Look at most any hospital in America and you'll find an engine of economic development, but not all are equal in their community benefit.

The economic impact of a hospital is felt locally, through direct spending on such things as payroll, purchase of goods and services, and the financing of new construction. A hospital also exerts indirect economic impact by being a magnet for other businesses that benefit from close proximity to such a dynamic and multi-faceted endeavor.

In addition, hospitals inevitably bring a significant "community benefit" to the communities they serve. This is a specific industry term that describes the broad variety of discretionary, benevolent activities that impact education and public welfare, as well as the quality of healthcare. Community benefit includes such things as providing charity care for the uninsured and providing vital healthcare, education, and research programs -- many of which operate at a loss -- for the community. It also includes the value of employees' personal involvement in civic, charitable or professional organizations.

Long history of giving back
Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS) has a long history of being a good corporate citizen, stemming back to our 1940 roots as a medical center providing access to hospital care to all patients, regardless of social or economic background. As we've grown over the years -- from a single facility to a comprehensive system now encompassing more than 25 affiliated medical centers and over 300 care locations -- so has our commitment to the communities we serve.

In fact, our facilities not only serve as significant engines of economic growth but also take a leadership role in providing a wide variety of safety net services. They also provide comprehensive research and educational endeavors that advance the frontiers of medical knowledge and supply the region with needed healthcare professionals.

We go way beyond the fundamental mission of saving lives and restoring health. Indeed, our hospitals and services have a positive affect on almost every aspect of community life. In fact, they account for a remarkable variety of extremely costly services that in many cases would have to be provided by government if they were not incorporated into the organization's mission.