Reviewers from The Joint Commission recently ... - Shepherd Center

Steve HollemanTammy KingEnglish, says Tammy King, chief nurseexecutive and administrator of the fund.Tammy also oversees anotherendowed fund for patients whoseinsurance doesn’t cover the fullexpense of necessary equipment and/or equipment repair. Called the PatientEquipment Fund, the endowmenthelps pay for bathroom equipment, asecond wheelchair and/or a wheelchairramp. It also pays for adaptive equipmentand assistive technology.“The need for equipment fundinghas gone up because insurance companiesare not paying as much,” Tammynotes. “But we believe equipment ispart of the whole package. For patientsto succeed after their care, they haveto have the right equipment based ontheir injury.”The Patient Care Fund is used to offsetthe cost of charitable care providedto patients who lack the ability to pay.While it helps all kinds of Shepherdpatients, it is a particularly beneficialto patients who come from outsideGeorgia. Most Georgia residents whodon’t have the ability to pay for theircare typically qualify for Medicaid.“However, most out-of-statepatients don’t qualify for Medicaidbecause they’re not receiving carein their home state,” explains SteveHolleman, Shepherd’s chief financialofficer. “We typically are not able tobill out-of-state Medicaid, so we endup writing off the patient’s care ascharity care, the funds for which comeout of the Patient Care Fund.”Without a doubt, these funds havenever been more important. In theeconomic downturn, more patientsneed extra help covering costs. Atthe same time, available resourcesfrom the funds have dropped. That’sbecause proceeds from the endowmentfunds come from investmentreturns, and in the economic downturn,the funds aren’t generating thereturns they once did.To make up the difference – and tomaintain its charity spending at a consistentlevel – Shepherd has had to usegeneral funds to help patients. Nowthe hospital is asking for unrestrictedgifts– that is, monetary donationsthat can be used for any Shepherdprogram.“Even though we invest our endowmentsin a very well-managed anddiversified portfolio of both fixedincome and equity investments,Shepherd – like just about all otherentities – has experienced a dramaticdecline in the value of the funds,”Steve says. “This reality underscoresthe balance of funding support. Theendowments help ensure that fundswill always be available. But annual‘unrestricted’ gifts allow Shepherdto maintain patient support in toughtimes and utilize dollars according tothe area most in need.”“For patients to succeed after their care, they have to havethe right equipment based on their injury.”— Tammy Kingan extra lifelinen e w www.shepherdTV.org11