hospital announced the opening of the first Epilepsy Monitoring Unit in East Tennessee, bringing quality care for epileptic patients closer to home. Additionally this year, the hospital installed the latest stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) platform, the Leksell Gamma Knife Icon, to expand options for treating benign and malignant brain tumors and other neurological disorders. Fort Sanders Regional is designated by The Joint Commission as a Comprehensive Stroke and Rehabilitation Center of Excellence specializing in the acute management of strokes, including advanced treatment and research. Fort Sanders Regional is the hub of Covenant Health's stroke hospital network, which links Covenant Health's member hospitals in providing access to collaborative, rapid, advanced stroke care throughout our region. Fort Sanders Regional is also home to the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center (""PNRC""), an award-winning rehabilitation center which serves more than 600 inpatients annually. PNRC is East Tennessee's recognized leader in helping stroke, spinal cord, brain injury, and orthopedic patients rebuild their lives through rehabilitation services. Opened in 1978, PNRC offers a comprehensive team-approach to care. Physical, occupational, recreational, behavioral medicine and speech language therapists work with rehabilitation nurses and physiatrists (doctors whose specialty is physical medicine and rehabilitation) to develop individual care plans to help patients reach their recovery potential as quickly as possible. PNRC holds 10 separate accreditations from the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and provides an array of inpatient and outpatient services that would otherwise be unavailable in the community. In 2020, Covenant Health announced a joint venture with Encompass Health to own and operate Covenant Health's Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center. Plans include building a new 51-bed, freestanding inpatient rehabilitation hospital on Covenant Health's Fort Sanders West campus in Knoxville, while renovating the existing Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center to a 22-bed hospital-in-hospital structure. Both construction projects are underway. Fort Sanders Regional's award-winning Heart Center offers comprehensive cardiovascular services that span the continuum of heart care, from testing and advanced diagnostics to interventional technologies, cardiovascular surgeries, clinical trials and cardiac rehabilitation. Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center is also recognized for excellence in surgery. The bariatric surgery program, which helps people who are morbidly obese reverse or eliminate medical risks associated with obesity through surgical treatment, is accredited as a Comprehensive Center under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program. Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center has received the Blue Cross BlueShield Blue Distinction designation for bariatrics, spine surgery, knee and hip surgery, and maternity care. In 2021, a total of 10,046 patients underwent surgery at Fort Sanders Regional in specialty areas, including: cardiothoracic, cardiovascular, colon/rectal, neurosurgery, orthopedic, plastic, sinus and other ear, nose, and throat procedures, oncology, thoracic, and vascular.Fort Sanders Regional also offers surgical oncology, the surgical management of cancer. Surgical oncologists may specialize in thoracic or gynecological procedures, along with other sub-specialties to help cancer patients. IMPROVING THE COMMUNITY'S QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH BETTER HEALTHFort Sanders Regional Medical Center is committed to building a healthy community through these and other initiatives: -The Innovative Recreation Cooperative at PNRC offers new and creative ways for individuals recovering from disabling illnesses or injuries to participate in adaptive sports and recreational activities.-Fort Sanders Regional's bariatric surgery seminars and support groups provide vital information to patients considering bariatric surgery, and offer pre- and post-surgical support. -The Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury, Brain Injury and Amputee support groups at Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center help patients and families heal by bringing together those with common experiences who can provide group members with comfort, encouragement and advice. -Fort Sanders Regional's Teddy Bear University classes provide information and support for new parents, siblings and grandparents as they welcome a new baby. Class topics include pregnancy and childbirth, breastfeeding and more.COVENANT HEALTHFort Sanders Regional Medical Center is member of Covenant Health. Covenant Health is a comprehensive, community-owned health system dedicated to improving the health of the people it serves. Established in 1996 by the consolidation of Fort Sanders Health System, Knoxville, Tennessee, and MMC HealthCare System in Oak Ridge, Covenant Health is governed by a voluntary board of directors comprised of community leaders and medical professionals. With more than 11,000 employees, affiliated physicians and volunteers, Covenant Health is the Knoxville area's largest employer and has been named a Best Employer seven times by Forbes. Covenant Health includes nine acute care hospitals in East Tennessee: Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center and Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville, Fort Loudoun Medical Center in Lenoir City, LeConte Medical Center in Sevierville, Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System in Morristown, Roane Medical Center in Harriman, Claiborne Medical Center in Tazewell and Cumberland Medical Center in Crossville. It also includes Peninsula, a division of Parkwest Medical Center, a behavioral health hospital in Blount County, Tennessee. The health system also includes Covenant Medical Group, which includes more than 200 physicians and advanced practice clinicians in office locations throughout East Tennessee."

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center
"Part V, Section B, Line 5: In conducting its most recent Community Health Needs Assessment (""CHNA""), Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center (""FSRMC"") partnered with the Knox County Health Department (""KCHD"") and the Community Health Council (""Health Council""). Community hospitals worked collaboratively with KCHD and the Health Council along with local healthcare providers, governmental agencies, and dozens of community stakeholders.KCHD convened monthly data group meetings with assessment partners to organize and coordinate the qualitative and quantitative data collection efforts. The qualitative data consisted of 10 focus groups consisting of 66 participants, 10 key informant interviews, and a quality of life survey with more than 600 responses. A Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (BRFS) and Youth Risk Factor Survey (YRFS) were conducted as well. Epidemiology staff compared local and state level data, data from the surveys, and mortality and disease prevalence data. KCHD released a summary of initial Community Health Assessment findings to the public in June 2019. Feedback was solicited via presentations to community groups and an online and paper survey."

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center
"Part V, Section B, Line 6a: Knox County hospitals who participated in the ""Together! Healthy Knox"" initiative included Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, Parkwest Medical Center, East Tennessee Children's Hospital, and The University of Tennessee Medical Center."

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center
"Part V, Section B, Line 6b: The CHNA could not have been completed without the leadership of KCHD and the ""Together! Healthy Knox"" Leadership Team. Their expertise, use of the national Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) process, meeting facilitation and guidance ultimately resulted in the most comprehensive health assessment process ever undertaken in Knox County. Other community organizations who participated in the CHNA process were Child and Family Tennessee, City of Knoxville, Knoxville Academy of Medicine, Knoxville Area Coalition on Childhood Obesity, Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, Knoxville Police Department, Knoxville Community Development Corporation, Helen Ross McNabb Center, Interfaith Health Clinic, Knox County Government, Metropolitan Drug Commission, and community members from many other organizations. A more extensive list is published in the assessment."

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center
Part V, Section B, Line 11: Of the significant findings from the assessment, FSRMC is focusing its resources on the following:1. Mental HealthBehavioral Health Services Expansion - Psych consult services using tele-video programming are now being supported by Peninsula Behavioral Health, a department of Parkwest Medical Center. FSRMC partially subsidizes a psychiatrist and a nurse practitioner to provide in-house emergency department consultations on site. - FSRMC, with funding support from the Covenant Health Department of Philanthropy, implemented an Emergency Department Diversion Program in 2021. A team of medical and behavioral specialists will conduct a behavioral assessment and develop a treatment plan proposal to meet the identified needs. An outreach specialist will follow up with patients to oversee the implementation plan.Interfaith Health Clinic Support - FSRMC has a long-standing history of supporting the Interfaith Health Clinic of Knoxville. Interfaith provides primary care and mental health services for the uninsured working poor. In addition to $60,000 of financial support, FSRMC also provides lab services and other diagnostic services for the clinic. Patients who need hospitalization are provided care on a sliding scale fee structure. 2. Substance AbusePeninsula Drug Treatment Program - FSRMC can now refer their patients to the Peninsula Medication Assistance Treatment program's center for outpatient services for substance abuse. This program offers specialized medications and intensive therapy to treat substance abuse disorders. Opioid Lite Program - FSRMC's Emergency Department is participating in a system-wide initiative to curb the use of hospital-prescribed opioids. Physicians are prescribing non-opioid drugs when indicated for pain management, during treatment and at hospital discharge.3. ObesityCovenant Health Knoxville Marathon - FSRMC is a major supporter of the annual Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon which is held in partnership with the Knoxville Track Club. To prioritize community health and safety, the 17th annual event was held virtually and participants were encouraged to run or walk the course on their own over a 9-day virtual race period. Local neighborhoods, greenways, and trails are incorporated into the course. In 2021, 3,814 people participated in the event.HealthQuest Marathon Challenge - FSRMC employees participated in the first annual HealthQuest Marathon Challenge. Employees signed up to participate in one of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon events including the marathon, half-marathon, 2- or 4- person relay teams or a 5K. Teams competed with other Covenant Health hospital member organizations for points. Nearly 185 employees system-wide participated in 2021. - FSRMC offers a bariatric surgery program to benefit morbidly obese people or those with obesity-related illness who have been unable to lose weight through other methods.

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center
Part V, Section B, Line 16j: All other ways in which the hospital widely publicizes the FAP are discussed in detail in Part VI, Line 3.

Part V, line 7a, CHNA website
https://www.fsregional.com/community-health-needs-assessment/

Part V, line 10a, Implementation Strategy Website
https://www.fsregional.com/community-health-needs-assessment/

Part V, Line 20d, Presumptive Eligibility Determinations
The hospital follows the eligibility procedures as detailed within the FAP and does not make presumptive eligibility determinations.

Part I, Line 3c:
"In addition to the Federal Poverty Guidelines (""FPG""), FSRMC utilizes an asset test as a factor in determining eligibility for free or discounted care. Ten percent (10%) of the patient/guarantor's net assets will be added to income for determination of total annual income. The guidelines for determining assets include, but are not limited to, primary dwelling (and attached land), automobiles, liquid assets, investments, farm land, business property, rental property, farm and/or business equipment including livestock and crops. All real property will be considered at fair market value. The values of both real and personal property will be reduced by any existing liabilities incurred by the applicant in obtaining the assets (net assets) with the exception of primary dwelling. The primary dwelling net asset will be the amount of equity above $100,000. Actual or potential third party liability to the patient, hospital or the guarantor by common law, contract, statute or otherwise, shall be considered an asset and must be listed on the Hospital Financial Assistance application."

Part I, Line 6a:
Covenant Health, the parent company of FSRMC and other affiliated acute care hospitals, prepares an annual Report to the Community on behalf of the entire system.

Part I, Line 7:
Amounts on Lines 7a-7c and certain program costs included on Line 7g are from the hospital's cost accounting system, which addresses all patient segments. Other community benefit expenses are at cost from the general ledger.

Part I, Line 7g:
Subsidized health services includes the difference between the cost of services and the payments received for those services. The cost of providing dialysis exceeded the payments received by $1,368,426 and the cost of services from the Patricia Neal O/P Clinics exceeded payments received by $5,252,458. The total also includes $15,322,223 in physician sponsorship fees. All subsidized health services included on line 7g are for services that would otherwise be unavailable in the community or be below the community's needs.

Part I, Ln 7 Col(f):
The Bad Debt expense included on Form 990, Part IX, Line 24a, but subtracted for purposes of calculating the percentage in this column is $19,370,482.

Part II, Community Building Activities:
FSRMC cares for the whole person and recognizes that improved social and economic conditions may lead to the improved health and well-being of the community. The hospital's community building activities and those of its parent organization, Covenant Health, address many of the root causes of health problems, such as poverty and homelessness, and help find solutions to alleviate the symptoms.An allocation of the Parent's community building expenditures has been made to each member hospital in proportion to the financial contribution of each to the health system. Covenant Health is not a hospital and does not file Schedule H with its Form 990. Contributions in 2021 were made to organizations meeting the community's needs by providing: - The basic needs of life including temporary shelter, food and clothing (Catholic Charities, Ladies of Charity, Knoxville Area Urban League and Knox County Community Action Committee) - Youth mentoring, development and after-school programs (Emerald Youth Foundation, Boys and Girls Club, Knox Education Foundation, Young Life, City Shepherds, First Tee of Knoxville and Great Smoky Mountain Council) - Business recruitment and marketing initiatives that boost economic development (Legacy Parks Foundation and Pellissippi State Foundation) - Leadership development programs and workshops (Knoxville Area Urban League and Leadership Knoxville) - Assistance and special programs for at risk older adults, people with physical and mental challenges, and abused and neglected children (Senior Citizens Home Assist, Sertoma Center, Inc. and Senior Citizens Love) - Improve access to health services (East TN Children's Hospital, Interfaith Health Clinic, St. Mary's Legacy Clinic and Region II Emergency Medical Services) - Programs supporting patients and their families (Alzheimer's Tennessee, American Cancer Society, Angel Wings Memory Gowns, Random Acts of Flowers, Cancer Support Community, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society)

Part III, Line 2:
Bad debt expense on Part III, Line 2 is the amount recorded in the organization's financial statements. Discounts and payments on patient accounts are netted against bad debt. The allowance for bad debt is determined based on management's assessment of factors including the age of the accounts, historical collections data, and industry standards.

Part III, Line 3:
At regular intervals, the Vice President of Revenue Cycle analyzes all self-pay accounts receivables to identify patients who may have been eligible for charity care during a particular period or year. Because this analysis does not yield a final determination of eligibility due to various factors including but not limited to charity applications still in process, failure of eligible patients to submit their charity application, and applications still under consideration, further analysis of the accounts comprising the self-pay accounts receivable is conducted. The accounts for which a patient was contacted to apply for charity care include an identifier; these charity-identified accounts are then categorized according to status. A ratio of the dollar amounts of those accounts whose charity application is in process or has been approved divided by the total self-pay accounts receivable is computed. This ratio is applied to the bad debt expense total to determine the estimated amount of the bad debt expense attributable to patients eligible for charity care according to the hospital's policy.

Part III, Line 4:
Note B to the 2021 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Covenant Health system, of which FSRMC is a member, states: Patient accounts receivable are reported net of an estimated allowance for contractual adjustments and an allowance for implicit price concessions. Covenant's policy does not require collateral or other security for patient accounts receivable and Covenant routinely accepts assignment of, or is otherwise entitled to receive, patient benefits payable under health insurance programs, plans or policies.

Part III, Line 8:
Costing Methodology: FSRMC used a combination of sources in calculating Medicare allowable costs on Part III, Line 6 including its cost accounting system, general ledger accounting system, and facility-specific analyses and calculations.

Part VI, Line 2:
While the CHNA is a formal means by which the health system assesses the needs of the community, there are many informal networks that give the Covenant Health hospitals a sense of community issues and needs. FSRMC obtains additional community information through the service of its employees with organizations including the Interfaith Health Clinic, local Chambers of Commerce and Rotary clubs, the Knoxville Area Coalition on Childhood Obesity, Knox Area Project Access, and the United Way of Greater Knoxville. Covenant Health, the parent organization, maintains community benefit professionals working year-round to ensure that all hospitals are assessing and addressing the needs of the communities served.

Part III, Line 9b:
"FSRMC utilizes a look-back method to determine amounts generally billed (""AGB"") to establish the maximum amount that will be charged to individuals eligible under the financial assistance policy (""FAP"") for emergency or other medically necessary care. Self-pay patients automatically receive a 69% discount on charges based on the facility's calculated AGB. Federal poverty guidelines are utilized in the determination of charity care eligibility. Patients who are unable to pay and have exhausted all sources of payment assistance may qualify for charity care. A sliding scale is used for extending charity care utilizing the income levels reported under the federal poverty guidelines. Patients/guarantors with income that falls below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines receive 100% charity care. Patients/guarantors with income of 201-300% of the federal poverty guidelines receive 90% charity care. For catastrophic illness, exceptions to income and asset limitations may be made on a case-by-case basis. The amount considered for charity will be based upon the evaluation of the patient's/guarantor's ability to pay.FSRMC makes reasonable efforts to determine a patient's eligibility under the facility FAP. All collection activity will be halted if a charity application is received and will remain on hold until a determination is made by FSRMC and communicated in writing to the responsible party. If the charity application is approved, all collection activities taken will be reversed and any amounts paid above the amount required will be refunded. Patients/guarantors who qualify for partial financial assistance are responsible for paying any balance remaining after the charity adjustment and third party payments. FSRMC will not engage in extraordinary collection actions (""ECA"") before it makes reasonable efforts to determine whether an individual who has an unpaid bill is eligible for financial assistance. Reasonable efforts to determine whether the individual who has an unpaid bill is eligible for financial assistance include notification to the individual of the FAP, contacting individuals who have submitted incomplete financial assistance applications regarding how to complete the application and allowing a reasonable time period to do so, and reviewing completed applications for financial assistance eligibility. FSRMC does not sell any accounts receivable accounts to outside firms. All accounts remain property of and under the policies set by FSRMC. FSRMC will not defer or deny medically necessary care because of nonpayment for previously provided care whether it was covered or not covered under the charity program."

Part VI, Line 3:
The FAP states that patients who are unable to pay or have exhausted all sources of payment assistance may be considered for charity care. Signage about the policy is posted in highly visible areas of the hospital, such as lobbies and registration areas. Information about the FAP is posted in patient booklets provided to patients during the registration process and communicated via patient billing statements. In addition, the FAP and application are available on the facility website. FSRMC employs full time financial counselors to assist patients in applying for TennCare and screening for eligibility for financial assistance. Office hours and the phone number for the counselors are included on the signage. Wall signs informing patients about available financial assistance state the following: Covenant Health is committed to providing quality health services in a caring environment. It is the expressed philosophy of Covenant Health and its member hospitals that no one should be denied necessary medical care because of the inability to pay. In conjunction with this philosophy, counselors at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center are available to assist you with your financial needs. If you are an uninsured person with no public or private source of payment for medical services Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center will provide, at a reduced rate, medically indicated services. A financial counselor is available to assist you with these matters by calling 865-331-1112, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Additional information regarding financial assistance is also available on our website at FSRegional.com. Signage at the registration areas state the following:It is Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center's philosophy that no one shall be denied medically necessary services based on an inability to pay. Financial assistance applications for medically necessary services are available during the registration process, through a financial counselor, or on our website at FSRegional.com. A financial counselor is available to assist you with these matters by calling 865-331-1112, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Part VI, Line 5:
FSRMC, in conjunction with its parent company, Covenant Health, uses any available surplus of receipts over disbursements to expand and modernize the facility and to support the education of healthcare professionals, both of which serve to improve patient care and serve the unmet needs of the community.Covenant Health's Board of Directors serves as FSRMC's board. The board is comprised of independent community leaders with diverse educational and professional backgrounds. The board provides governance and oversight of FSRMC.FSRMC maintains an open medical staff, with privileges available to all qualified physicians. Additionally, the hospital operates an active and accessible emergency department that accepts all patients regardless of ability to pay.

Part VI, Line 4:
FSRMC is located in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. Although located in metropolitan Knox County, FSRMC receives many specialty referrals from outlying hospitals and physicians and serves patients from 16 diverse counties, a mix of urban, suburban and rural. According to internal hospital data for 2021, 53% of the inpatients and 61% of outpatient cases were from Knox County. According to 2021 data from the County Health Ranking report of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the population of Knox County is 470,313. The percent of the population that is 65 years or older constitute 16.2% of the residents. The unemployment rate in 2021 was 2.9%. According to the 2021 County Health Rankings Report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, Knox County residents have the following health indicators that are at or above the national benchmarks: Knox - TN - National Adult Smoking: 19% - 21% - 16% Adult Obesity: 29% - 33% - 26% Drug Overdose Deaths: 52 - 28 - 11 per 100,000 population Teen Birthrate: 19 - 29 - 12 of every 1,000 teenage girls

Part VI, Line 6:
"FSRMC, as a member of the Covenant Health system, benefits from the collaboration among all affiliated organizations to promote quality improvement, patient safety and efficient delivery of care for the communities served. As a system, Covenant assures that business processes are in place at each facility to measure and report quality; to increase the role of compliance; and to integrate risk management, utilization review, peer review, mandatory reporting and quality improvement into one cohesive function. In this way the system is able to use analytic tools to help identify any systemic inability to satisfy the various requirements on the part of the facilities. FSRMC, as a regional referral hospital, provides a wide range of acute care services, many of which are unique in the Covenant system. These services are therefore more easily accessible by other affiliated hospitals and health care organizations through transfer or referral, helping to create a seamless continuum of care. The hospital, through its Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center division, is the only acute inpatient rehabilitation facility in the Covenant system and the largest such provider in the service area. Programming includes specialized services for stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury and other difficult patient populations with the primary goal of returning the patient home with the greatest gain in functional ability possible. FSRMC also provides hospital-based skilled nursing care which serves as either a bridge back home or as an important step along the continuum of care to other long-term care resources. FSRMC provides other important services unique to the Covenant system including high risk obstetrical services and home infusion. These services are important to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations through the provision of effective community-based care. FSRMC also provides other extensive outpatient services through its ambulatory infusion centers, physical therapy centers, a wound care center, and its cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs. FSRMC's patients benefit from the availability of and ease of access to Covenant affiliated entities for services not provided by the hospital itself. Transfer or referral to such services is expedited and coordinated to help create a seamless continuum of care. A full range of community mental health and psychiatric hospital services are available within the system which help support the hospital's emergency room as well as provide an accessible and efficient pathway for those patients who require such services post discharge. Home health and hospice services are also an important part of the continuum of care for a large portion of the hospital's patient population. The Covenant Health system also enhances the patient's access to care through the provision of outpatient services in a variety of settings located throughout the service area.The Fort Sanders Foundation (""the Foundation"") seeks out community support for FSRMC and other Covenant Health hospitals through a variety of fundraising mechanisms. For example, the Fort Sanders Foundation helps to arrange sponsorship for significant fundraising activities of the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center division of the hospital including an annual golf tournament that has become the largest, single day fundraising event in the state of Tennessee. The proceeds of these events help fund needed equipment and facilities for the center as well as to provide access to the center's services for uninsured or underinsured individuals who are in need of intensive rehabilitation but may otherwise be denied such services due to the lack of resources. The Fort Sanders Nursing Department at Tennessee Wesleyan College is an important affiliate of FSRMC. The school provides baccalaureate nursing education, helping to alleviate a shortage of registered nurses to serve a growing and aging population. It is a continuation of a nursing education tradition of the hospital that began more than eighty years ago. The hospital provides a substantial financial contribution to support the program. Training qualified nursing professionals to serve the current or future needs of the community is an important hospital mission.Through this combination of resources and the collective development, implementation and monitoring of clinical protocols and other improvement initiatives, the affiliated entities of Covenant Health are able to deliver higher quality care in a more efficient manner than could be achieved working independently."