2012 NCH Annual Report - NCH Healthcare System

In the United States, over 50 million people currently live in conditions below the poverty line. That
figure represents roughly 15% of our total population. In addition to lacking the means to acquire
goods and services that the rest of the population may take for granted, the poor have much more
difficulty than most obtaining quality health insurance and paying for expensive medical treatment.
At NCH, our mission involves providing quality healthcare
to everyone, regardless of ability to pay. In fact, our two
hospitals alone provide 97% of the charity care in Collier
County. Although the cost associated with caring for nonpaying
customers stresses our operating budget, we won’t back
down from our commitment to care for those who need us.
After all, as a not-for-profit hospital, our responsibility is to
patients, not to shareholders. We feel access to healthcare is a
right to be shared by everyone.
Fortunately, many individuals in our community feel the same
way. Mr. David Wang is one of those people.
As a young boy, before immigrating to the United States, Mr.
Wang had an experience in his native China that forever shaped
“…our two
hospitals
alone provide
97% of charity
care in Collier
County.”
his perspective Our on charity 54th and social annual responsibility. marquee event for That fundraising, role has included becoming a benefactor,
In a moment of deep personal reflection, Mr. along with his wife Cecile, in supporting many
the Hospital Ball, set new records this year
Wang shared his life-changing story.
different causes, one of which is to help NCH
for enthusiasm and participation.
shoulder
Themed
the expense of charity care.
“I think the real awakening was when I was
Saving Our Tiniest Treasures, the gathering benefitted the
six years old,” Mr. Wang recalled. “At the Mr. Wang went on to explain that America
time, my
expansion
father was
of
working
NCH’s
for
Neonatal
the Chinese
Intensive Care
has
Unit
a healthcare
(NICU).
system unique among the
government, and he and my mother were in developed countries of the world, something
America on
On
a
any
special
given
assignment.
day at NCH,
I had
about
a little
twelve at-risk
he calls
babies
a “dual hybrid system” comprised of
boy follow
are
me
in
around
need of
everywhere.
the highly specialized
And, I just
neonatal
for-profit
care that
and not-for-profit institutions. This
couldn’t figure
only the
out
NICU
exactly
can
who
provide.
he was.
The
Finally,
current nine-bed
complex
unit
arrangement has helped to fuel the
my nanny
has
explained
been outpaced
to me that
by population
this little boy’s
increases
skyrocketing
and is in dire
costs of healthcare and stifle
family owed
need
my
of
grandparents
expansion.
a sizeable debt. many low income people from simply being
So they put “The up current the little NICU boy—as collateral. The able to afford it. Mr. Wang believes the forprofits
have been able, within the confines of
little boy is was a very treated small well, space,” but he was placed
into three says or four Jorge years Perez, of service. And even at regulatory and legal constraints, to spend far
six years old, MD, it an kind NCH of struck a chord. So, this less money on charity care proportionally than
has been neonatologist. a lifelong belief “It and a lifelong search. the not-for-profits, like NCH.
And when, was in built terms many of financial years situation, I
“If I operate a facility for profit,” said Mr. Wang,
reached the ago. point We’re of a delivering comfortable life—I’ve
“obviously indigent care is a profit detractor—
been focusing approximately on identifying 3000 opportunities for
period, end of speech. It is a direct reduction of
me to play babies a role.” a year here. If
the bottom line. If I were a
you look around the
for-profit hospital president,
country, around the
it would be a no-brainer. I’d
state of Florida, we are probably the smallest NICU, or one of
try
the
to
smallest
reduce
NICUs,
the amount
when
of
taking into account this number of births.”
indigent care to the absolute
When the NICU is at full capacity, NCH is oftentimes forced to minimum transport level.” newborns to
out-of-town facilities, creating an additional layer of burden on these
“Given
fragile
the endless
patients
financial
and
their worried families. The NICU situation caught the attention
crises
of Lavern
in Washington
Norris Gaynor.
and
A longtime NCH supporter, Mrs. Gaynor was dismayed that area
the
families
yearly outlay
have the
of about
added
stress of travel heaped on their already difficult circumstances. So,
$600
she
billion
decided
by
to
the
step
federal
in.
Not only did Mrs. Gaynor spearhead NICU expansion fundraising government efforts on as programs our
Hospital Ball Honorary Chair, she also made a generous donation for the to poor,” purchase continued a vital
piece of technology for the NICU, an all-in-one neonatal healthcare Mr. Wang, station, “we the can’t GE expect
Giraffe® OmniBed.
government to do more.
Mrs. Gaynor, a healthcare advocate who learned the importance If of anything, a strong local it’s going hospital to
from her parents Dellora and Lester Norris, believes strongly that do patients less.” Therefore, should not Mr. have
to leave town to seek high quality healthcare. Her stance is firmly and aligned Mrs. Wang with our believe own the
here at NCH. We feel a civic obligation to move forward with expansion private sector plans has for to the play a
NICU, doubling capacity for high acuity newborns from the current nine beds to eighteen.
A. & C.
Not-for-profit Hospitals
B. & D.
For-profit Hospitals
Gulf of
Mexico
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bigger role if we are ever going to bridge
the divide.
“It’s not that they intend to be poor,”
Mr. Wang said. “Lack of education, the
economy, and a variety of other factors have
rendered them poor. And, I think if the
American people don’t stand up as a body
behind the poor, we will forever have this
great disconnect.”
His experience as an executive within a
global corporation has made it clear to
him that proactive corporate involvement
to foster small business growth will create
a pathway out of poverty through job
creation. Until this solution is realized,
however, Mr. Wang encourages others to
follow his lead, especially in the area of
healthcare.
“Listen to your own conscience—nothing
more, nothing less.”
Mr. and Mrs. Wang specifically chose
charity care as a focus for their generosity
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COLLIER BLVD.
D
because it is unglamorous and
overlooked. Also, because of his
hands-on involvement with the
Coalition of Immokalee Workers,
Mr. Wang has come face-to-face
with the desperation poor families
experience when they are stricken
with a major health crisis. Only one
place exists for them to find care he
says—NCH.
“Within a hospital it’s great to
donate to major [programs] with
long term strategic impact, but in
my case I tend to look for short term
immediate results and programs.”
In the long term, Mr. Wang feels regulatory
reform is needed to even the playing field
between not-for-profit and for-profit
healthcare entities regarding charity care.
But, in the near term, Mr. and Mrs. Wang
urge people with the means to intervene
directly as he has.
Mr. and Mrs. Wang are truly an inspiration
to those whom they have touched through
their financial support and ceaseless
volunteer efforts. Their work is vital in
helping all of us here at NCH fulfill our
continuing mission of charity care for
those in need.
“Listen to your
own conscience
—nothing more,
nothing less.”