Defining Philanthropy
Hospital Foundations Build Stronger Communities in West Virginia
OLIVIA MILLER
When scheduling a routine check-up at a local clinic , the first associations that come to mind are likely not philanthropy or charity . However , behind the complex health care systems and medical centers that are vital to the health of a community lies a hospital foundation dedicated to improving the lives of its employees and patients .
From hospital foundation-supported 5K races , golf tournaments or concerts , the medical system is at the heart of every community . These events only scratch the surface of the impact these foundations have on the quality of life in West Virginia .
Historically , as hospitals evolved , charitable donations by wealthy philanthropists played an integral role in advancing modern medicine and providing health care access to underserved and low-income communities . Today , the philanthropic arm of a hospital plays much of the same role in serving as a bridge between the hospital system and the community .
According to Jim Kaufman , president of the West Virginia Hospital Association , 75 % of patients served by the average West Virginia hospital are insured by government payers like Medicare , Medicaid and the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency .
“ Since these programs do not fully cover the cost of care , foundations can work with their local community to support programs and services that a hospital may not be able to provide without community support ,” says Kaufman .
Money raised by a foundation can make a transformational difference in the quality of health care available at rural health care centers by providing a voice to all who are served . By having a structured organization dedicated to determining the unique and unmet needs of a community and their clinics , a hospital foundation can garner community support and fundraise for the specific needs of a given medical system .
For example , the associated hospital foundation can focus its efforts on raising funds for the renovation of a unit , building a new addition , purchasing advanced equipment for specialized care or upgrading commonly used equipment , expanding into new service areas , developing educational community-based preventive health care programs and much more .
“ The generous gifts of donors play a critical role in ensuring that all people in our communities receive the very best possible care ,” says Alice Ayres , president and CEO of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy , an international organization that
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE