$27.3 Million Invested into Community Benefits in South County by Scripps

Scripps Health, through Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista, invested $27.3 million into community benefit programs and services in South County during fiscal year 2013, serving some of the neediest populations in the region, according to a recently released report.

The largest portion of Scripps’ community benefit efforts in South County went toward uncompensated care, with more than $23 million invested.

Scripps also invested in training for new physicians, including Spanish-language medical instruction, and community health services such as maternal and child health education programs, senior flu shot clinics and other community needs.

“Scripps is proud to continue its legacy of making a vital and measurable difference in our community,” said Chris Van Gorder, president and CEO of Scripps Health. “We commend our physicians, employees and volunteers for going well beyond the call of duty in providing charity care, educational programs, health screenings and other much-needed services.”

Scripps cares for some of the neediest people in San Diego County, often at low to no cost. In 2013, Scripps provided hospital services to one-quarter of the county’s uninsured patient population. The nonprofit health system recently released its 2014 Community Benefit Report detailing its community benefit activities for fiscal year 2013 (October 2012 through September 2013). A copy of the report is available online at www.scripps.org/communitybenefit

Across San Diego County, Scripps Health invested $355 million into community benefit programs and services during fiscal year 2013. Community benefit programs and services accounted for nearly 15 percent of the health system’s operating expenses. Scripps Mercy Hospital campuses in San Diego and Chula Vista accounted for more than two-thirds of the $48.6 million Scripps Health devoted to charity care.

Meeting community needs in South County

At Scripps Mercy Chula Vista, uncompensated care for 2013 included $11.1 million in under-reimbursed care (underpayment from Medi-Cal, Medicare and other government programs); $10 million in charity care (for people without insurance who did not qualify for government assistance); and $1.96 million in bad debt (failure to pay by patients whose health care was not classified as charity care).

Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista also invested $3.4 million in professional education and health research, including the Scripps Family Medicine Residency Program.

It devoted more than $808,000 into community health services and programs, including Camp Scripps for young students interested in health careers and school-based clinics at Southwest and Palomar high schools, as well as childhood obesity prevention and cancer support groups.

Scripps Mercy Chula Vista employees and affiliated physicians collectively volunteered 3,448 hours in support of Scripps-sponsored community benefit programs, the equivalent of $151,602 in volunteer labor.

Meeting community needs in San Diego County

Scripps collaborates with other health systems, community groups and government agencies, as well as business and grassroots organizations to serve the greatest patient population needs and prioritize investments in the health and well-being of the community.

The 2014 Community Benefit Report is the system’s annual response to Senate Bill 697, a 1994 state law that requires private, nonprofit hospitals to document the full range of community benefits they provide on a yearly basis. Scripps takes this legislative requirement a step further by incorporating community benefit activities from throughout the system, including Scripps’ five acute-care hospital campuses, home health services, wellness centers and clinics.