Kankakee Times

Riverside Medical Center issued the following announcement on July 26.

Addressing the health and wellness concerns that have the greatest impact throughout the communities they serve is the primary focus of Riverside Healthcare. Whether it be investing to improve access to care through building expansion or adding additional providers and improving technology, Riverside understands the health of a community is dependent on the health of those that live, work and play here. In 2017, this was evident in the more than $51 million Riverside provided in community benefit to the region.

“Since Riverside first opened its doors in 1964 we have always been about the community,” said Phillip Kambic, president and CEO of Riverside Healthcare. “We truly are a mission-driven, not-for-profit, community hospital, and the millions of dollars represented in this report represents our unwavering commitment to making a positive difference in people’s lives in our communities every day.”

In 2017, Riverside completed the capstone project of the East Tower, opening the all-private room 5th floor. Combining state-of-the-art technology and advances in the healthcare teams' processes and protocols. Riverside's new East Tower 5th Floor features 42 patient-centered private rooms in 33,000 square feet of space. These private rooms accommodate orthopedic patients and neurological patients, as well as medical and surgical patients. Another innovative aspect of the East Tower's 5th Floor is MyChart Bedside. Riverside's MyChart Bedside is a mobile tablet-based technology that uses 'touchscreen' prompts through a secure iPad, giving patients and their families access to a wealth of information and educational resources.

Addressing the issue of access to providers, the Riverside Medical Group added 24 new providers, growing the group to nearly 150, in 2017.

Riverside Heart & Vascular Institute established an important partnership in 2017 bringing University of Chicago Medicine Care Network cardiothoracic surgeon Arshad Yousuf, MD. to Riverside. Dr. Yousuf sees patients at Riverside Heart & Vascular Institute performing surgeries full-time at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee. The partnership comes as part of UChicago Medicine's ongoing relationship with Riverside Healthcare, which started in spring 2016 with a pediatric partnership.

Of the $51.1 million in community benefits in 2017 more than $35.2 million went to subsidized health services. This included Medicaid services (care provided to those in state aid programs), and community health centers in Kankakee, Momence and Hopkins Park. Women’s Wellness, ambulance services, health screenings, physician recruitment and health care education, were among the variety of services included in this figure.

The income, employment and insurance status of residents of Kankakee County result in the hospital caring for a large number of patients who are uninsured or underinsured, or for those whom public program reimbursement does not cover health care costs. Riverside partners with various community agencies including United Way, Alzheimer’s Association, KCCASA, Parkinson’s Support Group, Gambler’s Anonymous, Harbor House, Epilepsy Support Group, GROW, and many others. Riverside also sponsored numerous events or provided contributions to community agencies such as: American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Options CIL, Lungevity, Out of the Darkness, Kankakee County Training Center, American Red Cross, YMCA, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, Hospice of Kankakee Valley, Kankakee County Drug Free and many others.

Riverside’s community investment in 2017 included the following:

$35.2 million to Subsidized Health Services - includes Medicaid services (care provided to those in state aid program), and community health centers in Kankakee, Momence and Hopkins Park. This also includes New Life Center, ambulance services, health screenings, stroke education, physician recruitment and health care education, among other services.

$5.9 million to Uncompensated Care - care provided by Riverside that goes unpaid by any source.

$5.2 million to Government Sponsored Indigent Health Care- Excess of allocated costs over-reimbursed for services provided to Medicaid patients.

$3.4 million to Charity Care - Riverside uses a sliding scale, application process and credit report to evaluate and determine a patient’s eligibility for financial assistance.

$792,571 to Volunteer Services - value of time spent by Riverside volunteers and employees giving back to the community.

$272,093 to Education - includes student orientation, scholarships and Riverside’s Nursing Excellence program.

$76,623 to Donations- includes cash donations to local churches, schools, agencies, etc. Also includes the donation of goods and services.

$24,756 to Language Assistant Services - includes sign language, interpretation of Spanish and/or other languages.

“Building stronger, healthier communities means becoming a vital part of the region’s stability, both socially and economically. Riverside is the county’s largest employer. Our more than 3,100 employees help support local businesses and serve as a crucial economic stimulus,” Kambic said.

In 2017, Riverside continued to make a significant economic impact in the region. Activity generated by the healthcare system’s operations and construction activities including employment, wages and retail sales were estimated as follows:

5,166 jobs

$297 million in wages paid

$213 million in retail sales

$8.9 million in Illinois state sales tax

$2.05 million in property taxes for Kankakee, Will, Grundy and Iroquois

To view the report in its entirety or review a summary infographic, visit Riverside Healthcare 2017 Community Benefit Report.

Original source can be found here.

Source: Riverside Medical Center