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Advocate Sherman Hospital
Advocate Sherman Hospital
1425 North Randall RoadElgin, IL 60123
| Bed count | 255 | Medicare provider number | 140030 | Member of the Council of Teaching Hospitals | NO | Children's hospital | NO |
EIN: 362167920
Display data for year:
Community Benefit Spending- 2021
(as % of functional expenses, which all tax-exempt organizations report on Form 990 Schedule H)
(as % of functional expenses, which all tax-exempt organizations report on Form 990 Schedule H)
3.95%
Spending by Community Benefit Category- 2021
(as % of total functional expenses)
(as % of total functional expenses)
Community Benefit Spending Compared to Functional Expenses, 2010-2021
Additional data
Community Benefit Expenditures: 2021
All tax-exempt organizations file a Form 990 with the IRS for every tax year. If the tax-exempt organization operates one or more hospital facilities during the tax year, the organization must attach a Schedule H to Form 990. On Part I of Schedule H, the organization records the expenditures it made during the tax year for various types of community benefits; 9 types are shown on this web tool. By default, this web tool presents community benefit expenditures as a percentage of the organization’s functional expenses, which it reports on Form 990, Part IX, Line 25, Column A. (The more commonly heard term, ‘total operating expenses’, which organizations report to CMS, is generally about 90% of the ‘functional expenses’). The user may change the default to see the dollar expenditures.
Operating expenses $ 459,672,957 Total amount spent on community benefits as % of operating expenses$ 18,148,308 3.95 %- Amount spent in the following IRS community benefit categories:
Financial Assistance at cost as % of operating expenses$ 10,396,911 2.26 %Medicaid as % of operating expenses$ 2,042,505 0.44 %Costs of other means-tested government programs as % of operating expenses$ 0 0 %Health professions education as % of operating expenses$ 3,915,884 0.85 %Subsidized health services as % of operating expenses$ 445,680 0.10 %Research as % of operating expenses$ 0 0 %Community health improvement services and community benefit operations*
as % of operating expensesNote: these two community benefit categories are reported together on the Schedule H, part I, line 7e.$ 1,199,603 0.26 %Cash and in-kind contributions for community benefit* as % of operating expenses$ 147,725 0.03 %Community building*
as % of operating expenses$ 0 0 %- * = CBI denoted preventative categories
- Community building activities details:
Did tax-exempt hospital report community building activities? Not available Number of activities or programs (optional) 0 Physical improvements and housing 0 Economic development 0 Community support 0 Environmental improvements 0 Leadership development and training for community members 0 Coalition building 0 Community health improvement advocacy 0 Workforce development 0 Other 0 Persons served (optional) 0 Physical improvements and housing 0 Economic development 0 Community support 0 Environmental improvements 0 Leadership development and training for community members 0 Coalition building 0 Community health improvement advocacy 0 Workforce development 0 Other 0 Community building expense
as % of operating expenses$ 0 0 %Physical improvements and housing as % of community building expenses$ 0 Economic development as % of community building expenses$ 0 Community support as % of community building expenses$ 0 Environmental improvements as % of community building expenses$ 0 Leadership development and training for community members as % of community building expenses$ 0 Coalition building as % of community building expenses$ 0 Community health improvement advocacy as % of community building expenses$ 0 Workforce development as % of community building expenses$ 0 Other as % of community building expenses$ 0 Direct offsetting revenue $ 0 Physical improvements and housing $ 0 Economic development $ 0 Community support $ 0 Environmental improvements $ 0 Leadership development and training for community members $ 0 Coalition building $ 0 Community health improvement advocacy $ 0 Workforce development $ 0 Other $ 0
Other Useful Tax-exempt Hospital Information: 2021
In addition to community benefit and community building expenditures, the Schedule H worksheet includes sections on what percentage of bad debt can be attributable to patients eligible for financial assistance, and questions on the tax-exempt hospital's debt collection policy. When searching a specific tax-exempt hospital in this web tool, Section II provides information about bad debt and the financial assistance policy, and whether the state in which the tax-exempt hospital resides has expanded Medicaid coverage under the federal ACA.
Of the tax-exempt hospital’s overall operating expenses, amount reported as bad debt
as % of operating expenses$ 21,359,456 4.65 %Is the tax-exempt hospital considered a "sole community hospital" under the Medicare program? NO - Information about the tax-exempt hospital's Financial Assistance Policy and Debt Collection Policy
The Financial Assistance Policy section of Schedule H has changed over the years. The questions listed below reflect the questions on the 2009-2011 Schedule H forms and the answers tax-exempt hospitals provided for those years. The Financial Assistance Policy requirements were changed under the ACA. In the future, as the Community Benefit Insight web site is populated with 2021 data and subsequent years, the web tool will also be updated to reflect the new wording and requirements. In the meantime, if you have any questions about this section, we encourage you to contact your tax-exempt hospital directly.
Does the organization have a written financial assistance (charity care) policy? YES Did the tax-exempt hospital rely upon Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) to determine when to provide free or discounted care for patients? YES Amount of the tax-exempt hospital’s bad debt (at cost) attributed to patients eligible under the organization’s financial assistance (charity care) policy
as % of operating expenses$ 309,129 1.45 %- Did the tax-exempt hospital, or an authorized third party, take any of the following collection activities before determining whether the patient was eligible for financial assistance:
Reported to credit agency YES Under the ACA, states have the choice to expand Medicaid eligibility for their residents up to 138% of the federal poverty guidelines. The Medicaid expansion provision of the ACA did not go into effect until January 2014, so data in this web tool will not reflect each state's current Medicaid eligibility threshold. For up to date information, please visit the Terms and Glossary under the Resources tab.
After enactment of the ACA, has the state in which this tax-exempt hospital is located expanded Medicaid? YES The federal poverty guidelines (FPG) are set by the government and used to determine eligibility for many federal financial assistance programs. Tax-exempt hospitals often use FPG guidelines in their Financial Assistance policies to determine which patients will qualify for free or discounted care.
If not, is the state's Medicaid threshold for working parents at or below 76% of the federal poverty guidelines? Not available In addition to the federal requirements, some states have laws stipulating community benefit requirements as a result of tax-exemption. The laws vary from state to state and may require the tax-exempt hospitals to submit community benefit reports. Data on this web tool captures whether or not a state had a mandatory community benefit reporting law as of 2011. For more information, please see Community Benefit State Law Profiles Comparison at The Hilltop Institute.
Does the state in which the tax-exempt hospital is located have a mandatory community benefit reporting statute? YES
Community Health Needs Assessment Activities: 2021
The ACA requires all 501(c)(3) tax-exempt hospitals to conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) every three years, starting with the hospital's tax year beginning after March 23, 2012. The 2011 Schedule H included an optional section of questions on the CHNA process. This web tool includes responses for those hospitals voluntary reporting this information. The web tool will be updated to reflect changes in these questions on the 2012 and subsequent Schedule H forms.
Did the tax-exempt hospital report that they had conducted a CHNA? YES Did the CHNA define the community served by the tax-exempt hospital? YES Did the CHNA consider input from individuals that represent the broad interests of the community served by the tax-exempt hospital? YES Did the tax-exempt hospital make the CHNA widely available (i.e. post online)? YES Did the tax-exempt hospital adopt an implementation strategy to address the community needs identified by the CHNA? YES
Supplemental Information: 2021
This section presents qualitative information submitted by the hospital, verbatim from the 990H record.
- Statement of Program Service Accomplishments
Description of the organization's program service accomplishments for each of its three largest program services, as measured by expenses. Section 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations are required to report the amount of grants and allocations to others, the total expenses, and revenue, if any, for each program service reported.
4A (Expenses $ 438095230 including grants of $ 26300) (Revenue $ 462691195) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (CHARITY CARE) AND TRAUMA CARE. PROVIDING INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY REGARDLESS OF THE PATIENTS' ABILITY TO PAY.AS PART OF ITS COMMUNITY HEALTH STRATEGY, ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL (ADVOCATE SHERMAN) IS COMMITTED TO PROMOTING INITIATIVES THAT ENAHANCE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR THE UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE PROVISION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. ADVOCATE SHERMAN OFFERS A VERY GENEROUS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, REQUIRING NO PAYMENTS FROM THE PATIENTS MOST IN NEED, AND PROVIDING DISCOUNTS TO UNINSURED AND INSURED PATIENTS. PATIENTS EARNING UP TO SIX TIMES THE FPL, AND INSURED PATIENTS EARNING UP TO TWO AND HALF TIMES THE FPL, MAY QUALIFY FOR A FULL OR PARTIAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DISCOUNT. ADDITIONALLY, A CATASTROPHIC ASSISTANCE DISCOUNT IS AVAILABLE FOR UNINSURED AND INSURED PATIENTS WHOSE INCOMES EXCEED THE TRADITIONAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE INCOME GUIDELINES AND HAVE OUTSTANDING PATIENT BALANCES OF $25,000 OR MORE FOR A SINGLE DATE OF SERVICE OR SUM OF SEVERAL DATES OF SERVICE. THESE PATIENTS MAY QUALIFY TO RECEIVE A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DISCOUNT THAT REDUCES THEIR OUTSTANDING BALANCE TO 25% OF THEIR NET INCOME. FOR UNINSURED PATIENTS, ADVOCATE SHERMAN WILL PRESUMPTIVELY PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IF THE FINANCIAL STATUS HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IN THESE CASES, THE PATIENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A SEPARATE CHARITY APPLICATION. IF PRESUMPTIVE CRITERIA ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR UNINSURED PATIENTS, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY IS AVAILABLE USING AN INCOME-BASED SCREENING. ADVOCATE SHERMAN EXTENDS ITS INCOME-BASED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY TO ITS INSURED PATIENTS AS WELL. THE HOSPITAL CONTINUES TO REVIEW AND REFINE ITS POLICY IN AN ONGOING EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO NEED HELP. THE HOSPITAL MAINTAINS HIGHLY VISIBLE SIGNAGE AND BROCHURES IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES TO INFORM PATIENTS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF FINANCIAL HELP AND FINANCIAL COUNSELORS. INFORMATION ABOUT THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND AN APPLICATION IS PROVIDED TO ALL UNINSURED PATIENTS DURING REGISTRATION AND IS MAILED TO THEM IN ADVANCE OF THE FIRST PATIENT BILLING. AFTER THAT, EACH UNINSURED PATIENT'S BILL INCLUDES SUMMARY INFORMATION REGARDING THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
4B (Expenses $ 3915884 including grants of $ 0) (Revenue $ 0) PROVISION OF NURSING EDUCATION AND OTHER MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS' EDUCATION. ADVOCATE SHERMAN STAFF DEVOTE THEIR TIME TO DEVELOPING PROFICIENCY AND EXCELLENCE IN NURSING STUDENTS SENT TO THE HOSPITAL FROM AREA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. THE HOSPITAL'S REGISTERED NURSES SUPERVISED AND TAUGHT 297 UNDERGRADUATE NURSING STUDENTS AT A COST OF NEARLY $1 MILLION TO THE HOSPITAL IN 2020. ADVOCATE SHERMAN STAFF ALSO TRAIN STUDENTS FROM AREA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN OTHER CLINICAL AREAS AS WELL INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL, SPEECH AND REHABILITATION THERAPY, ULTRASOUND, MAMMOGRAPHY, PHARMACY, LABORATORY, AS WELL AS DIETARY AND HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, AT A COST OF NEARLY $2 MILLION.
4C (Expenses $ 2732552 including grants of $ 0) (Revenue $ 2627565) HEALTH CARE SERVICES PROVIDED BY PHYSICIANS EMPLOYED BY THE ORGANIZATION. ADVOCATE SHERMAN CLINICIANS PROVIDE CARE TO THE COMMUNITY BOTH AT THE HOSPITAL AND IN THE COMMUNITY. ADVOCATE SHERMAN HAS MORE THAN 35 YEARS OF CARDIOVASCULAR EXCELLENCE FOCUSING ON PROACTIVELY PREVENTING, DIAGNOSING AND TREATING AN ARRAY OF HEART CONDITIONS. AS AN ACCREDITED CHEST PAIN CENTER THROUGH THE SOCIETY OF CARDIOVASCULAR PATIENT CARE, ADVOCATE SHERMAN IS DEDICATED TO THE CARE OF ITS CARDIAC PATIENTS. THIS ACCREDITATION MEANS THAT THE HOSPITAL INTEGRATES THE INDUSTRY'S BEST PRACTICES TO PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES IN CARDIAC CARE. THE HOSPITAL'S HEART FAILURE PROGRAM HAS ACHIEVED ADVANCED CERTIFICATION IN HEART FAILURE DESIGNATION FOR BEST PRACTICES IN CARING FOR HEART FAILURE PATIENTS. IN 2021, ADVOCATE SHERMAN PROVIDED 2,532 CARDIAC CATHERIZATIONS AND 92 INPATIENT CARDIOVASCULAR OPEN-HEART SURGERIES. ADVOCATE SHERMAN IS RECOGNIZED AS A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN TREATING DISEASES AND INJURIES OF MUSCLES, BONES AND JOINTS AND IS A LEADER IN STATE-OF-THE-ART ORTHOPEDIC DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT OPTIONS. DEPENDING ON THE INJURY OR ILLNESS, TREATMENT CAN RANGE FROM NON-SURGICAL OPTIONS, SUCH AS CASTS, SPLINTS AND PHYSICAL THERAPY, TO SURGICAL OPTIONS, FROM MINIMALLY INVASIVE ARTHROSCOPY TO TOTAL JOINT REPLACEMENT. IN 2021, ADVOCATE SHERMAN PERFORMED 1,336 ORTHOPEDIC SURGERIES (INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT). ADVOCATE SHERMAN'S CANCER CARE CENTER IS ACCREDITED THROUGH THE COMMISSION ON CANCER (COC) AND THE NATIONAL ACCREDITATION PROGRAM FOR BREAST CENTERS (NAPBC). THE HOSPITAL IS A LEADER IN THE GREATER ELGIN AREA FOR CANCER CAREPROMOTING HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, FOCUSING ON PREVENTIVE AND INNOVATIVE MEDICINE, ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE GENETIC PROGRAM, SECURING NURSE NAVIGATION, ENHANCING THE ONCOLOGY SERVICE LINE (INPATIENT, OUTPATIENT AND COMMUNITY), AS WELL AS PARTNERING WITH THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, LIVING WELL AND JOURNEY CARE. IN ADDITION, THE HOSPITAL PARTICIPATED IN A COLEMAN GRANT FOR SUPPORTIVE ONCOLOGY AND NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE/YALE UNIVERSITY GRANT FOR DISTRESS SCREENING. THE HOSPITAL IS ALSO FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING NEW EDUCATION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS (INCLUDING COLORECTAL CANCER OUTREACH AND SCREENINGS, AND LUNG CANCER SCREENINGS), ENHANCEMENTS TO GENETIC COUNSELING, THE ADDITION OF AN ONCOLOGY NURSE NAVIGATION RESOURCE, INCLUDING AN ONCOLOGY FINANCIAL NAVIGATOR AND A PARTNERSHIP WITH ADVOCATE LUTHERAN GENERAL FOR RESEARCH AND CLINICAL TRIALS. ADVOCATE SHERMAN'S PRIMARY STROKE CENTER IS ACCREDITED THROUGH DET NORSKE VERITAS HEALTHCARE, INC. (DNV HEALTHCARE). THE SCOPE OF THE PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES THE ADULT POPULATION ENTERING THE HOSPITAL WITH A HEMORRHAGIC/ISCHEMIC STROKE OR TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK (TIA) DIAGNOSIS. DATA IS ABSTRACTED, SUBMITTED AND REPORTED THROUGH THE STROKE DATA REGISTRY AND THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES. OTHER IMPORTANT HOSPITAL-BASED SERVICES INCLUDE THE COMPLETE CARE CENTER WHICH INCLUDES NONINVASIVE CARDIOLOGY SERVICES, HEART FAILURE RECOVERY, NEURODIAGNOSTICS, ANTI-COAGULATION, HEALTH MANAGEMENT RESOURCES (HMR) WEIGHT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, DIABETES, WOUND CARE AND HYPERBARIC OXYGEM THERAPY. IN 2021, THE COMPLETE CARE CENTER PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 42,126 PATIENT VISITS FOR ALL SERVICES. HOSPITAL CLINICIANS ALSO PROVIDE CARE TO PATIENTS AT SEVERAL OFF-SITE LOCATIONS INCLUDING THREE IMMEDIATE CARE CENTERS FOR IMAGING, LABORATORY, PHYSICAL REHABILITATION AND PRIMARY CARE SERVICES, AS WELL AS A STAND-ALONE IMAGING CENTER. ADVOCATE SHERMAN CLINICIANS LEAD PRENATAL/ CHILDBIRTH, PARENTING EDUCATION AND DIABETES EDUCATION CLASSES. THE HOSPITAL ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT GROUPS FOCUSED ON INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING WITH HEALTH ISSUES, SUCH AS DIABETES, HEART DISEASE, CANCERS, OSTOMIES AND BREASTFEEDING.
4D (Expenses $ 0 including grants of $ 0) (Revenue $ 0) "DESCRIPTION OF ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL. ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE BASED IN ILLINOIS AND AURORA HEALTH CARE BASED IN WISCONSIN MERGED TO BECOME ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH IN APRIL 2018. ADVOCATE SHERMAN IS A 255-BED NOT-FOR-PROFIT HOSPITAL LOCATED IN ELGIN, ILLINOIS, AND IS ONE OF 27 ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS IN THE ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH SYSTEM. ADVOCATE SHERMAN PROVIDES ACUTE INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT MEDICAL CARE TO INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN THE GREATER ELGIN, ILLINOIS AREA. FOUNDED IN 1888, THE HOSPITAL HAS EXPANDED ITS SERVICES TO SEVERAL OFF-SITE LOCATIONS, INCLUDING THREE IMMEDIATE CARE CENTERS AND A STAND-ALONE IMAGING CENTER. AT ALL THESE SITES OF CARE, THE HOSPITAL'S 732 CREDENTIALED PHYSICIANS AND 1,700 TEAM MEMBERS (EMPLOYEES) PROVIDE QUALITY AND COMPASSIONATE CARE TO INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY FOR SERVICES RECEIVED. THE HOSPITAL HAS OPERATED IN ITS CURRENT LOCATION ON RANDALL ROAD SINCE DECEMBER 2009. ADVOCATE SHERMAN HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO CONTINUALLY IMPROVING PERFORMANCE AND PATIENT CARE AS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH ITS ACHIEVEMENT OF SEVERAL AWARDS. CONSIDERED THE NATIONAL ""GOLD STANDARD"" FOR NURSING EXCELLENCE AMONG HOSPITALS, THE HOSPITAL HAS RECEIVED MAGNET RECOGNITION BY THE AMERICAN NURSES CREDENTIALING CENTER, AN AFFILIATE OF THE AMERICAN NURSES ASSOCIATION. MAGNET RECOGNITION IS GIVEN ONLY TO HOSPITALS THAT SATISFY A SET OF CRITERIA DESIGNED TO MEASURE STRENGTH AND QUALITY IN NURSING CARE WITH LESS THAN SEVEN PERCENT OF HOSPITALS NATION-WIDE ACHIEVING THIS STATUS. THE CENTER FOR BREAST CARE AT ADVOCATE SHERMAN IS DESIGNATED AS A BREAST IMAGING CENTER OF EXCELLENCE BY THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF RADIOLOGY FOR ITS DEDICATION TO IMPROVING WOMEN'S HEALTH. THE HOSPITAL IS ALSO AN ACCREDITED CHEST PAIN CENTER, WHICH MEANS THE HOSPITAL INTEGRATES THE INDUSTRY'S BEST PRACTICES AND NEWEST MODELS TO PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES IN CARDIAC CARE. THE HOSPITAL'S HEART FAILURE PROGRAM RECEIVED GOLD LEVEL RECOGNITION FROM THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION'S ""GET WITH THE GUIDELINES-HEART FAILURE PROGRAM"" FOR COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING QUALITY CARE. THE HOSPITAL IS ALSO CERTIFIED AS A PRIMARY STROKE CENTER BY DNV-GL HEALTHCARE.ADVOCATE SHERMAN'S HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ARE ENGAGED IN ONGOING EFFORTS FOCUSED ON QUALITY IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES. THESE PROVIDERS USE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES AS AN APPROACH TO IMPROVE QUALITY WHILE REDUCING UNNECESSARY VARIATION IN PRACTICE, COST AND HOSPITALIZATION. THESE EFFORTS ARE DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE PATIENT, STAFF AND VISITOR SAFETY AND TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT OF CARE. WITH A TEAM OF NEARLY 32 CARDIOLOGISTS, ADVOCATE SHERMAN HAS OVER 35 YEARS OF EXERIENCE WITH OPEN HEART PROCEDURES AND ALL FORMS OF CARDIAC CARE. IN ADDITION TO A WIDE RANGE OF CARDIOVASCULAR SERVICES, THE HOSPITAL IS ALSO AN ACCREDITED CHEST PAIN CENTER WITH DEDICATED INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGISTS AND CARDIOLOGY AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL TRAINED IN RAPID RESPONSE AND TREATMENT OF HEART ATTACKS, WHICH HELPS ENSURE REDUCED HEART MUSCLE DAMAGE AND SAVES LIVES. THE HOSPITAL'S CENTER FOR CANCER CARE OFFERS THE LATEST CANCER TREATMENTS AND STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY IN AN ENVIRONMENT CUSTOM-DESIGNED FOR HEALING AND COMPASSIONATE CARE. THE CENTER FOR ADVANCED LIVER & PANCREATIC CARE PROVIDES PATIENTS WITH ACCESS TO SPECIALIZED CARE FOR THE TREATMENT OF A WIDE RANGE OF LIVER AND PANCREATIC DISEASES THAT TYPICALLY HAVE ONLY BEEN TREATED AT ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTERS. ADVOCATE SHERMAN ACHIEVED RECOGNITION AS A BABY FRIENDLY HOSPITAL IN 2016 AND MAINTAINED THIS RECOGNITION IN 2021 THE CORE COMPONENTS OF THE BABY-FRIENDLY HOSPITAL INITIATIVE (BFHI) ARE THE UNICEF/WHO TEN STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL BREASTFEEDING, WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO FACILITATE THE ROLE OF THE BIRTHING FACILITY IN PROVIDING WOMEN THE INFORMATION, CARE PRACTICES AND OPPORTUNITY TO BREASTFEED, REGARDLESS OF THE METHOD OF BIRTH. NATIONAL HEALTHY PEOPLE 2020 OBJECTIVES TO INCREASE AND EXTEND BREASTFEEDING ARE ALIGNED WITH THIS INITIATIVE. AS AN ADVOCATE AURORA HOSPITAL, ADVOCATE SHERMAN SUPPORTS THE ORGANIZATION'S VISION OF ""WE HELP PEOPLE LIVE WELL AND TO FULFILL ITS VALUES OF: EXCELLENCE WE ARE A TOP PERFOMER IN ALL THAT WE DO; COMPASSION WE UNSELFISHLY CARE FOR OTHERS; AND RESPECT WE VALUE THE UNIQUE NEEDS AND PREFERENCES OF ALL PEOPLE. POPULATION SERVED. ADVOCATE SHERMAN PROVIDES QUALITY HEALTH CARE TO INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF RACE, CREED, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE OR ABILITY TO PAY. IN 2021, THE HOSPITAL'S PHYSICIANS AND TEAM MEMBERS TREATED 12,084 INPATIENT ADMISSIONS, INCLUDING 2,035 DELIVERIES, AND HANDLED 294,219 OUTPATIENT VISITS. AS A LEVEL II TRAUMA CENTER, ADVOCATE SHERMAN PROVIDED 415 TRAUMA VISITS AND 52,786 EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS IN 2020. ADVOCATE SHERMAN SERVES A PRIMARY SERVICE AREA (PSA) INCLUDING 301,055 PEOPLE WHO RESIDE IN THE ILLINOIS COMMUNITIES OF ALGONQUIN, CARPENTERSVILLE, DUNDEE, ELGIN, GILBERTS, HUNTLEY, LAKE IN THE HILLS AND SOUTH ELGIN (DATA UPDATED JANUARY 2019). IN THE ADVOCATE SHERMAN PSA, 9.4 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION IS LIVING BELOW THE FEDERALPOVERTY LELVE (FPL), WHICH IS LESS THAN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS RATE OF 13.5 PERCENT AND THE U.S. RATE OF 14.6 PERCENT. THERE IS A TOTAL OF 5,608 FAMILIES (7.3 PERCENT OF TOTAL FAMILIES) LIVING BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. THE COMMUNITIES WITH THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES LIVING BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL ARE THOSE IN CARPENTERSVILLE (60110) AT14.55 PERCENT, ELGIN (60120) AT 12.01 PERCENT AND ELGIN (60123) AT 10.97 PERCENT. THE PSA MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS $83,604. A HIGH PORTION OF THE PSA POPULATION IS OF LATINO ETHNICITY (TWENTY-NINE PERCENT). THERE IS ALSO A LOW RATE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION (4.79%) IN THE PSA.COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. EVEN IN THE FACE OF LOW REIMBURSEMENTS, ADVOCATE SHERMAN IS DEDICATED TO MAINTAINING A STRONG PRESENCE WITHIN ITS COMMUNITY AND CONTINUES TO MONITOR EXPENDITURES TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES SUPPORTED ARE IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY NEED. IN 2021, ADVOCATE SHERMAN PROVIDED OVER $34.5 MILLION IN COMMUNITY BENEFIT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.THESE BENEFITS INCLUDED NOT ONLY THE COST OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND UNREIMBURSED MEDICAID AND MEDICARE, FOR EXAMPLE, BUT ALSO THE COST FOR IMPLEMENTING AND SUSTAINING PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO MEET THE HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.PARTNERING TO ASSESS COMMUNITY NEEDS. ADVOCATE SHERMAN HAS BEEN WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE MCHENRY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE KANE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ASSESS THE HEALTH NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. PARTICIPATING IN THE COUNTY-WIDE HEALTH ASSESSMENTS LED BY BOTH HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, ADVOCATE SHERMAN'S COMMUNITY HEALTH TEAM MEMBERS HAVE PLAYED IMPORTANT ROLES ON THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES AND SUB-COMMITTEES OF THESE INITIATIVES. OTHER SHERMAN HOSPITAL LEADERS SERVE IN KEY LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES OF BOTH COUNTIES, AS WELL AS SERVING ON MANY SUBCOMMITTEES. ADVOCATE SHERMAN ALSO FOCUSES ITS INTERNAL STRENGTHS TO ASSESS COMMUNITY NEEDS AND TO GUIDE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT. THE HOSPITAL'S COMMUNITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH INTERNAL HOSPITAL DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ENHANCE THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY. COMMUNITY STRATEGY AND EXAMPLES OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS. AS A HOSPITAL WITHIN THE ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH SYSTEM, ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL IMPLEMENTATION PLANS AND STRATEGIES ALIGN WITH THE AAH SYSTEM STRATEGY. THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY STRATEGY, THE HOSPITAL WILL BUILD HEALTH EQUITY, ENSURE ACCESS AND IMPROVE HEALTH OUCOMES IN ITS COMMUNITY THROUGH EVIDENCE-INFORMED SERVICES AND INNOVATIVE PARTHERSHIPS BY ADDRESSING MEDICAL NEEDS AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH. BASED ON NEED AND EFFECT ON HEALTH EQUITY AS IDENTIFIED IN THE AAH HOSPITALS CHNA REPORTS AND ON INDUSTRY LITERATURE, THE FOLLOWING SIX FOCUS AREAS HAVE BEEN PRIORITIZED AND ARE THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH THE HOSPITAL-SPECIFIC IMPLEMENATION PLANS ARE BUILT. THE FOCUS AREAS ARE: 1) ACCESS TO PRIMARY MEDICAL HOMES; 2) ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES; 3) WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT; 4) COMMUNITY SAFETY; 5) AFFORDABLE HOUSING; AND 6) WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. EACH STRATEGY FOCUS AREA AND EXAMPLES OF ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES ADDRESSING THAT STRATEGY ARE PROVIDED BELOW."
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Facility Information
Schedule H (Form 990) Section C. Supplemental Information for Part V, Section B.
ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL PART V, SECTION B, LINE 5: COLLABORATIVE COUNTY ASSESSMENTS. ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL (ADVOCATE SHERMAN) COLLABORATED WITH THE MCHENRY COUNTY AND KANE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE CHNA. ADVOCATE SHERMAN ALSO CONSULTED WITH A NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING SEVERAL FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS (GREATER ELGIN FAMILY CARE CENTER, VNA HEALTH CENTER, AUNT MARTHA'S), THE KANE COUNTY SUBSTANCE ABUSE COALITION, MCHENRY COUNTY SUBSTANCE ABUSE COALITION AND THE MENTAL HEALTH 708 INC BOARD. EACH OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A FOCUS ON MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED, LOW-INCOME AND MINORITY POPULATIONS, INCLUDING AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HISPANIC RESIDENTS. IN MCHENRY COUNTY, A COMMUNITY SURVEY, FOCUS GROUPS AND KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED TO GATHER INPUT FROM COMMUNITY RESIDENTS ON KEY HEALTH ISSUES AS PART OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT (CHA). IN ADDITION, A BROAD DATA REVIEW OF MCHENRY COUNTY USING SECONDARY SOURCES WAS CONDUCTED, WHICH INCLUDED DEMOGRAPHICS, HOUSING, INCOME AND POVERTY, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, CRIME AND SAFETY, BIRTH AND DEATH RATES, HEALTH STATUS AND BEHAVIORS, AND HEALTH UTILIZATION. THE KANE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT NEEDS ASSESSMENT INCLUDED A COMMUNITY HEALTH SURVEY AND AN ON-LINE KEY INFORMANT SURVEY. IN BOTH COUNTIES, SURVEYS WERE TRANSLATED INTO, AND SPECIFIC FOCUS GROUPS WERE HELD, IN SPANISH TO SOLICIT INPUT FROM SPANISH-SPEAKING RESIDENTS. A VARIETY OF SECONDARY DATA SOURCES WERE CONSULTED FOR KANE COUNTY-LEVEL DATA IN THE AREAS OF DEMOGRAPHICS, PUBLIC HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, EDUCATION, DISEASE INCIDENCE AND PREVALENCE, ECONOMICS AND PUBLIC SAFETY. (LINKS TO THE MULTIPLE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENTS DESCRIBED ABOVE ARE: HTTPS://WWW.MCHENRYCOUNTYIL.GOV/HOME/SHOWDOCUMENT?ID=71354HTTPS://WWW.MCHENRYCOUNTYIL.GOV/HOME/SHOWDOCUMENT?ID=71454HTTPS://WWW.MCHENRYCOUNTYIL.GOV/HOME/SHOWDOCUMENT?ID=71360HTTPS://WWW.COUNTYOFKANE.ORG/DOCUMENTS/QUALITY%20OF%20KANE/COMMUNITY_HEALTH_NEEDS_ASSESSMENT.PDF)COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL (CHC). THE ADVOCATE SHERMAN CHC WAS CONVENED FROM JANUARY-MARCH 2019 TO REVIEW QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DATA GATHERED FROM 2017 THROUGH 2019, AND TO SELECT THE TOP HEALTH NEEDS OF THE SERVICE AREA. THE CHC IS COMPRISED OF EIGHT COMMUNITY MEMBERS, REPRESENTING 67 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL MEMBERSHIP. CHC MEMBERS INCLUDE A VARIETY OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COMMUNITY; SEVERAL OF WHICH REPRESENT MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED, LOW INCOME AND/OR MINORITY POPULATIONS.GOVERNING COUNCIL (GC). FOLLOWING CHC APPROVAL, THE CHNA AND RECOMMENDED PRIORITIES PASS TO THE HOSPITAL'S GOVERNING COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL. THE ADVOCATE SHERMAN GC IS COMPRISED OF 25 MEMBERS, REPRESENTING A BROAD ARRAY OF COMMUNITY SECTORS AND EXECUTIVE LEVEL HOSPITAL STAFF. COMMUNITY MEMBERS COME FROM THE FIELDS OF EDUCATION, MANUFACTURING, PHILANTHROPY, FAITH COMMUNITIES, MARKETING, FINANCIAL INDUSTRY, PRIMARY CARE AND SUBSPECIALTY CARE. ONE MEMBER OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL SERVES AS CHAIR OF THE CHC TO ENSURE COORDINATION OF INFORMATION. THE 2017-2019 CHNA REPORT AND ITS PRIORITIZED NEEDS WERE APPROVED BY THE GC ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2019, AND THEN FORWARDED TO THE ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE NETWORK BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHICH APPROVED ADVOCATE SHERMAN'S 2017-2019 CHNA REPORT ON DECEMBER 16, 2019.
ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL PART V, SECTION B, LINE 6A: RELATED? ADVOCATE GOOD SHEPHERD HOSPITAL (BARRINGTON, IL)UNRELATED? AMITA ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL (ELGIN, IL); AMITA MERCY MEDICAL CENTER (AURORA, IL); NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE MCHENRY (MCHENRY, IL); RUSH-COPLEY MEDICAL CENTER (AURORA, IL)
ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL PART V, SECTION B, LINE 6B: OTHER NON-HOSPITAL FACILITIES THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE CHNA INCLUDED FAMILY ALLIANCE, INC., MCHENRY COUNTY COLLEGE, MCHENRY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, MCHENRY COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH BOARD, MCHENRY COUNTY SUBSTANCE ABUSE COALITION, UNITED WAY OF GREATER MCHENRY COUNTY, KANE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE 708 INC BOARD NFP.
ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL PART V, SECTION B, LINE 7D: THE HOSPITAL ISSUED AN ANNOUNCEMENT AND A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE 2019 CHNA RESULTS TO ADVOCATE SHERMAN TEAM MEMBERS, WHICH ALSO INCLUDED A LINK TO THE FULL REPORT. COMMUNITY HEALTH STAFF HAVE PRESENTED THE CHNA RESULTS TO THE ADVOCATE SHERMAN EXECUTIVE AND SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAMS A WELL.
ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL PART V, SECTION B, LINE 11: HEALTH NEEDS SELECTEDAS A RESULT OF THE 2017-2019 CHNA PROCESS, ADVOCATE SHERMAN SELECTED TWO PRIORITIES FOR 2020-2022 IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING - OBESITY (DIABETES, HEART DISEASE, NUTRITION AND EXERCISE) AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH).(FOR PRIORITY SELECTION PROCESS DETAILS, SEE PAGE 88 OF THE 2017-2019 CHNA REPORT AT HTTPS://WWW.ADVOCATEHEALTH.COM/HOSPITAL-CHNA-REPORTS-IMPLEMENTATION-PLANS-PROGRESS-REPORTS/SHERMAN-CHNA-REPORT-2019.)OBESITY. ADVOCATE SHERMAN SELECTED OBESITY AS A HEALTH PRIORITY GIVEN THE CONTINUAL RISE IN OBESITY RATES IN BOTH KANE AND MCHENRY COUNTIES, AND EVIDENCE SHOWING A DEMONSTRATED LINK BETWEEN OBESITY AND CHRONIC CONDITIONS (DIABETES, HEART DISEASE, NUTRITION, EXERCISE, AND CANCER). THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE PROPORTION OF ADULTS WHO ARE OBESE IN THE PRIMARY SERVICE AREA (PSA). SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY, THE ADVOCATE SHERMAN ON-CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDEN DONATED OVER 330 POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE FROM THE ON-CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDEN TO THE YWCA IN ELGIN AND THE FOOD FOR GREATER ELGIN LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES. ADVOCATE SHERMAN PROVIDES FOOD INSECURITY SCREENING AND REFERRAL TO FOOD RESOURCES FOR ALL PATIENTS ENROLLED IN THE MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH PROGRAM (MIH) AND IN THE DIABETES CENTER. HOWEVER, DUE TO COVID-19, THIS PROGRAM WAS PAUSED IN 2020. IN 2020, THE EVIDENCE-BASED DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (DSMP) OFFERED IN SPANISH IN THE COMMUNITY WAS REDESIGNED TO PREPARE FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN A VIRTUAL FORMAT, IN ORDER TO ADHERE TO COVID-19 SAFETY PRACTICES. PROGRAM STAFF COLLABORATED WITH THE GAIL BORDEN LIBRARY TO INCORPORATE THE SIX-WEEK CLASS SERIES INTO THE LIBRARY'S 2021 HEALTH OFFERINGS. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. ADVOCATE SHERMAN SELECTED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AS A PRIORITY, WHICH IS COMPRISED OF BOTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH, GIVEN THESE FREQUENTLY CO-OCCUR AND DUE TO THE HIGH RATES OF MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS IN THE PSA. THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE PERCENT OF ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS WHO ARE ABUSING SUBSTANCES. THE WARM HANDOFF PROGRAM WAS IMPLEMENTED IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED) ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2020. THE PROGRAM IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH GATEWAY FOUNDATION, A COMMUNITY-BASED ADDICTION MEDICINE PROVIDER. A GATEWAY FOUNDATION ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST MEETS IN THE ED WITH A PATIENT WHO HAS COME IN FOR OPIOID-RELATED HEALTH ISSUES, AND SCREENS AND REFERS HIM OR HER TO TREATMENT. A GATEWAY FOUNDATION RECOVERY COACH ON THE TEAM PROVIDES SUPPORT TO PATIENTS AS THEY TRANSITION INTO TREATMENT. FOR 2020, GATEWAY FOUNDATION COMPLETED 41 PATIENT ENCOUNTERS AND 11 PATIENTS WERE CONNECTED AND BEGAN SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT. ADVOCATE SHERMAN ALSO SERVES ON THE KANE COUNTY OPIOID TASK FORCE, WHERE IN 2020, DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, COALITION MEMBERS IDENTIFIED THAT BOTH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE HAS INCREASED. THERAPY AND COUNSELING SERVICES WERE TRANSITIONED TO BE PROVIDED EITHER VIA TELEPHONE OR TELEHEALTH IN 2020 DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE 2020-2022 IMPLEMENTATION PLANS FOR OBESITY AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THAT WERE SELECTED THROUGH THE 2017-2019 CHNA PROCESS CAN BE VIEWED AT: HTTPS://WWW.ADVOCATEHEALTH.COM/ASSETS/IMAGES/CHNA/SHERMAN-2020-2022-CMTY-HLTH-IMPLEMENTATION-PLAN-FINAL-LR-4-24-20.PDF.HEALTH NEEDS NOT SELECTED AND WHYHEART DISEASE. THE KANE COUNTY AND MCHENRY COUNTY DEATH RATES DUE TO CORONARY HEART DISEASE ARE BETTER THAN THE ILLINOIS AND U.S. RATES, AND MEET THE HEALTHY PEOPLE 2020 TARGET. ADDITIONALLY, AGE-ADJUSTED ER AND HOSPITALIZATION RATES FOR HEART FAILURE AND HYPERTENSION FOR THE ADVOCATE SHERMAN PSA ARE ALL BETTER THAN RATES IN COMPARATIVE COUNTIES. THE CHC SELECTED TO CONTINUE FOCUSING ON OBESITY AS A HEALTH PRIORITY, WHICH HAS A DIRECT CORRELATION TO HEART DISEASE. DIABETES. THE PSA'S ER UTILIZATION RATE DUE TO ADULT DIABETES IS BETTER THAN THE ILLINOIS RATE. HOWEVER, THE EMERGENCY ROOM RATE DUE TO UNCONTROLLED DIABETES REMAINS HIGH IN THE PSA FOR HISPANICS AND AFRICAN AMERICANS. ADVOCATE SHERMAN CHOSE DIABETES AS A PRIORITY IN THE LAST CHNA CYCLE AND HAS IMPLEMENTED A COMPREHENSIVE DIABETES IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY PROGRAM, SERVING THE TARGET COMMUNITIES OF ELGIN AND CARPENTERSVILLE. THE PROGRAM IS CONTINUING DURING THE 2020-2022 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CYCLE. RESPIRATORY DISEASES. ADVOCATE SHERMAN ED AND HOSPITALIZATION RATES DUE TO ASTHMA ARE HIGH COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTIES. HOWEVER, ADULT PATIENTS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED WITH ASTHMA AND/OR COPD ARE REFERRED TO THE ADVOCATE SHERMAN MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH COMMUNITY PARAMEDICINE PROGRAM, AND THE PROGRAM HAS DEMONSTRATED A DECREASE IN HOSPITAL READMISSIONS. ALSO, ADVOCATE SHERMAN COMMUNITY HEALTH STAFF WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, CANCER CARE CENTER AND AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY TO COORDINATE LUNG CANCER SCREENINGS AND PREVENTION EFFORTS. SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES. ALTHOUGH SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS ARE A CONSIDERABLE HEALTH ISSUE IN BOTH COUNTIES, THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE TAKING THE LEAD ON IDENTIFICATION AND PREVENTION EFFORTS THROUGH THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNICABLE DISEASE DEPARTMENTS. ADVOCATE SHERMAN COMMUNITY HEALTH STAFF ASSIST WITH SHARING PREVENTION MESSAGES AND PRACTICES WITH PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS IN THE PSA. OVERALL, THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS AFFECTED IS SMALL COMPARED TO THOSE AFFECTED BY OBESITY AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH; THEREFORE, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS WERE NOT SELECTED AS A PRIMARY FOCUS.ADULT VACCINATIONS. THE CHC THOUGHT THAT THERE IS MORE OF AN ISSUE WITH EDUCATION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINE COMPLIANCE, RATHER THAN AN ACCESS ISSUE. IN ADDITION, ADULT VACCINATIONS ARE AVAILABLE WIDELY IN PHYSICIAN OFFICES, AT LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND IN LOCAL PHARMACIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE PRIORITIES SELECTED TO ADDRESS, AND THOSE NOT SELECTED TO ADDRESS AND WHY, PLEASE SEE PAGES 89-92 OF THE ADVOCATE SHERMAN 2017-2019 CHNA AT HTTPS://WWW.ADVOCATEHEALTH.COM/ASSETS/DOCUMENTS/CHNA/SHERMAN-HOSPITAL/SHERMAN-2019-CHNA_FINAL_LINKED_11_6_19.PDF
ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL PART V, SECTION B, LINE 13H: OTHER FACTORS USED IN DETERMINING AMOUNTS CHARGED TO PATIENTS INCLUDE: DECEASED PATIENTS WITH NO ESTATE; HOMELESS PATIENTS, OR PATIENTS WHO RECEIVE CARE IN A HOMELESS CLINIC; PATIENTS WITH RELIGIOUS AFFILATION WITH A VOW OF POVERTY, PATIENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR A STATE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (DHS) ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, BUT HAVE NO MEDICAL COVERAGE (E.G., ILLINOIS AMI/GA, FOOD STAMP, PRESCRIPTION, WOMEN, FREE LUNCH AND BREAKFAST PROGRAM, TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF), INFANTS AND CHILDREN (WIC), MEDICAID ELIGIBLE PATIENTS BUT NOT ON THE DATE OF SERVICE, WHY WAIT AND WISE WOMEN PROGRAMS; COUNTY HEALTH CLINIC PATIENTS; LEGAL ASSSISTANCE FOUNDATION OF ILLINOIS REFERRALS; INDIVIDUALS WITH A VALID ADDRESS AT LOW-INCOME/SUSIDIZED HOUSING; QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS OF LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, INCARCERATED INDIVIIDUALS; INCOMPETENT INDIVIDUALS WITH COMPROMISED DIAGNOSES (E.G., PSYCHIATRIC); INDIVIDUALS MEETING DEFINED CREDIT REPORTING (OR OTHER EXTERNAL REPORTING) RESULT THRESHOLDS; PATIENTS WITH PRIOR HISTORY OF INABILITY TO MAKE PAYMENTS; PATIENTS WITH COURT FILED OR APPROVED BANKRUPTCY DETERMINATIONS.
ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL PART V, SECTION B, LINE 16J: ADVOCATE SHERMAN COMMUNICATES THE AVAILABILITY OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THE APPLICABLE LANGUAGES OF THE HOSPITAL COMMUNITY. MEANS OF COMMUNICATION INCLUDE:1. THE HEALTH CARE CONSENT THAT IS SIGNED UPON REGISTRATION FOR HOSPITAL SERVICES INCLUDES A STATEMENT THAT FINANCIAL COUNSELING, INCLUDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATION, IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.2. SIGNAGE IS CLEARLY AND CONSPICUOUSLY POSTED IN LOCATIONS THAT ARE VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO HOSPITAL RESGISTRATION AREAS (I.E., PATIENT ACCESS, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT).3. BROCHURES ARE PLACED IN HOSPITAL RESGISTRATION AREAS (I.E., PATIENT ACCESS, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT) AND INCLUDE GUIDANCE ON HOW A PATIENTS MAY APPLY FOR MEDICARE, MEDICAID, ALL KIDS, FAMILY CARE ETC., AND THE HOSPTIAL'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. A HOSPITAL CONTACT AND TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS INCLUDED. 4. A HANDOUT SUMMARIZING ADVOCATE'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION ARE GIVEN TO ALL UNINSURED PATIENTS WHO RECEIVE MEDICALLY NECESSARY HOSPITAL SERVICES AT THE EARLIEST PRACTICAL TIME OF SERVICE.5. ADVOCATE'S WEBSITE PROMINENTLY NOTES THAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE, WITH AN EXPLAINATION OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS, A SUMMARY OF THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY, AND THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION.
ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL PART V, SECTION B, LINE 19E: ADVOCATE SHERMAN DOES NOT PERFORM ACTIONS SUCH AS THOSE LISTED IN LINES 19A-D UNTIL REASONABLE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO DETERMINE A PATIENT'S FAP ELIGIBILITY.
ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL "PART V, SECTION B, LINE 20E: ADVOCATE MAKES REASONABLE EFFORTS TO DETERMINE A PATIENT'S ELIGIBILITY UNDER ITS FAP, INCLUDING SENDING A SERIES OF LETTERS AND ATTEMPTING TO WORK WITH THE PATIENT THROUGH THE FINANCIAL COUNSELING PROCESS AND/OR PHONE CALLS. ALL CORRESPONDENCE ASKS THE PATIENT TO NOTIFY THE HOSPITAL IF HE/SHE IS EXPERIENCING ""DIFFICULTY IN PAYING YOUR BILL"". ADVOCATE ALSO USES EARLY OUT AND PRECOLLECTION VENDORS TO ASSIST IN OBTAINING PAYMENTS OR COLLECTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION. THESE VENDORS HAVE THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE IN THEIR CONTRACT: ""VENDOR WILL COMMUNICATE THE ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE POLICY AND GUIDELINE TO ANY PATIENT EXPRESSING A DIFFICULTY IN PAYING THEIR BILL AND, ""VENDOR WILL MAIL THE ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION TO ANY PATIENTS EXPRESSING A DIFFICULTY IN PAYING THEIR BILL"". ADVOCATE'S BAD DEBT AGENCY CONTRACTS HAVE THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE: ""AGENCY SHALL EVALUATE EACH PATIENT WHOSE ACCOUNT IS REFERRED TO AGENCY, WHERE THE PATIENT EXPRESSES DIFFICULTY OR INABILITY TO PAY THEIR BILL, FOR ELIGIBILITY UNDER ADVOCATE'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY."" VENDOR AND AGENCY CONTRACTS ARE STANDARD ACROSS ADVOCATE'S SYSTEM."
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Supplemental Information
Schedule H (Form 990) Part VI
PART I, LINE 6A: A SYSTEM-WIDE COMMUNITY BENEFIT REPORT IS FILED BY:ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE NETWORK 3075 HIGHLAND PARKWAY, DOWNERS GROVE, IL 60515. EIN 36-2167779
PART I, LINE 7: A COST-TO-CHARGE RATIO, DERIVED FROM SCHEDULE H INSTRUCTIONS WORKSHEET 2, RATIO OF PATIENT CARE COST-TO-CHARGES, WAS USED TO CALCULATE THE AMOUNTS REPORTED IN THE TABLE FOR PART I, LINE 7A. SCHEDULE H INSTRUCTIONS WORKSHEET 3, UNREIMBURSED MEDICAID AND OTHER MEANS-TESTED GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, WAS USED TO CALCULATE THE AMOUNTS REPORTED IN THE TABLE FOR PART I, LINE 7B. A COST ACCOUNTING SYSTEM WAS USED TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNTS REPORTED IN THE TABLE FOR PART I, LINES 7E, 7F, 7G, AND 7I.
PART I, LINE 7G: ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL PROVIDES SUBSIDIZED HEALTH SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED DESPITE CREATING A FINANCIAL LOSS FOR ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL. THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BECAUSE THEY MEET AN IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY NEED. IF ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL DID NOT PROVIDE THE CLINICAL SERVICE, IT IS REASONABLE TO CONCLUDE THAT THESE SERVICES WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY.
PART I, LN 7 COL(F): $21,359,456 OF BAD DEBT EXPENSE WAS INCLUDED ON FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 25, COLUMN (A), BUT WAS REMOVED FROM THE DENOMINATOR FOR PURPOSES OF SCHEDULE H, PART I, LINE 7, COLUMN (F).
PART II, COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES: "ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE IS COMMITTED TO GREENING HEALTH CARE BECAUSE IT IS DEEPLY CONNECTED TO THE PURPOSE OF OUR ORGANIZATION HEALTH AND HEALING. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE HEALTH OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE HEALTH OF THE PATIENTS AND COMMUNITIES WE SERVE IS INEXTRICABLY LINKED AND THAT A HEALTHY PLANET SUPPORTS HEALTHY PEOPLE. REDUCING WASTE, CONSERVING ENERGY AND WATER, MINIMIZING USE OF TOXIC CHEMICALS, AND CONSTRUCTING ECO-FRIENDLY BUILDINGS FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW ALL THESE EFFORTS HAVE A DIRECT BENEFIT ON THE HEALTH OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES VIA CLEANER COMMUNITIES, HEALTHIER AIR QUALITY, REDUCED GREENHOUSE GASES, AND PRESERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES. AS WE WORK TO REDUCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH IMPACT OF HEALTH CARE, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES HELP EASE THE BURDEN OF HEALTH CARE COSTS BOTH DIRECTLY (LOWER ENERGY COSTS) AND INDIRECTLY (LOWER ENVIRONMENTALLY-RELATED DISEASE BURDEN). 1. MENTORING AND EDUCATIONAS WE WORK TO SERVE THE HEALTH NEEDS OF TODAY'S PATIENTS AND FAMILIES WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE NEEDS OF FUTURE GENERATIONS, ADVOCATE HAS COMMITTED RESOURCES TO SHARING LESSONS LEARNED AND BEST PRACTICES WITH OTHER HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS, BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY. ADVOCATE SERVES IN A LEADERSHIP, ADVOCACY AND MENTORING ROLE NATIONALLY THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN SEVERAL HEALTHCARE SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP GROUPS AND ADVISORY BOARDS, ADDRESSING SAFER CHEMICALS IN FURNISHING AND MEDICAL PRODUCTS, GREEN BUILDING, CLIMATE CHANGE, PLASTICS RECYCLING, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY-PREFERABLE PURCHASING: HEALTH CARE CLIMATE COUNCIL HEALTHCARE ANCHOR NETWORK HEALTHCARE PLASTICS RECYCLING COALITION HEALTHCARE FACILITY ADVISORY BOARD PRACTICE GREENHEALTH MARKET TRANSFORMATION GROUP SAFER CHEMICALS HEALTHY BUILDING NETWORK PREMIER ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL STEERING COUNCIL OVERSIGHT AND SIGNATORY OF THE CHEMICAL FOOTPRINT PROJECTADVOCATE ALSO COMMONLY PROVIDES MENTORING TO HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY ON SUSTAINABILITY BEST PRACTICES THROUGH PRESENTATIONS AND WEBINARS, AS WELL AS TO INDIVIDUAL HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.2. ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM 2021 ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES: PLEDGED TO POWER ITS FACILITIES WITH 100% RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY BY 2030. REDUCED ENERGY INTENSITY UTILIZATION BY 1.3% FROM 2020. AVOIDED 31 MTCO2E OF GREENHOUSE GASES (EQUIVALENT TO OVER 75,000 MILLION MILES OF DRIVING) THROUGH ECO-FRIENDLY MANAGEMENT OF ANESTHETIC GASES. RECYCLED 2,983 TONS OF WASTE FROM HOSPITAL OPERATIONS. RECYCLED 84 PERCENT, OR 1,090 TONS, OF CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS. SAVED 26 TONS OF WASTE FROM LANDFILL VIA OUR SURGICAL AND MEDICAL DEVICE REPROCESSING PROGRAMS. REDUCED PAPER UTILIZATION BY 1.6% FROM 2020. CONTINUED OUR DONATION PROGRAM WITH PROJECT C.U.R.E., A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WILL RESPONSIBLY REDISTRIBUTE DONATED MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT TO UNDER-RESOURCED AREAS AROUND THE GLOBE, FOR ALL ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE FACILITIES. IN 2021, ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE DONATED 128 PALLETS OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO PROJECT CURE. SPENT OVER $68,000, OR 84% OF ADVOCATE'S EXPENSES IN SELECT CLEANING PRODUCT CATEGORIES (WINDOW, FLOOR, CARPET, BATHROOM, AND GENERAL-PURPOSE CLEANERS) ON THIRD-PARTY CERTIFIED ""GREEN"" CLEANERS. INCREASED THE PURCHASE OF HEALTHIER HOSPITALS-APPROVED FURNITURE, MADE WITHOUT SELECT CHEMICALS OF CONCERN, INCLUDING PERFLUORINATED COMPOUNDS, PVC (VINYL), FORMALDEHYDE, FLAME RETARDANTS (WHERE CODE PERMISSIBLE) AND ANTIMICROBIALS, TO 99% OF TOTAL PURCHASES. PURCHASED OVER $1,000,000 OF MEAT PRODUCTS FROM LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY RAISED WITHOUT THE ROUTINE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS (32% OF TOTAL), SUPPORTING THE JUDICIOUS AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN AGRICULTURE WHICH CAN HELP SLOW THE EMERGENCE OF ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT BACTERIA. PLEASE SEE ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE'S PUBLICLY FACING SUSTAINABILITY & WELLNESS WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.3. ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS IN 2021 REDUCED ENERGY INTENSITY UTILIZATION BY 2.3% FROM 2020. LUTHERAN GENERAL HOSPITAL DIVERTED OVER ONE MILLION POUNDS OF OPERATING WASTE FROM THE LANDFILL THROUGH ITS VARIOUS RECYCLING PROGRAMS. RECYCLED 91%, OR 326 TONS, OF CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS. AVOIDED 7,613 POUNDS OF MEDICAL AND SOLID WASTE THROUGH ITS DEVICE REPROCESSING PROGRAMS 85% OF CLEANING PRODUCTS PURCHASED FOR FIVE KEY CATEGORIES (WINDOW, FLOOR, CARPET, BATHROOM, AND GENERAL PURPOSE CLEANERS) WERE THIRD-PARTY GREEN CERTIFIED. 97% OF FURNITURE PURCHASES WERE FREE OF FIVE KEY CHEMICALS OF CONCERN. PURCHASED 31% OF TOTAL MEAT PRODUCTS FROM LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY RAISED WITHOUT THE ROUTINE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS, SUPPORTING THE JUDICIOUS AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN AGRICULTURE WHICH CAN HELP SLOW THE EMERGENCE OF ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT BACTERIA. DONATED 4 PALLETS OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO PROJECT CURE."
PART III, LINE 9B: ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL MAINTAINS BOTH WRITTEN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND BAD DEBT/COLLECTION POLICIES. THE BAD DEBT/COLLECTION POLICY DOES NOT APPLY TO THOSE PATIENTS KNOWN TO QUALIFY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE; THEREFORE, SUCH PATIENTS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO COLLECTION PRACTICES.
PART VI, LINE 6: "6. AFFILIATED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. IF THE ORGANIZATION IS PART OF AN AFFILIATED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, DESCRIBE THE RESPECTIVE ROLES OF THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS AFFILIATES IN PROMOTING THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITIES SERVED.ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE (ILLINOIS) AND AURORA HEALTH CARE (WISCONSIN) MERGED IN 2018 TO BECOME ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH. ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH'S ILLINOIS HOSPITALS (ADVOCATE) ARE NOT-FOR-PROFIT AND ARE RELATED TO BOTH THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA AND THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST. THE ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE NETWORK BOARD MEMBERS, LEADERSHIP AND TEAM MEMBERS (STAFF/EMPLOYEES) ARE COMMITTED TO POSITIVELY AFFECTING THE HEALTH STATUS AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF INDIVIDUALS AND POPULATIONS IN COMMUNITIES SERVED BY THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES THAT SUPPORT THE ADVOCATE AURORA VISION OF ""WE HELP PEOPLE LIVE WELL."" PRIOR TO 2016, THE COMMUNITY FACING FUNCTION WAS LED BY A TEAM OF ADVOCATE SYSTEM-LEVEL INDIVIDUALS WHOSE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDED VARIOUS COMMUNITY ROLES MORE CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH COMMUNITY RELATIONS. IN AN ONGOING EFFORT TO SUPPORT ITS HOSPITALS IN ADDRESSING COMMUNITY HEALTH PRIORITIES, ADVOCATE AURORA'S SYSTEM LEADERSHIP DIRECTED THE FORMATION OF A COMMUNITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN 2016. THE DEPARTMENT IS LED BY A SYSTEM EXECUTIVE AND STAFFED WITH PUBLIC/COMMUNITY HEALTH SPECIALISTS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMUNITY BENEFITS REPORTING, EXECUTING COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENTS, EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION, AND COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES SERVED BY ADVOCATE. THE COMMUNITY HEALTH TEAM HAS SINCE LED TWO CHNA CYCLES. THE MOST RECENT CHNA REPORTS WERE APPROVED BY THE ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE NETWORK BOARD AND POSTED IN DECEMBER 2019, FOLLOWED BY APPROVAL AND POSTING OF THE HOSPITALS' COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPLEMENTATION PLANS IN 2020. IN OCTOBER 2019, THE ADVOCATE AURORA BOARD APPROVED A COMMUNITY STRATEGY THAT WOULD SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT SYSTEM-WIDE PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS THE HEALTH NEEDS OF PATIENTS, FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITIES SERVED BY ADVOCATE AURORA. THROUGH THIS STRATEGY, WE WILL BUILD HEALTH EQUITY, ENSURE ACCESS AND IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES IN OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH EVIDENCE-INFORMED SERVICES AND INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS BY ADDRESSING MEDICAL NEEDS AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS. BASED ON NEED AND EFFECT ON HEALTH EQUITY, AS IDENTIFIED IN ADVOCATE AURORA'S 27 HOSPITAL CHNA REPORTS AND IN INDUSTRY LITERATURE, ADVOCATE AURORA PRIORITIZED THE FOLLOWING SIX FOCUS AREAS ON WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL HOSPITAL COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPLEMENTATION PLANS ARE BUILT AND SUPPORT, INCLUDING: 1) ACCESS/PRIMARY MEDICAL HOMES; 2) ACCESS/ BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES; 3) COMMUNITY SAFETY; 4) WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT; 5) AFFORDABLE HOUSING; AND 6) FOOD SECURITY. GIVEN THAT ADVOCATE AND AURORA HAVE SEPARATE FEIN'S, THE NARRATIVE WITHIN THIS DOCUMENT PRIMARILY DESCRIBES PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES PERTAINING TO ADVOCATE (AAH ILLINOIS). ADVOCATE'S BOARD, SYSTEM LEADERSHIP AND TEAM MEMBERS ARE FULLY ENGAGED IN PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT SYSTEM AND SITE EFFORTS IN ACHIEVING MILESTONES IN EACH OF THESE COMMUNITY STRATEGY FOCUS AREAS. EXAMPLES OF AFFILIATED SYSTEM PROGRAMS/SERVICES THAT ALIGN WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMUNITY STRATEGY AND SUPPORT EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THESE KEY FOCUS AREAS ARE PROVIDED IN THE FOLLOWING NARRATIVE. 1. ACCESS/PRIMARY MEDICAL HOMES. THE FIRST OF SIX KEY AREAS TARGETED BY ADVOCATE'S COMMUNITY STRATEGY IS IMPROVING ACCESS/CONNECTING PATIENTS TO PRIMARY MEDICAL HOMES. ADVOCATE IS COMMITTED TO UNDERTAKING AND SUPPORTING INITIATIVES THAT ENHANCE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, CARE COORDINATION, LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE, CULTURALLY SENSITIVE PROVISION OF CARE, AND PREVENTION EDUCATION AND WELLNESS SERVICES ACROSS THE LIFESPAN AND WITHIN THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES ADVOCATE SERVES. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. ADVOCATE OFFERS A VERY GENEROUS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, REQUIRING NO PAYMENTS FROM THE PATIENTS MOST IN NEED, AND PROVIDING DISCOUNTS TO UNINSURED AND INSURED PATIENTS. PATIENTS EARNING UP TO SIX TIMES THE FPL, AND INSURED PATIENTS EARNING UP TO TWO AND HALF TIMES THE FPL, MAY QUALIFY FOR A FULL OR PARTIAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DISCOUNT. ADDITIONALLY, A CATASTROPHIC ASSISTANCE DISCOUNT IS AVAILABLE FOR UNINSURED AND INSURED PATIENTS WHOSE INCOMES EXCEED THE TRADITIONAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE INCOME GUIDELINES AND HAVE OUTSTANDING PATIENT BALANCES OF $25,000 OR MORE FOR A SINGLE DATE OF SERVICE OR SUM OF SEVERAL DATES OF SERVICE. THESE PATIENTS MAY QUALIFY TO RECEIVE A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DISCOUNT THAT REDUCES THEIR OUTSTANDING BALANCE TO 25% OF THEIR NET INCOME. FOR UNINSURED PATIENTS, ADVOCATE WILL PRESUMPTIVELY PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IF THE FINANCIAL STATUS HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IN THESE CASES, THE PATIENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A SEPARATE CHARITY APPLICATION. IF PRESUMPTIVE CRITERIA ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR UNINSURED PATIENTS, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY IS AVAILABLE USING AN INCOME-BASED SCREENING. ADVOCATE EXTENDS ITS INCOME-BASED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY TO ITS INSURED PATIENTS AS WELL. ADVOCATE CONTINUES TO REVIEW AND REFINE ITS POLICY IN AN ONGOING EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO NEED HELP.FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS (FQHCS). ALL ADVOCATE'S HOSPITALS HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH FQHC'S OR OTHER COMMUNITY CLINICS WITHIN THEIR SERVICE AREAS FOR PROVIDING CARE FOR MEDICAID AND UNINSURED PATIENTS. ADVOCATE SHERMAN WORKS CLOSELY WITH GREATER ELGIN FAMILY HEALTH (FQHC), VNA HEALTH CARE AND AUNT MARTHA'S (FQHC) TO COORDINATE CARE FOR LOW-INCOME PATIENTS IN THE ELGIN AREA. THE HOSPITAL PROVIDES COLONOSCOPIES AND MAMMOGRAMS TO GREATER ELGIN FAMILY HEALTH PATIENTS, COORDINATED THROUGH GRANT-FUNDED PROGRAMS. ADVOCATE CONDELL WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE LAKE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER (FQHC) AND ERIE HEALTHREACH WAUKEGAN (FQHC), BY PROVIDING MAMMOGRAMS AND SOME SPECIALTY CARE TO UNINSURED AND LOW-INCOME PATIENTS AS THEY ARE REFERRED TO THE MEDICAL CENTER. ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC AND ADVOCATE LUTHERAN GENERAL ALSO PARTNER WITH HEARTLAND HEALTH CENTERS AND COMMUNITY HEALTH, ONE OF THE LARGEST FREE CLINICS IN THE NATION, TO PROVIDE SPECIALTY CARE TO UNINSURED PATIENTS AND REFERRALS TO FQHCS AND FREE CLINICS FOR PRIMARY CARE SERVICES. IN ADDITION, ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC PROVIDES OPERATIONS SPACE TO HEARTLAND HEALTH CENTERS ON ITS CAMPUS TO PROVIDE PRIMARY CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THAT ARE UNINSURED. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ACCESS TO CARE ORGANIZATION, ADVOCATE CHRIST PROVIDES MAMMOGRAMS TO AREA UNINSURED AND LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE REFERRED BY THE CLINIC TO THE HOSPITAL WHEN THIS SERVICE IS REQUIRED. ADVOCATE TRINITY WORKS WITH CHICAGO FAMILY HEALTH CENTER AND CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER TO COORDINATE CARE FOR LOW INCOME PATIENTS. TO MAINTAIN QUALITY CARE EXCELLENCE AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE SEEKING CARE FROM ADVOCATE, WORKING TO FIND MEDICAL HOMES AND TO REDUCE EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS AND HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS IS ESSENTIAL. ADVOCATE HAS NUMEROUS PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON MANAGING THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE CONTINUUM OF CAREIN INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT SETTINGS, AND IN THE HOME. MEDICAID AND MEDICARE. ADVOCATE ACTIVELY WORKS TO IMPROVE THE PROVISION OF SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE COVERED BY MEDICARE AND MEDICAID AND THAT SEEK SERVICES AT ANY OF ADVOCATE'S 400 SITES OF CARE. ADVOCATE COLLABORATES WITH VARIOUS COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (CBOS) AND FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS (FQHCS) IN INNOVATIVE WAYS TO ESTABLISH PRIMARY CARE RELATIONSHIPS FOR MEDICAID AND UNINSURED PATIENTS. ADVOCATE CARE ORGANIZATION (ACO). ADVOCATE COLLABORATES WITH MERIDIAN FAMILY HEALTH PLAN (FHP) OF ILLINOIS AS PART OF AN INTEGRATED CARE MODEL FOR PEOPLE ON MEDICAID. ADVOCATE HAS A STRONG HISTORY OF PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY CARE TO THE MEDICAID POPULATION WITHIN ITS NETWORK WITH KEY FOCUS AREAS, INCLUDING IMPROVED CARE COORDINATION, ACCESS AND QUALITY PERFORMANCE. THE RESULT HAS BEEN A REDUCTION IN ED UTILIZATION DUE TO SUCCESSFULLY CONNECTING INDIVIDUALS IN THE PLAN TO A MEDICAL HOME AND DUE TO CONNECTING PATIENTS WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR UNMET SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH NEEDS."
PART VI, LINE 7, REPORTS FILED WITH STATES IL
PART VI, 6. AFFILIATED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM CONT. "AT BOTH THE SYSTEM AND SITE LEVELS, ADVOCATE IS WORKING TO EXAMINE AND ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF HEALTH INEQUITIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES. TO SUPPORT THE ADVOCATE HOSPITALS IN CONDUCTING CHNA'S, ADVOCATE PURCHASED ACCESS TO METOPIO, A CHNA DATA TOOL. METOPIO IS A SOFTWARE AND SERVICES COMPANY THAT IS GROUNDED IN THE PHILOSOPHY THAT COMMUNITIES ARE CONNECTED THROUGH PLACES AND PEOPLE. METOPIO'S TOOLS AND VISUALIZATIONS USE DATA TO REVEAL VALUABLE, INTERCONNECTED FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE HEALTH OUTCOMES IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. METOPIO OFFERS A DATA, TAILORED TO SUPPORT ALL ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH HOSPITALS WITH IDENTIFYING HEALTH INEQUITIES IN COMMUNITIES. METOPIO USES THE MOST CURRENT DATA SOURCES AND CREATES TOOLS AND INDICES THAT FOCUS ON THE COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE AAH SERVICES AREAS. THE DATA CAN BE USED TO FOCUS ON SPECIFIC REGIONS, COMMUNITIES, AND HOSPITAL SERVICES AREAS. BELOW IS A DESCRIPTION OF TWO IMPORTANT INDICES FOUND IN METOPIO. HARDSHIP INDEX DESCRIPTION. THE HARDSHIP INDEX WAS ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED BY RICHARD P. NATHAN AND CHARLES F. ADAMS, JR. IN 1976 TO COMPARE SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS BETWEEN COMMUNITIES. IT IS HIGHLY CORRELATED WITH OTHER MEASURES OF ECONOMIC HARDSHIP, SUCH AS LABOR FORCE STATISTICS, AND WITH POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES. THE INDEX COMBINES THE FOLLOWING TOPICS INTO A SINGLE COMPOSITE VALUE ON A SCALE OF 0-100: CROWDED HOUSING (MORE THAN ONE PERSON PER ROOM) POVERTY RATE FOR HOUSEHOLDS UNEMPLOYMENT RATE ADULTS WITH A HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE OR EQUIVALENT AGE DEPENDENCY RATIO (% OF RESIDENTS WHO ARE <18 OR >65 YEARS OLD, COMPARED TO THOSE OF WORKING AGE) PER-CAPITA INCOME HIGHER VALUES INDICATE GREATER HARDSHIP AND CORRELATE HIGHER WITH POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES. THE INDEX DOES NOT PRESERVE THE RATIO BETWEEN TWO PLACES, SO IF ONE PLACE HAS TWICE THE HARDSHIP INDEX OF ANOTHER, WE CANNOT SAY THAT IT EXPERIENCES ""TWICE AS MUCH HARDSHIP"" AS ANOTHER PLACE. INSTEAD, COMPARE DIFFERENT PLACES USING THE CONSTITUENT TOPICS. SOCIAL VULNERABILITY INDEX. THE SOCIAL VULNERABILITY INDEX (SVI) WAS DEVELOPED BY THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) TO HELP PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNERS IDENTIFY AND MAP THE COMMUNITIES THAT WILL MOST LIKELY NEED SUPPORT BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A HAZARDOUS EVENT, SUCH AS A NATURAL DISASTER, DISEASE OUTBREAK, OR CHEMICAL SPILL. SVI INDICATES RELATIVE VULNERABILITY BY RANKING PLACES ON 15 SOCIAL FACTORS THAT CAN BE DIVIDED INTO 4 CATEGORIES: SOCIOECONOMIC HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION & DISABILITY MINORITY STATUS & LANGUAGE HOUSING TYPE & TRANSPORTATION THE ORIGINAL SCORE IS ON A SCALE FROM 0-1, BUT IT IS MULTIPLIED BY 100 FOR READABILITY ON METOPIO. A HIGHER SCORE REPRESENTS A COMMUNITY MORE VULNERABLE TO A HAZARDOUS EVENT. DETAILED DOCUMENTATION IS AVAILABLE FROM THE CDC HERE .ADVOCATE CONTINUES TO WORK LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY WITH MANY PROMINENT COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH. EXAMPLES OF THESE EFFORTS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING. HEALTH CARE ANCHOR NETWORK (HAN). AAH IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE HEALTHCARE ANCHOR NETWORK WHICH HAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE 70 OTHER AREA HEALTH SYSTEM AND HOSPITAL PARTNERS. AAH HAS SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC AND HUMAN RESOURCES ACROSS ITS SERVICE AREA AS THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN THE MILWAUKEE AREA AND THE FOURTH LARGEST IN CHICAGO. TO LEVERAGE THESE RESOURCES, IN 2019, AAH ANNOUNCED A COMMITMENT TO INVEST $50 MILLION TO HELP ADDRESS THE ECONOMIC, RACIAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISPARITIES THAT IMPACT COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTCOMES AND DECREASE HEALTH INEQUITY. ADDITIONALLY, AAH COMMITTED TO DRIVING COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING THROUGH ITS INCLUSIVE, LOCAL HIRING AND LOCAL PURCHASING STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES.ADVOCATE AURORA $50M INVESTMENT PLEDGE. AAH IS AMONG THE FIRST HEALTH SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT COMMITMENT TO INVESTING IN TARGETED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. THE ANCHOR STRATEGY INVESTMENTS ARE TARGETED TO ENHANCE CRITICAL SERVICES SUCH AS AFFORDABLE OR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND FOOD ACCESS IN COMMUNITIES THAT LEAD TO IMPROVED HEALTH AND DEMONSTRATED DOWNSTREAM BENEFITS TO OUR PATIENTS AND THE COMMUNITY. INITIALLY, THE INVESTMENT WORK WAS DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCING INSTITUTIONS (CDFIS) TO FUND PROJECTS. ALTHOUGH NOT A PROFIT MAXIMIZING ACTIVITY, THIS INVESTMENT COMMITMENT WILL RESULT IN A RETURN OF THE PRINCIPAL TO THE ORGANIZATION WITH INTEREST TO ENSURE A SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT CAPACITY FOR REINVESTMENT OVER TIME. A COMMUNITY INVESTMENT STRATEGY TEAM WAS FORMED TO PLAN AND GUIDE THE WORKCONSISTING OF FINANCE AND TREASURY, COMMUNITY HEALTH AND OPERATIONS TEAMS TO DEVELOP THE SCOPE AND PROCESS. THE TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEPLOYING $50 MILLION IN LOANS TO CDFIS ACROSS OUR FOOTPRINT BY THE END OF 2025. TO DATE, THE TEAM HAS COMPLETED 4 CONTRACTS WITH LOCAL CDFIS: $25M WITH LOCAL INITIATIVE SUPPORT CORPORATION (LISC) $5M WITH IFF $2.5M WITH CHICAGO COMMUNITY LOAN FUND (CCLF) $1M WITH WISCONSIN WOMEN'S BUSINESS INITIATIVE CORPORATION (WWBIC)ADVOCATE AURORA PURCHASING COMMITMENT. THIS ANCHOR STRATEGY BUILDS ON THE EXISTING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION PURCHASING STRATEGIES AND ESTABLISHES TARGETS RELATED TO INCREASING THE NUMBER OF LOCAL AND DIVERSE VENDORS WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THE INVESTMENT STRATEGY ALSO FUNDING STRATEGIC BUSINESSES SUCH AS URBAN AGRICULTURE VENTURES TO QUALIFY MORE BUSINESS AS VENDORS. ON JUNE 9, 2021, AAH ANNOUNCED SIGNING THE ""IMPACT PURCHASING COMMITMENT""DESIGNED BY THE HEALTH ANCHOR NETWORK (HAN)TO BUILD HEALTHY, EQUITABLE, AND CLIMATE-RESILIENT LOCAL ECONOMIES THROUGH SPENDING. THE COMMITMENT INCLUDES INCREASING SPENDING WITH MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES (MWBES) AS WELL AS LOCAL AND EMPLOYEE-OWNED, COOPERATIVELY OWNED AND/OR NONPROFIT-OWNED ENTERPRISES, BY AT LEAST $1 BILLION OVER FIVE YEARS. AAH WILL ALSO WORK WITH AT LEAST TWO OF THEIR LARGE EXISTING VENDORS TO CREATE HIRING PIPELINES IN THE DISINVESTED COMMUNITIES THAT IT SERVES AND WILL COMMIT TO ADOPTING SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT GOALS. THERE ARE SEVERAL ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES OF EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN CORPORATE OPTIONS THROUGH HUMAN RESOURCE, SUPPLY CHAIN, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND INVESTMENT POLICIES THAT IMPACT THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH IN THE COMMUNITIES SERVED BY ADVOCATE.ADVOCATE IS ALSO STRENGTHENING CORPORATE OPTIONS THROUGH HUMAN RESOURCE, SUPPLY CHAIN, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND INVESTMENT POLICIES TO IMPACT THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH IN THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES.ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP. ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE IS COMMITTED TO GREENING HEALTH CARE BECAUSE IT IS DEEPLY CONNECTED TO THE PURPOSE OF OUR ORGANIZATION HEALTH AND HEALING. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE HEALTH OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE HEALTH OF THE PATIENTS AND COMMUNITIES WE SERVE IS INEXTRICABLY LINKED AND THAT A HEALTHY PLANET SUPPORTS HEALTHY PEOPLE. REDUCING WASTE, CONSERVING ENERGY AND WATER, MINIMIZING USE OF TOXIC CHEMICALS, AND CONSTRUCTING ECO-FRIENDLY BUILDINGS FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW ALL THESE EFFORTS HAVE A DIRECT BENEFIT ON THE HEALTH OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES VIA CLEANER COMMUNITIES, HEALTHIER AIR QUALITY, REDUCED GREENHOUSE GASES, AND PRESERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES. AS WE WORK TO REDUCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH IMPACT OF HEALTH CARE, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES HELP EASE THE BURDEN OF HEALTH CARE COSTS BOTH DIRECTLY (LOWER ENERGY COSTS) AND INDIRECTLY (LOWER ENVIRONMENTALLY RELATED DISEASE BURDEN). MENTORING AND EDUCATION. AS WE WORK TO SERVE THE HEALTH NEEDS OF TODAY'S PATIENTS AND FAMILIES WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE NEEDS OF FUTURE GENERATIONS, ADVOCATE HAS COMMITTED RESOURCES TO SHARING LESSONS LEARNED AND BEST PRACTICES WITH OTHER HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS, BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY. ADVOCATE SERVES IN A LEADERSHIP, ADVOCACY AND MENTORING ROLE NATIONALLY THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN SEVERAL HEALTHCARE SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP GROUPS AND ADVISORY BOARDS, ADDRESSING SAFER CHEMICALS IN FURNISHING AND MEDICAL PRODUCTS, GREEN BUILDING, CLIMATE CHANGE, PLASTICS RECYCLING, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING: HEALTH CARE CLIMATE COUNCIL HEALTHCARE ANCHOR NETWORK HEALTHCARE PLASTICS RECYCLING COALITION HEALTHCARE FACILITY ADVISORY BOARD PRACTICE GREENHEALTH MARKET TRANSFORMATION GROUP SAFER CHEMICALS HEALTHY BUILDING NETWORK PREMIER ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL STEERING COUNCIL OVERSIGHT AND SIGNATORY OF THE CHEMICAL FOOTPRINT PROJECTADVOCATE ALSO COMMONLY PROVIDES MENTORING TO HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY ON SUSTAINABILITY BEST PRACTICES THROUGH PRESENTATIONS AND WEBINARS, AS WELL AS TO INDIVIDUAL HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS."
PART VI, 6. AFFILIATED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM CONT. "ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM 2021 ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES: PLEDGED TO POWER ITS FACILITIES WITH 100% RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY BY 2030. REDUCED ENERGY INTENSITY UTILIZATION BY 1.3% FROM 2020. AVOIDED 31 MTCO2E OF GREENHOUSE GASES (EQUIVALENT TO OVER 75,000 MILLION MILES OF DRIVING) THROUGH ECO-FRIENDLY MANAGEMENT OF ANESTHETIC GASES. RECYCLED 2,983 TONS OF WASTE FROM HOSPITAL OPERATIONS. RECYCLED 84 PERCENT, OR 1,090 TONS, OF CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS. SAVED 26 TONS OF WASTE FROM LANDFILL VIA OUR SURGICAL AND MEDICAL DEVICE REPROCESSING PROGRAMS. REDUCED PAPER UTILIZATION BY 1.6% FROM 2020. CONTINUED OUR DONATION PROGRAM WITH PROJECT C.U.R.E., A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WILL RESPONSIBLY REDISTRIBUTE DONATED MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT TO UNDER-RESOURCED AREAS AROUND THE GLOBE, FOR ALL ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE FACILITIES. IN 2021, ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE DONATED 128 PALLETS OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO PROJECT CURE. SPENT OVER $68,000, OR 84% OF ADVOCATE'S EXPENSES IN SELECT CLEANING PRODUCT CATEGORIES (WINDOW, FLOOR, CARPET, BATHROOM, AND GENERAL-PURPOSE CLEANERS) ON THIRD-PARTY CERTIFIED ""GREEN"" CLEANERS. INCREASED THE PURCHASE OF HEALTHIER HOSPITALS-APPROVED FURNITURE, MADE WITHOUT SELECT CHEMICALS OF CONCERN, INCLUDING PERFLUORINATED COMPOUNDS, PVC (VINYL), FORMALDEHYDE, FLAME RETARDANTS (WHERE CODE PERMISSIBLE) AND ANTIMICROBIALS, TO 99% OF TOTAL PURCHASES. PURCHASED OVER $1,000,000 OF MEAT PRODUCTS FROM LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY RAISED WITHOUT THE ROUTINE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS (32% OF TOTAL), SUPPORTING THE JUDICIOUS AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN AGRICULTURE WHICH CAN HELP SLOW THE EMERGENCE OF ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT BACTERIA. PLEASE SEE ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE'S PUBLICLY FACING SUSTAINABILITY & WELLNESS WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.PROJECT C.U.R.E. (COMMISSION ON URGENT RELIEF AND EQUIPMENT). ADVOCATE IS A MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLY DONATION PARTNER OF PROJECT C.U.R.E., THE WORLD'S LEADING MEDICAL SUPPLY DISTRIBUTION ORGANIZATION BENEFITING RESOURCE-LIMITED AREAS ACROSS THE GLOBE. IN 2021, ADVOCATE DONATED A TOTAL OF 128 PALLETS OF MISCELLANEOUS MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO PROJECT C.U.R.E.STAKEHOLDER HEALTH. ADVOCATE IS A FOUNDING MEMBER AND INVESTING PARTNER OF STAKEHOLDER HEALTH, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE HEALTH SYSTEMS LEARNING GROUP. STAKEHOLDER HEALTH IS A LOOSELY ORGANIZED LEARNING COLLABORATIVE OF MORE THAN 50 HEALTH SYSTEMS AND OTHER INVESTED INSTITUTIONS ADVANCING PROFOUND CHANGES NEEDED FOR JUST, EQUITABLE, AND EFFECTIVE HEALTH CARE. THE COLLABORATIVE SUPPORTS THREE KEY INTERVENTIONSENGAGE THE SOCIAL COMPLEXITY OF PATIENTS; WORK WITH LARGE-SCALE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS; CAPTURE GREATER VALUE FROM FUNDS ALREADY GOING TO CHARITY CARE. ADVOCATE STAFF SERVE ON THE ADVISORY COUNCIL AND HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN OFFERING THOUGHT LEADERSHIP SINCE ITS INCEPTION. AAH STAFF RECENTLY ATTENDED A MEETING THAT INCLUDED GUIDED CONVERSATIONS BY THOUGHT LEADERS SCOTT REINER, FORMER CEO OF ADVENTIST HEALTH AND CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE REINER FOUNDATION; AND SOMAVA (SOMA) SAHA, MD, EXECUTIVE LEAD, WELL-BEING AND EQUITY (WE) IN THE WORLD AND WELL-BEING IN THE NATION (WIN) NETWORK, AROUND IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF COMMUNITIES.ADVOCATE WORKS TO LEVERAGE RESOURCES AND MAXIMIZE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BY BUILDING AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER DIVERSE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. A PRIMARY VALUE OF ADVOCATE'S COMMUNITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERS, PREFERABLY THROUGH A COLLECTIVE IMPACT MODEL. IN ORDER TO ALIGN INITIATIVES WITH LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND THEIR COMMUNITY HEALTH PRIORITIES, ALL ADVOCATE HOSPITALS COLLABORATE WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS DURING THE CHNA AND HEALTH IMPROVEMENT (IMPLEMENTATION PLAN) CYCLES. ONE SUCH NOTABLE COLLABORATION IN WHICH ADVOCATE SYSTEM LEADERSHIP PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IS AS FOLLOWS. THE ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH EQUITY (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE HEALTH IMPACT COLLABORATIVE OF COOK COUNTY [HICCC]). ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH, PRESENCE HEALTH (NOW KNOWN AS AMITA HEALTH) AND THE ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE (IPHI) WERE THE THREE FOUNDING ORGANIZATIONS OF THE HEALTH IMPACT COLLABORATIVE OF COOK COUNTY (HICCC). THESE ORGANIZATIONS INVITED HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND ALL COOK COUNTY NONPROFIT HOSPITALS TO JOIN THEM IN CREATING WHAT IS NOW ONE OF THE LARGEST CHNA AND COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT COLLABORATIVES IN THE COUNTRY. THE INITIAL PARTICIPATING HOSPITALS AND HEALTH DEPARTMENTS WORKED TOGETHER TO DESIGN A SHARED LEADERSHIP MODEL AND COLLABORATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY-ENGAGED PLANNING PARTNERSHIPS AND STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS TO FACILITATE MORE EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT. IN LATE 2017, HICCC MERGED WITH THE HEALTHY CHICAGO HOSPITALS COLLABORATIVE TO CREATE THE ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH EQUITY (THE ALLIANCE). IPHI SERVES AS THE BACKBONE ORGANIZATION FOR THE COLLABORATIVE AND THE HOSPITALS PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE SHARED ASSESSMENT AND COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLANNING WORK. IN 2019, THE ALLIANCE GREW TO INCLUDE 37 NONPROFIT AND PUBLIC HOSPITALS, SIX LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND MORE THAN 100 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THE ALLIANCE COMPLETED A COLLABORATIVE CHNA BETWEEN MARCH 2018 AND MARCH 2019 .THIS CHNA CAN BE VIEWED AT ALLHEALTHEQUITY.ORG/FINAL2019 CHNA-REPORT.PDF.PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DATA FROM A DIVERSE RANGE OF SOURCES WERE UTILIZED FOR ROBUST DATA ANALYSIS AND TO IDENTIFY COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS IN CHICAGO AND SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY. FOR THE 2019 CHNA, THE ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH EQUITY BUILT ON THE PREVIOUS COLLABORATIVE CHNA WORK (2016), PREVIOUS CHNA REPORTS FROM MEMBER HOSPITALS, HEALTHY CHICAGO 2.0 (2016), AND WEPLAN 2020 (2016). ADVOCATE CONTINUES TO BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN LEADERSHIP OF THE ALLIANCE PARTNERSHIP, SERVING ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE. ADVOCATE HOSPITALS, AS WELL AS THE OTHER MEMBER HOSPITALS, PROVIDE THE MONETARY SUPPORT FOR THE COLLABORATIVE'S WORK AND SUPPORT THE COST OF STAFF AND OVERSIGHT PROVIDED BY THE ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE. ADDITIONALLY, ADVOCATE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN LEADING THIS ASSESSMENT WORK AS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE, PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE ALLIANCE AGAIN IN 2020.THE PRIORITY AREAS SELECTED BY THE ALLIANCE INCLUDE SOCIAL AND STRUCTURAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, ACCESS TO CARE, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS, INJURY INCLUDING VIOLENCE, AND MATERNAL/FETAL HEALTH. ALL PARTICIPATING HOSPITALS SELECTED SOME OF THE PRIORITIES TO ADDRESS IN THE AREAS SERVED. THERE ARE MULTIPLE WORK GROUPS ADDRESSING THE PRIORITY AREAS AND ADVOCATE STAFF SERVE ON MOST OF THE WORK GROUPS.ADVOCATE PROMOTES ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SYSTEM AND SITE ALIGNMENT BY INCREASING PROGRAM COORDINATION AND DEVELOPING STRONG GOVERNANCE RELATIONSHIPS.SYSTEM OVERSIGHT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH. ADVOCATE HAS TAKEN SEVERAL STEPS TO ASSURE SYSTEM AND SITE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR AND ALIGNMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS. THESE ACTIONS INCLUDE DEVELOPING A GOVERNANCE AND DEPARTMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE SITES AND SYSTEM LEVELS TO LEAD AND SUPPORT EFFORTS, AND TO INCLUDE ADVOCATE'S AMPLE CLINICAL EXPERTISE IN DEVELOPING AND SUSTAINING EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS THAT MEASURABLY IMPACT/IMPROVE COMMUNITY HEALTH.HOSPITAL GOVERNING COUNCILS. COMMUNITY HEALTH IS STRONGLY INTEGRATED INTO ADVOCATE'S GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES. COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCILS, COMPRISED OF COMMUNITY EXPERTS AND HOSPITAL LEADERS, HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AT EACH OF THE ADVOCATE HOSPITALS. THESE COUNCILS ARE CO-LED BY THE HOSPITAL COMMUNITY HEALTH LEADER AND A HOSPITAL GOVERNING COUNCIL MEMBER. A MINIMUM OF 50% OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE 2019 CHNA REPORT AND 2020-2022 COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CYCLES WERE COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES WITH A FOCUS ON PEOPLE WHO REPRESENTED UNDERSERVED AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. DEPENDENT ON THE HOSPITAL, THE COUNCILS MET THREE OR FOUR TIMES DURING THE YEAR.HOSPITAL COMMUNITY HEALTH STAFF ANALYZED AND PRESENTED PRIMARY AND SECONDARY COMMUNITY HEALTH DATA TO THE HOSPITALS' COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCILS. THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IDENTIFIED THE HOSPITAL SERVICE AREAS' SIGNIFICANT HEALTH NEEDS, SUBSEQUENTLY EMPLOYING CONSENSUS-BASED, PRIORITY-SETTING PROCESSES TO DETERMINE THE NEEDS UPON WHICH TO FOCUS. AS PART OF THE PRIORITIZATION PROCESS, THE COUNCILS SCANNED HOSPITAL AND COMMUNITY CHALLENGES AND ASSETS, AS WELL AS POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT MIGHT RESULT IN LARGER HEALTH IMPROVEMENT IMPACT.TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2017-2019 CHNA CYCLE DATA ASSESSMENT RESULTS FOR EACH HOSPITAL, VISIT HOSPITAL CHNA REPORTS IMPLEMENTATION PLANS PROGRESS REPORTS : ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE."
PART III, LINE 4: FOR ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL, IN 2021 THE ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS COVERED 40.12% OF NET PATIENT ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE. PATIENT ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE ARE STATED AT NET REALIZABLE VALUE. ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL EVALUATES THE COLLECTABILITY OF ITS ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE BASED ON THE LENGTH OF TIME THE RECEIVABLE IS OUTSTANDING, PAYER CLASS, HISTORICAL COLLECTION EXPERIENCE, AND TRENDS IN HEALTH CARE INSURANCE PROGRAMS. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE ARE CHARGED TO THE ALLOWANCE FOR UNCOLLECTIBLE ACCOUNTS WHEN THEY ARE DEEMED UNCOLLECTIBLE.THE COSTING METHODOLOGY USED IN DETERMINING THE AMOUNTS REPORTED ON LINES 2 AND 3 IS BASED ON THE RATIO OF PATIENT CARE COST TO CHARGES. THE UNREIMBURSED COST OF BAD DEBT WAS CALCULATED BY APPLYING THE ORGANIZATION'S COST TO CHARGE RATIO FROM THE MEDICARE COST REPORTS (CMS 2252-96 WORKSHEET C, PART 1, PPS INPATIENT RATIOS) TO THE ORGANIZATION'S BAD DEBT PROVISION PER GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES, LESS ANY PATIENT OR THIRD PARTY PAYOR PAYMENTS RECEIVED.ADVOCATE MAKES EVERY EFFORT TO IDENTIFY THOSE PATIENTS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BY STRICTLY ADHERING TO ITS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY. WE BELIEVE THAT ADVOCATE HAS A POPULATION OF PATIENTS WHO ARE UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED BUT WHO DO NOT COMPLETE THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION. THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF BAD DEBT EXPENSE (AT COST) WHICH COULD BE REASONABLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO PATIENTS WHO WOULD LIKELY QUALIFY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDER THE ORGANIZATION'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY, IF SUFFICIENT INFORMATION HAD BEEN AVAILABLE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION OF THEIR ELIGIBILITY, WAS BASED UPON SELF PAY PATIENT ACCOUNTS WHICH HAD AMOUNTS WRITTEN OFF TO BAD DEBTS. OUR METHOD WAS TO BEGIN WITH THE SELF-PAY PORTION OF BAD DEBT EXPENSE PROVISION. THE SELF PAY PORTION EXCLUDES THOSE PATIENTS WHO HAD CHARITY APPLICATIONS PENDING AT THE TIME OF SERVICE. THIS COST WAS THEN REDUCED BY CHARGES IDENTIFIED AS TRUE BAD DEBT EXPENSE, INCLUDING COPAYS FOR PATIENTS WHO QUALIFIED FOR LESS THAN 100% FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THE COST TO CHARGE RATIO WAS THEN APPLIED TO THE REMAINING CHARGES, TO DETERMINE THE VALUE (AT COST) OF PATIENT ACCOUNTS THAT DID NOT COMPLETE FINANCIAL COUNSELING AND WERE ASSIGNED TO BAD DEBT. WE BELIEVE THIS PROCESS IS A REASONABLE BASIS FOR OUR ESTIMATE. AS WE ARE ONLY CONSIDERING SELF-PAY ACCOUNTS WRITTEN OFF TO BAD DEBT FOR THIS ESTIMATE, THIS ESTIMATE DOES NOT INCLUDE THE IMMEDIATE 30% DISCOUNT TO CHARGES WHICH IS APPLIED TO ALL SELF-PAY PATIENTS. IT ALSO DOES NOT INCLUDE ACCOUNT BALANCES OR CO-PAYS OF NON-SELF PAY ACCOUNTS WHICH ARE WRITTEN OFF TO BAD DEBT WHEN THE PATIENT HAS NO OTHER FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO PAY THESE AMOUNTS AND THE PATIENT DOES NOT APPLY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.BAD DEBT AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFIT AMOUNTS REPORTED THROUGHOUT SCHEDULE H.
PART III, LINE 8: THE SHORTFALL OF $11,785,678 ON PART III, LINE 7 IS THE UNREIMBURSED COST OF PROVIDING SERVICES FOR MEDICARE PATIENTS AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS COMMUNITY BENEFIT BECAUSE PROVIDING THESE SERVICES WITHOUT REIMBURSEMENT LESSENS THE BURDENS OF GOVERNMENT OR OTHER CHARITIES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE NEEDED TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.FOR ADVOCATE SHERMAN'S OPERATIONS, THE UNREIMBURSED COST OF MEDICARE WAS CALCULATED BY APPLYING THE ORGANIZATION'S COST TO CHARGE RATIO FROM THE MEDICARE COST REPORTS (CMS 2252-96 WORKSHEET C, PART 1, PPS INPATIENT RATIOS) AND FOR NON-HOSPITAL OPERATIONS THE COST TO CHARGE RATIO CALCULATED ON WORKSHEET 2 RATIO OF PATIENT CARE COST TO CHARGES TO THE ORGANIZATION'S MEDICARE, LESS ANY PATIENT OR THIRD PARTY PAYOR PAYMENTS AND/OR CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THAT WERE DESIGNATED FOR THE PAYMENT OF MEDICARE PATIENT BILLS.
PART VI, LINE 3: ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL ASSISTS PATIENTS WITH ENROLLMENT IN GOVERNMENT-SUPPORTED PROGRAMS FOR WHICH THEY ARE ELIGIBLE AND IN SECURING REIMBURSEMENT FROM AVAILABLE THIRD-PARTY RESOURCES. FINANCIAL ASSESSMENT IS PROVIDED TO HELP PATIENTS IDENTIFY AND OBTAIN PAYMENT FROM THIRD PARTIES, INCLUDING ILLINOIS MEDICAID, ILLINOIS CRIME VICTIMS FUND, ETC., AS WELL AS TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY UNDER ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY. ADVOCATE UTILIZES A FINANCIAL SCREENING SOFTWARE PROGRAM TO HELP IDENTIFY PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR WHICH THE PATIENT MAY BE ELIGIBLE OR ADVOCATE'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION OR AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE THEREAFTER. IN ADDITION, HEALTHADVISOR, ADVOCATE'S EDUCATION REGISTRATION AND PHYSICIAN REFERRAL TELEPHONE CENTER, SERVES AS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE PROVIDING REFERRALS TO GOVERNMENT-FUNDED AND OTHER PROGRAMS VIA TELEPHONE FROM 7 A.M. TO 7 P.M., MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND SATURDAYS 9 A.M. TO 2 P.M. ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL ASSISTS PATIENTS WITH APPLYING FOR ADVOCATE'S OWN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES, IF PATIENTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT-SUPPORTED PROGRAMS. ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL COMMUNICATES THE AVAILABILITY OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THE APPLICABLE LANGUAGES OF THE HOSPITAL COMMUNITY. MEANS OF COMMUNICATION INCLUDE:1. THE HEALTH CARE CONSENT THAT IS SIGNED UPON REGISTRATION FOR HOSPITAL SERVICES INCLUDES A STATEMENT THAT FINANCIAL COUNSELING, INCLUDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATION, IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.2. SIGNS ARE CLEARLY AND CONSPICUOUSLY POSTED IN LOCATIONS THAT ARE VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO HOSPITAL PATIENT ACCESS, REGISTRATION, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, CASHIER, AND BUSINESS OFFICE LOCATIONS.3. BROCHURES ARE PLACED IN HOSPITAL PATIENT ACCESS, REGISTRATION, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND BUSINESS OFFICE LOCATIONS, AND WILL INCLUDE GUIDANCE ON HOW A PATIENT MAY APPLY FOR MEDICARE, MEDICAID, ALL KIDS, FAMILY CARE ETC., AND THE HOSPITAL'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. A HOSPITAL CONTACT AND TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS INCLUDED.4. UPON REQUEST A HANDOUT SUMMARIZING ADVOCATE'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION IS GIVEN TO UNINSURED PATIENTS WHO RECEIVE MEDICALLY NECESSARY HOSPITAL SERVICES AT THE EARLIEST PRACTICAL TIME OF SERVICE.5. ADVOCATE'S WEBSITE POSTS NOTICE IN A PROMINENT PLACE THAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE, WITH AN EXPLANATION OF THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION PROCESS, AND ENABLE PRINTING OF THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION.6. HOSPITAL BILLS TO UNINSURED PATIENTS A SUMMARY OF ADVOCATE'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY, A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION AND A TELEPHONE NUMBER TO REQUEST FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
PART VI, LINE 4: DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMUNITY/POPULATION. OR THE 2017-2019 CHNA, ADVOCATE SHERMAN DEFINED THE COMMUNITY AS ITS PSA, WHICH INCLUDES COMMUNITIES IN MCHENRY AND KANE COUNTIES. THE PSA INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ILLINOIS COMMUNITIES: ELGIN, LAKE IN THE HILLS, CARPENTERSVILLE, DUNDEE, GILBERTS, SOUTH ELGIN, ALGONQUIN AND HUNTLEY. DEMOGRAPHICS POPULATION. THE TOTAL POPULATION OF THE ADVOCATE SHERMAN PSA IS 301,055, WHICH IS A 4.75 PERCENT INCREASE FROM 2010-2019. THE THREE LARGEST COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE PSA ARE ELGIN (60120) WITH A POPULATION OF 52,712, ELGIN (60123) WITH A POPULATION OF 47,906 AND CARPENTERSVILLE (60110) WITH A POPULATION OF 39,634. AGE. THE MEDIAN AGE OF THE ADVOCATE SHERMAN PSA IS 38.84 YEARS OLD. IN THE PSA, 25.61 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION IS AGES 17 YEARS AND YOUNGER AND 13.68 PERCENT IS AGES 65 AND OVER. THE LARGEST POPULATION IN THE PSA ARE THOSE AGES 25-64 YEARS AT 40.35 PERCENT. GENDER. THE ADVOCATE SHERMAN PSA IS COMPRISED OF 50.46 PERCENT MALES AND 49.54 PERCENT FEMALES.RACE/ETHNICITY. THE HOSPITAL'S PSA IS 73 PERCENT WHITE, 7.51 PERCENT ASIAN, 4.79 PERCENT BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN, 3.16 PERCENT TWO OR MORE RACES, 0.77 PERCENT AMERICAN INDIAN/ALASKAN NATIVE, 0.04 PERCENT NATIVE HAWAIIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER, AND 10.26 PERCENT SOME OTHER RACE. TWENTY-NINE PERCENT PSA IS HISPANIC/LATINO WITH THE LARGEST HISPANIC POPULATION IN THE ZIP CODES OF ELGIN (60120) AT 54.65 PERCENT AND CARPENTERSVILLE (60110) AT 50.75 PERCENT. INCOME. THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME FOR THE PSA POPULATION IS $83.604. ASIAN HOUSEHOLDS HAVE THE HIGHEST MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME AT $115,310 WHILE AFRICAN AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS HAVE THE LOWEST AT $48,584.POVERTY. IN THE ADVOCATE SHERMAN PSA, 9.4 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION IS LIVING BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL (FPL), WHICH IS LESS THAN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS RATE OF 13.5 PERCENT AND THE U.S. RATE OF 14.6 PERCENT. THERE IS A TOTAL OF 5,608 FAMILIES (7.3 PERCENT OF TOTAL FAMILIES) LIVING BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. THE COMMUNITIES WITH THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES LIVING BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL ARE THOSE IN CARPENTERSVILLE (60110) AT 14.55 PERCENT, ELGIN (60120) AT 12.01 PERCENT AND ELGIN (60123) AT 10.97 PERCENTADULTS WITH HEALTH INSURANCE. A TOTAL OF 88.7 PERCENT OF KANE COUNTY ADULTS, AGES 19-64 YEARS, AND 93.5 PERCENT OF MCHENRY COUNTY ADULTS HAVE SOME TYPE OF HEALTH INSURANCE. THE PERCENTAGE OF ADULTS WITH HEALTH INSURANCE IN MCHENRY COUNTY IS HIGHER THAN THE ILLINOIS RATE OF 90.2 PERCENT, BUT THE PERCENT IN KANE COUNTY IS LOWER THAN THE ILLINOIS RATE. CHILDREN WITH HEALTH INSURANCE. THE PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN WITH HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE IN BOTH KANE COUNTY (97.9 PERCENT) AND MCHENRY COUNTY (97.0 PERCENT) IS EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN THE ILLINOIS RATE OF 97.1 PERCENT. FOR THE CENSUS PLACE (CITY) OF ELGIN, 97.1 PERCENT OF CHILDREN UNDER AGE 19 YEARS HAVE SOME TYPE OF HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE. PERSONS WITH PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE ONLY. BOTH KANE AND MCHENRY COUNTIES INDICATE LOWER RATES OF PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE ONLY, AT 19.8 PERCENT AND 15.9 PERCENT, RESPECTIVELY, AS COMPARED TO THE ILLINOIS RATE OF 23.3 PERCENT. HOSPITALS AND FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS. THERE ARE THREE HOSPITALS IN THE ADVOCATE SHERMAN PSA INCLUDING ADVOCATE SHERMAN AND AMITA SAINT JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL IN ELGIN, AND NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE-HUNTLEY HOSPITAL IN HUNTLEY. THE FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS (FQHCS) IN THE PSA INCLUDE GREATER ELGIN FAMILY CARE CENTER (GEFCC), VNA HEALTH CARE (VNA) AND AUNT MARTHA'S CLINIC (AM). IN KANE COUNTY, THERE ARE THREE MUASONE FOR THE INNER-CITY AURORA SERVICE AREA, ONE FOR THE KANE COUNTY SERVICE AREA AND ONE FOR THE CENTRAL CARPENTERSVILLE AREA. IN MCHENRY COUNTY, THERE IS ONE MUP FOR THE POVERTY POPULATION OF WOODSTOCK.
PART VI, LINE 5: THE GOVERNING COUNCIL (BOARD OF DIRECTORS) AT ADVOCATE SHERMAN IS COMPRISED OF LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS AND PHYSICIANS. SEVENTY-ONE PERCENT OF THE CURRENT GC MEMBERS REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE FAITH COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION EXTENDS MEDICAL STAFF PRIVILEGES TO ALL QUALIFIED PHYSICIANS IN ITS COMMUNITY FOR SOME OR ALL OF ITS DEPARTMENTS AND SPECIALTIES.ADVOCATE SHERMAN HAS SEVERAL OTHER PROGRAMS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY AS DESCRIBED BELOW. ALIGNMENT COLLABORATIVE FOR EDUCATION (ACE). ACE IS A COLLECTIVE IMPACT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO ALIGN COMMUNITY RESOURCES IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC-SCHOOL STRATEGIES TO RAISE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS OF CHILDREN, CREATE RESPONSIBLE, PRODUCTIVE AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY AND ADVANCE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING OF COMMUNITIES SERVED BY DISTRICT U-46. ALIGNMENT TEAMS (A-TEAMS) WERE CREATED TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO NEEDS IDENTIFIED BY THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY HEALTH IS A MEMBER OF THE TRAUMA INFORMED CARE A-TEAM. COVID-19 PREVENTION AND MITIGATION. IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, ADVOCATE SHERMAN PROVIDED FREE COVID-19 TESTING TO ELGIN AREA COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH A PRIMARY FOCUS ON ENSURING ACCESS FOR HISPANIC AND AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES. THE EVENT WAS HELD AT SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH IN ELGIN WITH A TOTAL OF 227 PEOPLE TESTED OVER FOUR DAYS IN JULY 2020. ADDITIONALLY, ATTENDEES WERE PROVIDED FREE MASKS AND COVID-19 EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES. FLU VACCINATIONS. ADVOCATE SHERMAN ALSO PROVIDED SEASONAL FLU VACCINATIONS TO ELGIN AND CARPENTERSVILLE AREA COMMUNITY RESIDENTS. THE PRIMARY FOCUS WAS TO ENSURE ACCESS FOR HISPANIC AND AFRICAN AMERICAN RESIDENTS. IN 2020, A TOTAL OF 111 PEOPLE WERE VACCINATED IN ELGIN AND A TOTAL OF 39 PEOPLE WERE VACCINATED IN CARPENTERSVILLE.
PART VI, 6. AFFILIATED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM CONT. PRIMARY CARE CONNECTION-COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS (CHWS) THE PRIMARY CARE CONNECTION (PCC) PROGRAM, DEPLOYS COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS (CHWS) AS COMMUNITY RESOURCE NAVIGATORS TO SERVE PATIENTS IN THE ED. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO REDUCE UNNECESSARY ED VISITS AND TO CONNECT PATIENTS TO A PRIMARY CARE HOME. CHWS EDUCATE PATIENTS ABOUT ACCESSING THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF CARE AND PROVIDING FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS TO A CONVENIENT CARE SITE FOR PATIENTS DURING THE ED VISIT. CHWS ALSO CONDUCT A COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT TO IDENTIFY SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND LINK THE PATIENTS TO SOCIAL SERVICES AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE PATIENTS' OVERALL WELLBEING. THE PCC PROGRAM HAS REACHED OVER 34,836 PATIENTS SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2017. FROM JANUARY THROUGH DECEMBER 2021, THE PROGRAM SERVED 5,586 PATIENTS WITH A COMBINED 90-DAY READMISSION RATE AMONG ALL PATIENTS OF LESS THAN FOUR PERCENT.ADVOCATE ALSO PROVIDES LANGUAGE AND OTHER CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE SERVICES TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO A BROAD RANGE OF HEALTH-RELATED SERVICES. LANGUAGE SERVICES. ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH REMAINS VERY COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE OUR PATIENTS RECEIVE THEIR HEALTH INFORMATION IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE. PROVIDING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE THROUGH COMMUNICATION IS A KEY COMPONENT TO HEALTH EQUITY AND HEALTHY LIVING WHICH EVERYONE DESERVES. OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS WE HAVE EXPANDED ACCESS TO LANGUAGE SERVICES THROUGH SOME OF THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIES.INTERPRETATION PROGRAM: INCREASED TOTAL ENCOUNTERS FROM 653,528 IN 2019 TO 1,070,256 IN 2021, COVERING OVER 129 LANGUAGES. THIS WAS ACHIEVED THROUGH: ROLLING OUT AN UPDATED LANGUAGE SERVICES POLICY AND EDUCATING ALL TEAM MEMBERS ON THE LANGUAGE SERVICES PROGRAM AND EXPECTATIONS. 71,843 TEAM MEMBERS AND PROVIDERS COMPLETED THIS EDUCATION IN 2021. EXPANDING OUR VIDEO INTERPRETATION CAPABILITIES BY DEPLOYING NEW IPADS, BRINGING OUR TOTAL LANGUAGE SERVICES INVENTORY TO 2165. AS THE USE OF TELEHEALTH INCREASED, WE SEAMLESSLY INTEGRATED INTERPRETERS INTO THE TELEHEALTH PLATFORMS TO CONTINUE COMMUNICATING WITH PATIENTS IN THEIR PREFERRED LANGUAGE. CONTINUING TO EXPAND OUR AUXILIARY AIDS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM.
PART VI, 6. AFFILIATED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM CONT. 2. ACCESS/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICESA SECOND ADVOCATE COMMUNITY STRATEGY FOCUS AREA IS ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. ADVOCATE HAS IMPLEMENTED MANY PROGRAMS/SERVICES FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR THE BENEFIT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PATIENTS. SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS THAT ADVOCATE HOSPITALS HAVE IMPLEMENTED AND IMPROVE ACCESS ARE PROVIDED BELOW. MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA). WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY, MENTAL HEALTH IS SELECTED AS A KEY COMMUNITY HEALTH PRIORITY. MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS, HOSPITAL STAFF, FIRST RESPONDERS AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY CONTINUED IN 2020 AS ONE EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM DESIGNED TO IMPACT THIS ISSUE. THE EIGHT-HOUR PROGRAM INCREASES PARTICIPANTS' KNOWLEDGE OF SIGNS, SYMPTOMS AND RISK FACTORS OF MENTAL ILLNESSES AND ADDICTIONS, AND INCREASES THEIR CONFIDENCE IN AND LIKELIHOOD TO HELP AN INDIVIDUAL IN DISTRESS. AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC, THE STRUCTURE OF THE MHFA TRAINING WAS MODIFIED SO IT COULD BE HELD VIRTUALLY TO MEET THE COVID-19 IN-PERSON AND SOCIAL DISTANCING RESTRICTIONS AND GUIDELINES. HOWEVER, CERTAIN GUIDELINES WERE UPHELD AND FOR CERTAIN AREAS, IN-PERSON TRAINING WAS PROVIDED. IN THE CENTRAL REGION, ADVOCATE LUTHERAN GENERAL HOSPITAL'S COMMUNITY HEALTH TEAM PARTNERS WITH THE SERTOMA CENTER TO IMPLEMENT TWO, MHFA TRAININGS FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL STAFF (EMS) STAFF AND LOCAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. A TOTAL OF 40, HOSPITAL AND COMMUNITY, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WERE TRAINED IN PERSON BY TWO MHFA INSTRUCTORS FROM THE SERTOMA CENTER. THE TWO TRAININGS INCLUDED EMS, FIRE FIGHTERS, PARAMEDICS, FIRE CHIEFS, DISPATCHERS, TELE COMMUNICATORS AND SEVERAL OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. ADVOCATE GOOD SAMARITAN TRAINED 20 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS) STUDENTS IN MHFA IN 2021. FOLLOWING THE TRAINING, NINETY-SEVEN PERCENT OF PARTICIPANTS AGREE OR STRONGLY AGREE THAT THEY ARE MORE CONFIDENT ABOUT RECOGNIZING AND CORRECTING MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL ILLNESS. IN ADDITION, FIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID TRAINING SESSIONS WERE PROVIDED TO A TOTAL OF 125 FAITH LEADERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN 2021 AND NINE ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH WEBINARS WERE OFFERED TO 109 COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE SOUTH CHICAGOLAND REGION. A TOTAL OF 234 FAITH AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ATTENDED THESE EDUCATIONAL SEMINARFIRST ACCESS PROGRAM GIVEN THE HIGH NUMBER OF ADMISSIONS AND ED VISITS FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AT ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC AND THE HIGH NUMBER OF DISCHARGED PATIENTS THAT WERE NOT KEEPING THEIR OUTPATIENT FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS, THE HOSPITAL'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT CREATED THE FIRST ACCESS PROGRAM IN 2013. THE GOAL OF FIRST ACCESS IS TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO FOLLOW-UP BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO SUPPORT RECOVERY AND PREVENT RELAPSES. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ED PATIENTS, AS WELL AS PATIENTS REFERRED BY THE HOSPITAL'S INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC UNIT, MEDICAL FLOORS AND PHYSICIANS, ARE LITERALLY WALKED OVER TO OUTPATIENT CARE BY A STAFF MEMBER TO ENSURE SAME DAY FOLLOW-UP FOR OUTPATIENT APPOINTMENTS. SINCE ITS IMPLEMENTATION, FIRST ACCESS HAS CONSISTENTLY INCREASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PATIENTS' APPOINTMENT FOLLOW-THROUGH RATES FROM 40 PERCENT IN 2013 TO 100 PERCENT IN 2019. ALL DISCHARGED PATIENTS RECEIVED WARM HAND-OFFS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AND LEFT WITH AN OUTPATIENT PLAN OF CARE. HAVING ACHIEVED THAT, FIRST ACCESS STARTED TO FOCUS ON PROVIDING ACCESS TO CARE TO ALL ADVOCATE AURORA PATIENTS AND ITS VOLUMES HAVE STEADILY GROWN, PROVIDING 1,828 INTAKES TO PATIENTS IN 2021.MEDICALLY INTEGRATED CRISIS COMMUNITY SUPPORT (MICCS). THE MICCS TEAM AT ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC IS COMPRISED OF TWO CLINICIANS, CASE MANAGER, A REGISTRY CHAPLAIN, REGISTERED NURSE AND A PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST WHO PROVIDE ONE-TO-TWO THERAPEUTIC, COMMUNITY-BASED CONTACTS PER PATIENT PER DAY TO ACUTELY ILL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PATIENTS ON THE NORTHSIDE OF CHICAGO. THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT GIVEN THE STATE'S CLOSURE OF NUMEROUS MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITALS IN ILLINOIS. THE TEAM GOES INTO THE COMMUNITY TO HELP HOMELESS AND INDIGENT PATIENTS WITH SITUATIONS IMPACTING THEIR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, SUCH AS HOUSING AND MEDICATION STABILIZATION, THUS HELPING CLIENTS IMPROVE THEIR OVERALL HEALTH. IN 2021, MICCS SERVED 64 INDIVIDUALS ON THE CASELOAD. IN ADDITION, 100 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED BY THE INJECTION CLINIC, MANY OF WHICH ARE UNIQUE PATIENTS GIVEN THEY DO NOT NEED/RECEIVE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT. DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PROGRAM. AS BRIEFLY MENTIONED EARLIER UNDER LANGUAGE SERVICES, AIMMC'S DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PROGRAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE (ASL) TO DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, AND ADULTS ACROSS ILLINOIS. THE PROGRAM OFFERS A CONTINUUM OF CARE THAT INCLUDES CLINICAL ASSESSMENTS; PRE-SCREENINGS AND LINKAGE; INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY THERAPY; PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATIONS AND MEDICATION MONITORING; AS WELL AS CRISIS INTERVENTION WITH A 24-HOUR PHONE LINE. TELE-PSYCHIATRY IS AVAILABLE TO CLIENTS USING A VARIETY OF METHODS, INCLUDING VIDEOPHONE EQUIPMENT SUPPORTED BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC) AND TEAMS/ZOOM, THAT SUIT THE INDIVIDUAL'S LINGUISTIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL NEEDS TO ENABLE THE PROVISION OF OTHERWISE SCARCE DEAF-FRIENDLY PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES IN THE HOMES OF DEAF PATIENTS. OVER THE YEARS, THE HOSPITAL HAS DISTRIBUTED SEVERAL THOUSAND FREE ASL DVDS ON HIV/AIDS, STDS, BREAST HEALTH, DIABETES, DEPRESSION, AND SMOKING CESSATION. IN 2021, THE BHS DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PROGRAM PROVIDED 1129 SERVICES TO 61 DISTINCT PATIENTS.COMMUNITY LINKAGE SPECIALIST (CLS). IN RESPONSE TO THE INCREASING RATES OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL ILLNESS IN DUPAGE COUNTY, ADVOCATE GOOD SAMARITAN EMPLOYED A COMMUNITY LINKAGE SPECIALIST THAT WORKS WITH DETOX AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH UNIT PATIENTS TO CONNECT THEM TO THE APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES AND RESOURCES. THIS INDIVIDUAL ALSO CONDUCTS COMMUNITY AND HOME VISITS WITH DISCHARGED PATIENTS. IN 2021, THE CLS HELPED COORDINATE SERVICES FOR PATIENTS AND CONDUCTED 280 PATIENT CONTACTS VIA PHONE OR HOME VISITS.
PART VI, 6. AFFILIATED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM CONT. "3. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. ADVOCATE WORKS WITH NON-TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS, SUCH AS SCHOOL DISTRICTS, EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, AND OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BUSINESS LEADERS TO ADDRESS BOTH THE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATES AND ECONOMIC DISPARITIES IN SOME CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL AS TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOLVING THE CITY'S HEALTHCARE SECTOR TALENT SHORTAGE. ADVOCATE WORKFORCE INITIATIVE (AWI). THE ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TEAM ORIGINATED FROM A GENEROUS GRANT FROM JPMORGAN CHASE IN 2015 VIA A GRANT ENTITLED THE ""ADVOCATE WORKFORCE INITIATIVE"" (AWI). AWI WAS CREATED TO ADDRESS HIGH-UNEMPLOYMENT RATES AND EMPLOYMENT DISPARITIES IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO'S MOST UNDERSERVED AREAS. SINCE THE GRANT COMPLETION IN 2020, AAH HAS CONTINUED THIS WORK BY ESTABLISHING A SYSTEMWIDE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TEAM ACROSS WISCONSIN AND ILLINOIS. THIS TEAM HAS CREATED AND CONTINUES TO SCALE PROGRAMS AIMED TO CREATE EQUITABLE WORKPLACE PROGRAMS, MEETING THE TALENT NEEDS OF THE ORGANIZATION AND BUILDING SUSTAINABLE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE, BUT AREN'T LIMITED TO:REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP: LAUNCHING IN 2019, AAH HAS CREATED SEVERAL APPRENTICESHIP MODELS THROUGH THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (DWD) AND THE US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL) TO ADDRESS URGENT TALENT NEEDS. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE A FACILITIES MAINTENANCE AND CULINARY ARTS APPRENTICESHIP IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL COLLEGEDIVERSE ABILITIES: SINCE 2017, AAH HAS CREATED A FOCUSED EFFORT TO SOURCE AND EMPLOY INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WHILE CREATING A MORE INCLUSIVE HIRING PROCESS. TO DATE, AAH HAS EMPLOYED 35 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND HAS OVER A 70% RETENTION RATE.TEAM MEMBER SUCCESS COACHING: LAUNCHING IN MID-2022, THIS EFFORT WILL ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS TO RETENTION BY PROVIDING COMPLEX CASE MANAGEMENT AND PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SUPPORTS TO SELECT NEW TEAM MEMBERS FROM THE MOST VULNERABLE TALENT POPULATIONS. THIS EFFORT WILL BE LAUNCHING AT ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC MEDICAL CENTER AND ADVOCATE CHRIST MEDICAL CENTER IN JUNE 2022 WITH TWO ""TEAM MEMBER SUCCESS COACHES.""CORPORATE INTERNSHIPS: EACH SUMMER, AAH EMPLOYS 20+ CORPORATE INTERNS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO INTRODUCE COLLEGE STUDENTS TO CAREERS IN HR, FINANCE, IT AND OTHER CORPORATE FUNCTIONS.COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP: STARTING IN 2021, THE AAH COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AWARDS $5,000 SCHOLARSHIPS TO BOTH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND DEPENDENTS OF AAH TEAM MEMBERS. IN 2022, AAH AWARDED TWENTY, $5,000 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS ACROSS ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN THAT ARE PURSUING STEM-RELATED CAREERS.HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITY (HBCU): STARTING IN 2021, AAH PARTNERED WITH SEVERAL HBCUS ACROSS THE NATION TO PROVIDE SPONSORSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS, INTERNSHIPS, MENTORING AND CASE COMPETITIONS FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN COLLEGE PROGRAMS. PARTNER SCHOOLS INCLUDE FLORIDA A&M, CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY AND MOREHOUSE COLLEGE.HERZING UPSKILLING PROGRAMS: STARTING IN 2021, AAH DEVELOPED AND LAUNCHED TWO UPSKILLING PROGRAMS WITH HERZING UNIVERSITY 'STERILE PROCESSING TO SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST AND 'MEDICAL ASSISTANT'. AAH TEAM MEMBERS IN ENTRY-LEVEL ROLES CAN ENROLL IN REGULARLY SCHEDULED COHORTS AS THEY WORK THROUGH ONLINE EDUCATION AND ON-SITE SKILLS TRAINING. TO DATE, OVER 30-TEAM MEMBERS HAVE ENROLLED ACROSS ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN WITH MANY MORE ON THE WAY.MAAPET (MEDICAL ASSISTANT ACCELERATED PATH TO EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PROGRAM): THE MAAPET PROGRAM IS PAID TRAINING PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE CAREERS OF SE WI (CHCSEW) AND MADE POSSIBLE BY A $500K GRANT THROUGH THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN'S ADVANCING A HEALTHIER WISCONSIN ENDOWMENT (AHW). THIS PROGRAM, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE REGION'S FOUR LARGEST HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS, IS POSED TO TRAIN 100 NEW MEDICAL ASSISTANTS FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES BY 2022. OVER THE COURSE OF THIS PAID, 14-WEEK, ACCELERATED TRAINING PROGRAM, EMPLOYEES OF ALL FOUR SYSTEMS TRAIN TO BECOME MAS AND SIT FOR A NATIONAL MA CERTIFICATION UPON COMPLETION. IN 2021, THE AAH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TEAM IMPACTED ALMOST 4,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS!TRAINING FUTURE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. TO FURTHER THE TRADITION OF PROVIDING MEDICAL EDUCATION TO UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS, NURSING STUDENTS AND STUDENTS IN OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONS, ADVOCATE HAS DEVELOPED LONG-TERM ACADEMIC AFFILIATIONS WITH ALL MAJOR UNIVERSITIES IN THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AREA FOR THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF STUDENTS IN UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION (UME), GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION (GME), NURSING UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE EDUCATION AND IN NUMEROUS OTHER ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL FIELDS. MEDICAL EDUCATION (UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION [UME]/GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION [GME]/POST-GRADUATE [CME] MEDICAL EDUCATION. THE ADVOCATE MEDICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S MISSION IS TO TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF PHYSICIANS THROUGH UNDERGRADUATE (UME) AND GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION (GME), AND TO CONTINUE THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADVOCATE PHYSICIANS THROUGH CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION (CME). ADVOCATE IS ACCREDITED BY THE ACCREDITATION COUNCIL FOR CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION (ACCME) TO PROVIDE CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION (CME) FOR PHYSICIANS. ADVOCATE'S CME PROGRAM PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH YEAR-ROUND SCHEDULING AND PLANNING OF ACCREDITED COURSES, SEMINARS AND MEETINGS FOR ADVOCATE AND NON-ADVOCATE PHYSICIANS AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN THE REGION. ADVOCATE'S MEDICAL STAFF SHARE THEIR EXPERTISE THROUGH GRAND ROUNDS, MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY CONFERENCES, AND ENDURING MATERIALAS WELL AS SINGLE ACTIVITIES ADDRESSING A VARIETY OF CLINICAL AND RESEARCH TOPICS. IN 2021, ADVOCATE HOSTED 5915.75 HOURS OF ACCREDITED EDUCATION TO 108,593 PARTICIPANTS, OF WHICH 75,133 WERE PHYSICIANS. DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, MOST EDUCATION WAS PROVIDED VIRTUALLY WHICH EXPANDED OUR REACH TO A BROADER AUDIENCE ACROSS THE ADVOCATE SYSTEM.NURSING EDUCATION. UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE (APN/NP/MANAGEMENT) NURSING EDUCATION OCCURS AT TEN ADVOCATE HOSPITALS AND SUPPORT CENTERS, MANY ADVOCATE MEDICAL GROUP SITES, AND ADVOCATE HOME HEALTH-HOSPICE. NOTABLY, EIGHT ADVOCATE HOSPITALS HAVE EARNED MAGNET RECOGNITION FROM THE AMERICAN NURSE CREDENTIALING CENTER (ANCC), INCLUDING ADVOCATE CHILDREN'S, ADVOCATE CONDELL, ADVOCATE CHRIST, ADVOCATE GOOD SAMARITAN, ADVOCATE GOOD SHEPHERD, ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC, ADVOCATE LUTHERAN GENERAL AND ADVOCATE SHERMAN. MAGNET STATUS REPRESENTS HOSPITAL-WIDE TEAMWORK AND DEDICATION TO CREATING A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT, WHICH HELPS ATTRACT THE BEST PHYSICIANS AND NURSES, RESULTING IN BETTER OVERALL PATIENT CARE. ALLIED HEALTH EDUCATION. ADVOCATE IS COMMITTED TO TEACHING STUDENTS IN A BROAD RANGE OF SPECIALTIES. THESE STUDENTS COME FROM LOCAL UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES WITH WHOM ADVOCATE HAS CONTRACTED TO PROVIDE EDUCATION. STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED A CLINICAL ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO LEARN IN OVER TWENTY HEALTH CARE DISCIPLINES/FIELDS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: PHARMACEUTICAL; CARDIO DIAGNOSTICS; CARDIAC REHABILITATION; RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE, MRI AND X-RAY; RADIATION THERAPY; EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY; PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL, SPEECH AND RECREATIONAL THERAPY; PSYCHIATRY; BEHAVIORAL HEALTH; RESPIRATORY; AUDIOLOGY; PATHOLOGY; PODIATRY; PHLEBOTOMY; NUTRITION/DIETARY; AND DENTISTRY (DENTISTRY IS ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC)."
PART VI, 6. AFFILIATED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM CONT. SEVERAL ADVOCATE HOSPITALS PROVIDE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN (EMT) EDUCATION FROM BASIC THROUGH PARAMEDIC LEVEL. IN FACT, SOME OF THESE ADVOCATE FACILITIES SERVE AS THE LEAD HOSPITAL IN THEIR COUNTIES/SERVICE AREAS, PROVIDING EDUCATION, STANDARDIZATION OF PROTOCOLS OF CARE AMONG ALL HOSPITALS (NON-ADVOCATE INCLUDED) AND EMS RESPONDERS, AND DIRECTION OF COUNTY-WIDE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IN RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY-BASED, MASS INJURY/CASUALTY DISASTERS. MULTIPLE ADVOCATE SYSTEM AND HOSPITAL DEPARTMENTS ALSO PROVIDE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT.CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION (CPE). ADVOCATE'S SPIRITUAL LEADERS OVERSEE A NATIONALLY ACCREDITED CPE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR SEMINARY STUDENTS, CHAPLAINS AND LOCAL FAITH LEADERS TO GROW AND DEVELOP SELF-AWARENESS AND SPIRITUAL CARE MINISTRY SKILLS. IN 2021, A TOTAL OF 80 CPE STUDENTS WERE SUPERVISED IN ILLINOIS, NOT INCLUDING THE ADDITIONAL 23 STUDENTS IN WISCONSIN. PATHWAYS TO HEALTH CAREERS. SEVERAL ADVOCATE HOSPITALS PROVIDE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING TO AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT ARE ON AN EDUCATIONAL TRACK TO A HEALTH CARE CAREER. THESE STUDENTS RECEIVE CREDIT TOWARDS GRADUATION IN ADDITION TO HELPING THEM DISCERN IN WHICH HEALTH CARE AREA THEY WISH TO SPECIALIZE. TO GIVE CHICAGO SOUTHSIDE STUDENTS BETTER JOB OPPORTUNITIES, ADVOCATE TRINITY WORKS WITH STUDENTS FROM CHICAGO VOCATIONAL CAREER ACADEMY, AND SOUTH SHORE AND JULIAN HIGH SCHOOLS. THESE STUDENTS ARE ROTATED IN HOSPITAL UNITS TO LEARN MARKETABLE JOB SKILLS. 4. COMMUNITY SAFETY: ADVOCATE ALSO WORKS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY SAFETY/VIOLENCEANOTHER COMMUNITY STRATEGY FOCUS AREA. SOME EXAMPLES ARE PROVIDED BELOW.CENTER FOR FAITH AND COMMUNITY HEALTH TRANSFORMATION. THE CENTER FOR FAITH AND COMMUNITY HEALTH TRANSFORMATION WORKS TO ADVANCE HEALTH EQUITY BY PARTNERING WITH FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD COMMUNITY, NURTURE LEADERS AND CONNECT THE UNIQUE SPIRIT POWER OF FAITH COMMUNITIES TO PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ABUNDANT LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. THE CENTER IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ADVOCATE AND THE OFFICE FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH PARTNERSHIPS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO. CURRENTLY, THE CENTER IS CONVENING A TRAUMA INFORMED CONGREGATIONS NETWORK TO SUPPORT THE CAPACITY OF FAITH COMMUNITIES TO PREVENT TRAUMA AND TO BE PLACES OF HEALING FOR THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ADVERSITY IN CHILDHOOD OR THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINERS (SANE). ADVOCATE CONDELL, ADVOCATE CHILDREN'S AND ADVOCATE'S SOUTH REGION (ADVOCATE'S CHRIST, SOUTH SUBURBAN AND TRINITY) SANE PROGRAMS CONSIST OF SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINERS WHO ARE NATIONALLY, AND STATE CERTIFIED BY THE OFFICE OF THE ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL. SANES ARE AVAILABLE EITHER IN THE ED OR ON AN ON-CALL BASIS TO PROVIDE COMPASSIONATE, TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE TO SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS SEEKING CARE IN THE ED. THESE HIGHLY TRAINED PRACTITIONERS PERFORM HEAD-TO-TOE EXAMS PERTAINING TO SEXUAL ASSAULT/ABUSE, ADDRESS MEDICAL CONCERNS SUCH AS STI (SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION), HIV AND PREGNANCY, COLLECT FORENSIC EVIDENCE, TESTIFY IN COURT AS EXPERT WITNESSES, AND OFFER ACCESS TO AFTER-CARE RESOURCESSUPPORTING THE VICTIM THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS. IN 2021, ADVOCATE CHRIST SERVED 51 PATIENTS, SOUTH SUBURBAN SERVED 40 PATIENTS, TRINITY SERVED 30 PATIENTS AND CONDELL SERVED A TOTAL OF 82 PATIENTS. THE THREE SANE PROGRAM COORDINATORS WORK CLOSELY WITH A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM, INCLUDING LOCAL RAPE ADVOCATES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (DCFS) AND PROSECUTORS TO ASSURE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT RECEIVE THE BEST CARE POSSIBLE AT ALL CONTACT POINTS. SANE PROGRAM COORDINATORS ALSO COLLABORATE TO PROVIDE BEST PRACTICE STANDARDIZED SEXUAL ASSAULT CARE THROUGHOUT ADVOCATE SO THAT BY JANUARY 1, 2023, A SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER WILL BE AVAILABLE 24/7, 365 DAYS A YEAR TO CARE FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTED PATIENTS. ADVOCATE'S SANE PROGRAM SERVED 188 SEXUALLY ASSAULTED OR ABUSED, ADULT, PATIENTS IN THE ED IN 2021, HAVING PROVIDED CARE DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF COVID-19 AND CONCERNS THAT PREVENTED MANY INDIVIDUALS FROM SEEKING CARE IN A HOSPITAL SETTING. IN ADDITION, ADVOCATE CONDELL CONTINUED TO PROVIDE TRAINING REGARDING SEXUAL ASSAULT TREATMENT IN RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY PARTNER REQUESTS FOR EDUCATION FROM RAPE ADVOCACY CENTERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, MEDICAL STUDENTS, AND OTHERS, AS WELL AS INCREASED ITS PARTICIPATION IN COUNTYWIDE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION INITIATIVES.PEDIATRIC PRE-PUBESCENT SEXUALLY ASSAULTED/ABUSED PATIENTS ARE TRANSFERRED TO ADVOCATE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOR SPECIALTY CARE. ADVOCATE CHILDREN'S CHILD PROTECTION AND SANE TEAM PARTNERS WITH AREA CHILDREN ADVOCACY CENTERS, DCFS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PROVIDE CARE TO THESE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED/ABUSED CHILDREN. IN GENERAL, VERY FEW PROGRAMS IN ILLINOIS CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF THIS PATIENT POPULATION. SEXUALLY ASSAULTED CHILDREN WHO REQUIRE EVIDENCE COLLECTION ARE REFERRED TO THE PEDIATRIC ED (PED) AT THE ADVOCATE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL CAMPUSES IN EITHER OAK LAWN OR PARK RIDGE. IN 2021, 190 SEXUALLY ASSAULTED CHILDREN WERE CARED FOR IN THE PED. SEXUALLY ASSAULTED CHILDREN NOT REQUIRING EVIDENCE COLLECTION ARE REFERRED TO ONE OF THE ADVOCATE CHILDREN'S CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC SANE CHILD PROTECTION NURSE PRACTITIONERS AND ARE SEEN IN THE OUTPATIENT SEXUAL ABUSE CLINICS. IN 2021, 96 CHILDREN WERE SEEN IN ADVOCATE'S OUTPATIENT CHILD PROTECTION SEXUAL ABUSE CLINICS. AS WITH THE ADULT PROGRAM, THE PEDIATRIC PROGRAM COORDINATORS COLLABORATE THROUGHOUT EACH YEAR TO PROVIDE BEST PRACTICE STANDARDIZED PEDIATRIC SEXUAL ASSAULT CARE.ACCLIVUS PARTNERSHIP ACCLIVUS IS A COMMUNITY OUTREACH ORGANIZATION SEEKING TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF DEADLY STREET VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS. ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC, LEVEL I TRAUMA CENTERS SERVING THE NORTH PORTIONS OF CHICAGO AND THE SUBURBS, PARTNERED WITH ACCLIVUS TO PROVIDE OUTREACH INTERVENTION SERVICES AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE. NEARLY ONE-THIRD OF TRAUMAS AT THE MEDICAL CENTER EACH YEAR ARE VICTIMS OF INTENTIONAL VIOLENCE, SUCH AS GUNSHOTS, STABBINGS AND/OR BATTERY. VIOLENCE, LIKE OTHER EPIDEMICS, IS PREDICTABLE AND OFTEN ENGAGED IN AS AN ACT OF RETALIATION, SO IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION IS NECESSARY. WHEN VIOLENTLY INJURED PATIENTS FROM THE CHICAGO AREA ARE TRANSPORTED TO ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC, CHAPLAINS NOTIFY ACCLIVUS. ACCLIVUS HAS A HOSPITAL RESPONDER AND A CASE MANAGER ASSIGNED TO EACH ADVOCATE SITE WHO PROVIDE COUNSELING TO PATIENTS AND THEIR LOVED ONES, AIMING TO REDUCE ONGOING CONFLICT IN THE COMMUNITY AND RISK OF RETALIATION. ACCLIVUS' CASE MANAGER SEES THE PATIENTS IN THE TRAUMA CLINIC AFTER DISCHARGE ENSURING COMPREHENSIVE FOLLOW-UP CARE. DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND HOSPITAL VISITOR RESTRICTION POLICIES, ACCLIVUS PROVIDED SERVICES AND REFERRALS TO ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC PATIENTS REMOTELY FROM MARCH THROUGH JULY 2020. THE HOSPITAL RESPONDERS AT ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC SERVED 147 PATIENTS IN 2021, MANY OF WHICH WERE PROVIDED REFERRALS TO EXISTING COMMUNITY RESOURCES. AS OF 2021, ADVOCATE CHRIST MEDICAL CENTER IS NO LONGER PARTNERING WITH ACCLIVUS. ADVOCATE CHRIST NOW HAS INTERNAL TRAUMA OUTREACH WORKERS THAT ARE CONNECTING TO LOCAL OUTREACH ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH COMMUNITIES PARTNERING 4 PEACE (CP4P).
PART VI, 6. AFFILIATED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM CONT. 5. AFFORDABLE HOUSING: ACCORDING TO HEALTHY PEOPLE 2020, DATA INDICATES THAT POOR-QUALITY HOUSING IS ASSOCIATED WITH VARIOUS NEGATIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES, INCLUDING CHRONIC DISEASE AND INJURY, AND POOR MENTAL HEALTH. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT ADVOCATE HAS VOWED AS A FIFTH COMMUNITY STRATEGY FOCUS AREA TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF ED PATIENTS WHO ARE SCREENED POSITIVE FOR HOMELESSNESS BY 5% BY 2025. WHILE WORK TOWARDS THIS GOAL IS STILL EMERGING, SEVERAL ADVOCATE HOSPITALS ARE TAKING STEPS TO PROVIDE PATIENTS WITH A HEALTHY AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO HEAL. FLEXIBLE HOUSING POOL. IN 2021, THE FLEXIBLE HOUSING POOL (FHP) AT ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC PLACED FOUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PATIENTS IN PERMANENT HOUSING. THE FHP PLACED AN ADDITIONAL THREE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PATIENTS IN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. THE MEDICAL CENTER ALSO PROVIDES INDIVIDUALS PLACED IN PERMANENT HOUSING WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES.WARMING CENTER. ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC ALSO PROVIDES A WARMING CENTER, A SAFE WARM PLACE FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS TO STAY OVERNIGHT OUT OF CHICAGO'S BITTERLY COLD, WINTERY WEATHER. DUE TO COVID-19, THE WARMING CENTER DID NOT OPERATE IN 2021. 6. FOOD SECURITY. ANOTHER KEY ADVOCATE COMMUNITY STRATEGY FOCUS AREA IS FOOD SECURITY. ACCESS TO FRESH, AFFORDABLE FOOD IS A KEY INGREDIENT IN THE RECIPE TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITYAND IN KEEPING THE COMMUNITY HEALTHY. ADVOCATE IS INVOLVED WITH MULTIPLE NON-TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN LOCAL AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY. LOCAL FOOD PANTRY PARTNERSHIPS. ADVOCATE GOOD SAMARITAN PARTNERED WITH LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES AND THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS EXTENSION TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM THAT OFFERS HEALTHY FRESH FOOD, NUTRITION AND COOKING CLASSES TO CLIENTS OF THE PANTRIES. IN ADDITION TO THE FRESH PRODUCE AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROVIDED, AN UNEXPECTED BONUS OF THE PROGRAM WAS THAT PARTICIPANTS BEGAN TO SHARE SOME OF THEIR OWN HEALTHY MENUS WITH EACH OTHER DURING THE SESSIONS, EXPRESSING THAT THEY LOOKED FORWARD TO COMING TO THE CLASSES. DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WORKSHOPS WERE MADE VIRTUAL AND HEALTHY FOOD WAS DELIVERED TO PARTICIPANTS' HOMES. IN 2021, THIS PROGRAM PROVIDED 16 VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS SERVING 27 FOOD PANTRY CLIENTS. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF PARTICIPANTS STATED THAT THE WORKSHOPS EMPOWERED THEM TO SUSTAIN A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. ADVOCATE GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL-BASED FOOD PANTRY. IN NOVEMBER OF 2020, ADVOCATE GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL'S COMMUNITY HEALTH TEAM IMPLEMENTED A HOSPITAL-BASED FOOD PANTRY PILOT TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PEOPLE'S RESOURCE CENTER AND ADVOCATE GOOD SAMARITAN'S CANCER CARE CENTER, 19 ONCOLOGY PATIENTS WERE SERVED THROUGH THE PILOT PROGRAM IN 2021. THE PROGRAM IS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE TO HIGH-RISK PATIENTS THAT SCREEN POSITIVE FOR FOOD INSECURITY WHILE VISITING A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. THE GOAL IS NOT TO SERVE AS THEIR LOCAL FOOD PANTRY BUT AS AN IMMEDIATE AID. THE COMMUNITY HEALTH TEAM INCLUDES HEALTH RECIPES AND ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES IN EACH FOOD PANTRY BAG. AS IS THE CASE WITH THE ADVOCATE LUTHERAN FOOD PANTRY MENTIONED EARLIER, THE ADVOCATE GOOD SAMARITAN PILOT WILL CONTINUE FOR SIX MONTHS AT WHICH TIME THE COMMUNITY HEALTH TEAM WILL EVALUATE THE LESSONS LEARNED, BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES IN EFFORTS TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMLAKEVIEW FOOD PANTRY. IN JUNE 2018, ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC ESTABLISHED A HOSPITAL-BASED FOOD PANTRY TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF FOOD INSECURE ONCOLOGY PATIENTS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LAKEVIEW FOOD PANTRY, THE MEDICAL CENTER PROVIDES DRY-GOOD FOOD BAGS, RE-USABLE WHEELIE GROCERY BAGS AND GIFT CARDS TO LOW-INCOME AND FOOD INSECURE PATIENTS. NUTRITION EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY FOOD PROGRAM RESOURCES WERE ALSO DISTRIBUTED TO ALL PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF PATIENTS AND TEAM MEMBERS DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE MEDICAL CENTER EXPANDED THE PANTRY TO THREE NEW SERVICES LINES (OB/GYN, FAMILY MEDICINE AND THE DENTAL MOBILE VAN) AND FOOD INSECURE TEAM MEMBERS. IN 2021, THE PANTRY SERVED OVER 80 PATIENTS WITH MOST PATIENTS UTILIZING THE PANTRY MONTHLY. OVER 1,600 POUNDS OF FOOD WAS DISTRIBUTED TO FOOD INSECURE PATIENTS AND TEAM MEMBERS AT ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC. THE MEDICAL CENTER ALSO PARTNERED WITH IRV AND SHELLY'S FRESH PICKS TO PROVIDE FRESH PRODUCE BOXES TO PATIENTS. BOXES WERE DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO THE HOMES OF FOOD PANTRY PARTICIPANTS. IN 2021, IRV AND SHELLY'S FRESH PICKS DELIVERED 312 FRESH PRODUCE BOXES TO 46 FOOD INSECURE PATIENTS. IN 2022, THE COMMUNITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT PLANS TO CONTINUE EXPANDING THE HOSPITAL-BASED PANTRY TO ADDITIONAL SERVICE LINES AND DEPARTMENTS, AND TO UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE DATA COLLECTION AND PROGRAM EVALUATION.COMMUNITY GARDENS. ADVOCATE GOOD SHEPHERD PARTNERS WITH SMART FARM, A LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO BE AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE ON SUSTAINABLE GARDENING AND HEALTHY EATING. SMART FARM MANAGES THE ON-SITE GARDEN ON OVER 10 ACRES OF LAND OWNED BY ADVOCATE. THE HARVEST OF FRESH VEGETABLES IS DONATED TO LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES. ON ADVOCATE SHERMAN'S CAMPUS, A LARGE COMMUNITY GARDEN DRAWS HOSPITAL STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PLANT AND MAINTAIN RAISED GARDEN BEDS. IN 2021, ADVOCATE SHERMAN DONATED 640 POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE ACCESSING THE ELGIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT FOOD PANTRY AND THE YWCA OF ELGIN; AN INCREASE WHEN COMPARED TO THE 330.5 POUNDS DONATED IN 2020. OVERALL, ADVOCATE FUNDS MANY SYSTEM LEVEL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON POSITIVELY AFFECTING THE HEALTH STATUS AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF INDIVIDUALS AND POPULATIONS IN COMMUNITIES SERVED BY ADVOCATE. IN ADDITION TO THE MANY PROGRAM EXAMPLES PROVIDED PREVIOUSLY, ANOTHER SYSTEM-LEVEL FUNDED PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BELOW.FAITH AND HEALTH PARTNERSHIPS. ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH'S FAITH AND HEALTH PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM WORKS SIDE BY SIDE WITH FAITH COMMUNITIES TO PROMOTE HEALTH EQUITY BY MOBILIZING THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS AND SPIRITUAL WISDOM. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS A NEIGHBORHOOD MODEL THAT EMBEDS AAH TEAM MEMBERS IN SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOODS IDENTIFIED AS PRIORITIES THROUGH THE AAH COMMUNITY STRATEGY. TEAM MEMBERS WORK WITH A COLLABORATIVE NETWORK OF FAITH COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS HEALTH ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM. IN ILLINOIS WE HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK PROGRAMS IN SOUTH CHICAGO AND AVONDALE AND ARE FOCUSED EFFORTS ON REDUCING STRESS AND INCREASING SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS, MANAGING CHRONIC DISEASE, AND SUPPORTING FOOD ACCESS. FAITH AND HEALTH PARTNERSHIPS ALSO WORKS ACROSS OUR FOOTPRINT ON BUILDING CAPACITY OF FAITH LEADERS AND CONGREGATIONS TO PROMOTE THE WHOLISTIC HEALTH OF THEIR MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE, PARTICULARLY AROUND MENTAL HEALTH. AAH ALSO SUPPORTS A FAITH COMMUNITY NURSE NETWORK OF 27 NURSES THAT SERVE CONGREGATIONS ACROSS THE CHICAGOLAND REGION.
PART VI, 6. AFFILIATED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM CONT. SERVICE LINE AND POPULATION HEALTH ENGAGEMENT. TO SUPPORT FURTHER ALIGNMENT WITHIN ADVOCATE, THE SYSTEM COMMUNITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO WORKED TO ENGAGE SYSTEM DEFINED CLINICAL SERVICE LINES IN EXPANDING THEIR FOCUS ON COMMUNITY HEALTH. ADVOCATE IS VIEWED AS A LEADER IN THE POPULATION HEALTH MANAGEMENT ARENA. AN EARLY ADOPTER OF MANAGING CARE ACROSS POPULATIONS, ADVOCATE HAS SIGNIFICANT SUCCESS IMPROVING HEALTH OUTCOMES WHILE DECREASING OR MAINTAINING COST OF CARE DELIVERY. ADVOCATE'S COMMUNITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS INTENTIONALLY ALIGNED WITH ADVOCATE POPULATION HEALTH LEADERS AND ADVOCATE SERVICE LINES. THIS ALIGNMENT ASSURES THAT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITIES ADVOCATE SERVES AND OUR PATIENTS RECEIVE COMMUNITY-BASED INTERVENTIONS, AS WELL AS EDUCATION AND PROGRAMMING, THAT ALIGNS WITH THEIR HEALTH NEEDS. FOLLOWING ARE TWO EXAMPLES OF EDUCATION AND PROGRAMMING ALIGNED WITH POPULATION HEALTH AND SERVICE LINE DEVELOPMENT THAT REFLECT THIS INTEGRATED APPROACH. FOOD INSECURITY. ADVOCATE'S COMMUNITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH INTERNAL SERVICES LINES TO IMPLEMENT HOSPITAL-BASED FOOD PANTRY PROGRAMS AND ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY BY WORKING WITH CLINICAL AND NON-CLINICAL LEADERS. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. AS MENTIONED EARLIER, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COUNCIL INTEGRATION STRATEGIES HAVE INCLUDED COMMUNITY HEALTH STAFF OFFERING THE EVIDENCE-BASED MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID CLASSES TO TARGETED COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF REDUCING STIGMA, AND TRAINING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO RECOGNIZE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND UNDERSTAND APPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS.ADVOCATE PHYSICIAN PARTNERS (APP). ADVOCATE POPULATION HEALTH LEADERS AND ADVOCATE COMMUNITY HEALTH LEADERS ARE ALSO PARTNERING TO DEVELOP NEW APPROACHES TO PATIENT SCREENING AND RESOURCING FOR SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH. ADVOCATE ALSO PROVIDES AN INFRASTRUCTURE TO ALLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER AT VARIOUS ADVOCATE SITES OF CARE, AS WELL AS PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVOCATE TEAM MEMBERS TO VOLUNTEER IN THE COMMUNITIES SERVED BY ADVOCATE.VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY. EACH YEAR, VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY SHARE THEIR TIME AND TALENTS THROUGH SERVICE AT ADVOCATE'S HOSPITALS, ADVOCATE MEDICAL GROUP AND ADVOCATE AT HOME, AND IN THEIR OWN WAY, FURTHER ADVOCATE'S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT HEALTH CARE. IN 2020, MOST VOLUNTEERS WERE LIMITED TO SERVING FROM JANUARY THROUGH MID-MARCH DUE TO ADVOCATE'S ADHERENCE TO COVID-19 SAFETY GUIDELINES, WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THE HOURS THEY WERE ABLE TO DEVOTE TO ADVOCATE SITES. IN 2021, ADVOCATE AURORA HEALTH MANAGED TO OPEN VOLUNTEER SERVICES AND WELCOMED A TOTAL OF 1,561 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS IN 2021. THAT ENGAGED PATIENTS, FAMILIES AND STAFF IN A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES, SOME OF WHICH WERE: PROVIDING INFORMATION DESK SERVICES TO VISITORS; CLERICAL SUPPORT TO STAFF; SERVING CUSTOMERS IN HOSPITAL GIFT AND RESALE SHOPS; OFFERING COMPASSIONATE CONCERN TO PATIENTS AND THEIR LOVED ONES IN MULTIPLE HOSPITAL AREAS, SUCH AS THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, INTENSIVE CARE UNIT, SURGERY WAITING ROOM, POST-ANESTHESIA CARE AND NURSERY INTENSIVE CARE UNITS; ASSISTING WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH SCREENINGS AND BLOOD DRIVE EVENTS; PROVIDING CHEERFUL SERVICE TO PATIENTS BY DELIVERING FLOWERS, MAIL AND NEWSPAPERS; AND PROVIDING SUPPORT SERVICES IN THE HOSPITAL THAT HAVE LIBRARIES AND/OR WELLNESS CENTERS. VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY ALSO GIVE THEIR TIME AND TALENTS TO VARIOUS OTHER PROGRAMS AND FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES. MEMBERS OF ADVOCATE'S HOSPITAL AUXILIARIES PLAN AND ENGAGE IN FUNDRAISING EFFORTS TO SUPPORT NOT ONLY SERVICES IN THE HOSPITAL BUT ALSO COMMUNITY-FOCUSED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. STUDENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN IN THE PEDIATRIC DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER LOCATED ON ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC'S CAMPUS SO THAT PARENTS CAN MEET WITH THE CENTER'S STAFF TO LEARN THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO WORK WITH THEIR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS SO THEY CAN REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. THE HEARTS FOR HOPE GROUP AT ADVOCATE CHILDREN'SOAK LAWN IS COMPRISED OF GRATEFUL PARENTS, CONCERNED FAMILIES AND CARING COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE HOSPITAL. THE VOLUNTEERS ENSURE THEY HAVE A PRESENCE IN THE HOSPITAL BY POSITIVELY IMPACTING FAMILY-CENTERED CARE, AS WELL AS WORKING TO RAISE FUNDS AND AWARENESS THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES BENEFITING ADVOCATE CHILDREN'S. ADVOCATE TEAM MEMBERS (STAFF) VOLUNTEERING IN THE COMMUNITY. ADVOCATE TEAM MEMBERS (EMPLOYEES) AND PHYSICIANS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DONATE TO, VOLUNTEER AT AND HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR COMMUNITY INITIATIVES. ADVOCATE PROMOTES AND SUPPORTS TEAM MEMBER, PHYSICIAN AND HOSPITAL PARTICIPATION IN FOUR COMPANY-SPONSORED WALKS FOR MULTIPLE HEALTH-RELATED, NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION (AHA HEART WALK), AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY (MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER), ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION (WALK TO END ALZHEIMER'S) AND THE MARCH OF DIMES (MARCH FOR BABIES). IN 2021, DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THESE WALKS WERE HELD EITHER VIRTUALLY OR AS HYBRID EVENTS (VIRTUAL + IN-PERSON) WITH 1,272 ADVOCATE TEAM MEMBERS REGISTERED IN THE ANNUAL LOCAL FUNDRAISERS AND $273,612 IN CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS RAISED TO SUPPORT THESE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. THIS YEAR, ADVOCATE WAS DESIGNATED BY THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AS THE #1 HEALTH CARE COMPANY IN THE MIDWEST. IN ADDITION, ADVOCATE'S ASSOCIATES AND PHYSICIANS GENEROUSLY SUPPORT MULTIPLE COMMUNITY PARTNERS, PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES, INCLUDING SOME OF ADVOCATE'S OWN SYSTEM-WIDE AND HOSPITAL-BASED COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAMS. IN 2021, ADVOCATE TEAM MEMBERS, NURSES AND PHYSICIANS CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN $1.1 MILLION THROUGH THE ANNUAL ADVOCATE AURORA TEAM MEMBER GIVING CAMPAIGN. ADVOCATE ASSOCIATES DEVOTE WORK TIME VOLUNTEERING ON DOZENS OF COMMUNITY BOARDS, COMMITTEES, COUNCILS, TASK FORCES AND COALITIONS, USING THEIR TALENTS TO SUPPORT A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. AN EXAMPLE OF ASSOCIATE VOLUNTEERISM IS ADVOCATE SHERMAN'S DIRECTOR OF SERVICE EXCELLENCE AND POPULATION HEALTH PARTICIPATION IN LEADING THE ALIGNMENT FOR COLLABORATIVE EDUCATION (ACE). THE DIRECTOR SERVES AS A MEMBER OF THE ACE OPERATING BOARD. THE COLLABORATIVE IS FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING PUBLIC SCHOOL STRATEGIES THAT PROMOTE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT TO ASSIST ELGIN AREA CHILDREN IN BECOMING RESILIENT, HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. ADVOCATE GOOD SAMARITAN'S VICE PRESIDENT OF SUPPORT OPERATIONS AND THE PRESIDENT OF MEDICAL STAFF DEVOTE TIME TO SERVE ON THE DUPAGE HEALTH COALITION'S BOARDDUPAGE HEALTH COALITION IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT LINKS UNINSURED AND UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS TO PRIMARY AND SPECIALTY HEALTHCARE AND INSURANCE. YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF ASSOCIATE VOLUNTEERISM IS ADVOCATE TRINITY HOSPITAL'S PRESIDENT AND AAH'S REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT TIME DEVOTED TO THE SOUTH SIDE HEALTHY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, A COMMUNITY COALITION FOCUSED ON IMPROVING HEALTH EQUITY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO.
