Hurley Medical Center is making a significant impact on Flint and Genesee County through efforts designed to improve the overall health, wellness and quality of life for local residents. Hurley has served more than 2,000 food-insecure patients in the past two years through the Food FARMacy, the Diabetes Prevention Program is at various community locations, Camp Move It has helped children get healthier over the past five years and they are involved in several collaborative projects like the annual Community Baby Shower and Vaccination Fair. The Nurse-Family Partnership helps first time mothers during their pregnancy and all the way through the second year of their child’s life to provide guidance and access to health-related resources.
“We are here for those who need us, but another measure of our success is knowing that there are those in our community whom we have helped to stay healthy and not require hospitalization,” says Hurley President and CEO, Melany Gavulic.
According to data highlighted in the 2019 Healthy Futures, Healthy Communities report released by the Michigan Health & Hospital Association from fiscal year (FY) 2017, Michigan hospitals invested more than $706 million in care, services and resources that help enhance the health and wellness of Michiganders beyond the traditional hospital setting. Overall, Michigan hospitals invested nearly $3 billion in community-based partnerships and programs across the state.
“It is critical that community members get the service that they need and we make sure that no one gets turned away,” says Cass Wisniewski, Hurley Senior Vice President & CFO. “For those people in our community who need hospital services and are uninsured, we help them get insurance through Medicaid or the Healthy Michigan Plan. For those that do not qualify for these insurance plans, we offer a charity discount plan based on income levels.”
In addition to community benefit services and programs, the report also highlights the contributions of hospitals when it comes to uncompensated care. In FY 2017, the unpaid costs of patient care at Michigan hospitals totaled more than $2.2 billion, which includes both financial assistance and bad debt at cost, as well as Medicaid and Medicare payment shortfalls, other means-tested government programs and subsidized health services.
Healthy Futures, Healthy Communities highlights how hospitals are helping people of all ages get and stay healthy both in and out of the hospital. The full report and stories from hospitals across the state that exhibit community benefit can be accessed at mha.org. Hurley Medical Center programs can be found at hurleymc.com.
