2023 Community Health Investment Report
At University Hospitals, the communities we serve are incredibly important to us. Our dedication goes beyond providing advanced, accessible and compassionate healthcare in our hospitals and clinics. We view our neighbors as part of our extended family, which means we are deeply committed to compassionately caring for them, supporting their overall well-being and addressing their needs in meaningful ways.
Our approach starts with listening. By regularly engaging with community members and leaders, we learn how best to assist and then take action based on their feedback. One avenue includes identifying the most pressing needs through our Community Health Needs Assessments, which evaluate the overall health status of Northeast Ohio, identify critical health-related needs and prioritize services accordingly.
In collaboration with community organizations as well as intentional engagement with residents and stakeholders, University Hospitals focuses on three main priorities for our community health investment: Maternal & Child Health, Well-being and Economic Opportunity.
Since our founding in 1866, University Hospitals has upheld the principle that “the needy are the most worthy.” As such, we are proud to report that University Hospitals’ community health investment totalled $707 million in 2023. This reflects $522 million in traditional community benefit as defined by the IRS, as well as $185 million in unreimbursed Medicare costs. UH provides services to many patients who are insured by Medicare and Medicare Advantage payers. Because these payers reimburse at less than the cost of providing care, and at rates set by the government, they typically do not keep pace with inflation, and therefore UH sustains a loss on care provided.
UH follows Internal Revenue Service guidelines to determine allowable community benefit contribution. UH’s community benefit investment includes care we provide to Medicaid patients, provided at a significant loss since the state pays the health system well below the cost of that care ($268 million); physician, nursing and other clinical education and training for the next generation of healthcare professionals ($100 million); medical research investments y ($58 million); charity care to patients unable to pay their bills ($58 million); as well as community health and wellness programs and services in surrounding neighborhoods ($38 million).
As the third largest healthcare employer in the state, University Hospitals is dedicated to enhancing economic conditions for all. We achieve this by recruiting, training and hiring local talent; investing in neighborhood health improvement projects, including lead poisoning mitigation, community wellness centers, mobile clinics and paramedicine programs; and partnering with others to foster business growth and create jobs. In fact, our total economic impact in the state of Ohio eclipsed $14 billion in 2023.
Furthermore, we are committed to creating a brighter tomorrow by educating future caregivers, funding medical research that offers hope to those with limited options and launching research studies and programs to alleviate healthcare disparities.
In the 2023 Community Health Investment Report, you will see several examples of our community commitment and investment in action, which is focused right here in Northeast Ohio. Our hometown healthcare team, including our more than 32,000 caregivers, thanks you for your ongoing trust and support. Together, we are building a healthier, more vibrant community.