Letters: Article doesn’t tell full story about hospitals' community investments

The recent article “Top not-for-profit hospitals offer less charity care, study finds,” does not tell the full story of how hospitals and health systems improve community health. It also fails to mention the resources dedicated to caring for patients who do not have the ability to pay. The American Hospital Association’s latest publicly available report shows hospitals and health systems spent $41.3 billion on uncompensated care in 2018.

Moreover, hospital and health systems’ commitment goes far beyond the four walls. According to a 2019 analysis, tax-exempt hospitals provided $95 billion in total benefits to their communities in 2016 alone—outweighing the $9 billion value of their tax exemption by a factor of nearly 11 to 1. Hospitals of all kinds provide services tailored to meet the specific needs of their patients and communities. For example, hospitals have dedicated resources to programs that spur healthier eating, promote prenatal care and increase access to community health clinics.

Every hospital and health system is a cornerstone of care: investing in the community, working to best meet patients’ needs, and doing more than any other part of the healthcare sector to advance health and benefit the community—and this will never change.

Rick Pollack
President and CEO
American Hospital Association

Regarding the Jan. 13 editorial “Care coordination needs to be more than just a goal,” I commend the author for sharing her story and advocating for stronger coordination of care throughout our healthcare system.

I have been a registered nurse for more than 20 years. Several years ago, I founded a healthcare concierge company in Chicago after seeing too many patients becoming frustrated with the complexities of the healthcare system.

Recently I exchanged my nursing responsibilities for patient caregiving duties when a family member had significant surgery. The pre-surgical appointments, tests, insurance coordination and after-care were a stark reminder that navigating the healthcare system can be intimidating and seemingly impossible.

Patients can quickly become overwhelmed and desperate for answers, even with the best surgeons, most attentive nurses and a highly supportive family.

Juxtapose that patient with a confident patient who works alongside their medical team, understands outcomes because they ask questions and is empowered to ask for the support they need.

I encourage healthcare professionals to share two recommendations with their patients to foster confidence and a shared sense of responsibility:

• Ask questions. Write them down. Even if you’re not sure if they’re the right questions, it’s a start.
• Bring someone with you to your appointment. They can take notes on feedback. One study found that patients with companions at appointments were 77% more likely to understand advice and more likely to discuss difficult topics.

Talking with patients and their families about the importance of care coordination will help set clear, realistic expectations for both patients and the medical team to reach the best potential outcomes, even (and especially) during the most difficult and sensitive times.

Beth Myers, R.N.
Founder
2x2 Health
Chicago