CHARLOTTE, N.C — Advocate Health last year contributed $5.9 billion in charitable care and services – a 15% increase over the previous year. The investment builds on the health system’s pledges to advance health equity and improve affordability by addressing unique community needs and making financial assistance more accessible.
With a focus on growing services and partnerships that enhance health and wellness and drive safer, higher-quality care, the combined organization is a national leader in providing community benefit in the health care industry.
"I am proud of the work of our teammates in, once again, setting a record for community benefit and caring for our communities in a way that sets us apart as a national leader,” CEO Eugene A. Woods said. “Whether providing free care to thousands of low-income patients through our financial assistance programs, training the next generation of the health care workforce, investing in affordable housing or bringing virtual care to underserved communities and Title I schools across our footprint, our North Star has been – and always will be – how we are making our communities better.”
Spanning six states, Advocate Health’s community investments include free and discounted care for low-income patients, undercompensated care for those on Medicare and Medicaid, and costs related to medical research, among other programs and services. Additionally, in 2022 the organization made investments in:
- Subsidized health services, including trauma and behavioral health services, screenings, immunizations, school-based health care and other community health programs
- Education to train physicians, nurses and other health professionals
- Volunteer services provided by teammates
- Contributions of equipment and supplies
Equating to roughly $16 million a day, the $5.9 billion contribution represents one of the highest figures for community benefit among health systems in the nation.
“Our investments, which reflect the unique and evolving needs of our patients and communities, are guided by our commitment to be a force for meaningful social impact,” CEO Jim Skogsbergh said. “We are particularly proud of our many programs that aim to eliminate barriers to health and wellness.”
“This unprecedented investment in our communities is a testament to something that our teammates already know all too well – we are deeply committed to having a profound impact on each and every patient and community that we are privileged to serve,” said Kinneil Coltman, chief community and social impact officer.
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About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the United States – created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois, Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health serves nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs nearly 150,000 team members across 68 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides nearly $6 billion in annual community benefit.