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Wisconsin Hospital Association
| 2014 Community Benefits Report
Wisconsin Hospitals:
Caring for Our Neighbors
About This Report
Wisconsin hospitals and health systems are the health care safety net in their communities. In 2013, hospitals
provided millions of dollars in free care and thousands of hours providing free health screenings and education.
And those are just the contributions that can be quantified. Countless acts of kindness are directed toward those
who are in need of a helping hand by hospital employees who ask for nothing more in return but the knowledge
that a patient or family member received the help they needed.
For the eighth year in a row, Wisconsin hospitals—135 in total—completed the Wisconsin Hospital Association
(WHA) community benefits survey. Wisconsin is one of the few states in the country that has 100 percent of its
hospitals voluntarily reporting community benefits (www.WiServePoint.org).
WHA member hospitals use the Community Benefits Inventory for Social Accountability (CBISA) statewide survey
tool developed by Lyons Software to both collect and report these activities. The survey utilized common definition
and reporting standards that have been tested and proven after more than a decade of use by the Catholic
Healthcare Association and VHA.
We wish to thank the individuals in our hospitals and health systems that completed the survey or that sent us
one of the hundreds of stories that truly illustrate the immense value these contributions have to people living in
Wisconsin.
Edward HardingSteve Brenton
2014 ChairmanPresident
Wisconsin Hospital AssociationWisconsin Hospital Association
2014 Community Benefits Report
Wisconsin Hospitals:
“Caring for Our Neighbors”
The depth of giving, the breadth of caring and the lengths that hospitals will go to increase access to health care is
best told by the people who receive it.
This report tells the personal stories—the real impact—that Wisconsin hospitals and health systems are having
on people living in their communities. While many businesses devote employee time and financial resources to
improving the communities where they live and work, what differentiates hospitals is that they not only have a
mission to serve, their employees are highly motivated to roll up their sleeves and make an almost immediate
difference in the lives of the people they touch.
In 2013, Wisconsin hospitals provided more than $328 million in charity care and nearly $1.8 billion in total
community benefits. While dollars and cents are inadequate measures of the value of the care, programs, services
and good deeds that hospitals make possible in their communities, the financial commitment is significant in an
environment that is marked by uncertainty. The challenges hospitals and health systems face as they respond to
the rapidly-changing health care landscape will require difficult decisions in the future.
One thing will remain certain—hospitals' unwavering mission to improve the health and lives of the people living
in their communities, built on a tradition of service to others.
Read more about hospitals connecting with their communities at www.WiServePoint.org.
Uncompensated Care
Fear of a bill should never prevent a patient from seeking care at a Wisconsin hospital. Care always comes first. The
stories that follow show a deep commitment to the patient while they are being hospitalized and a continuing concern for
the person when they return to their home.
Hospital billing policies reflect respect and compassion for all patients. Hospitals work closely with patients and their
families to gather the information necessary to determine if they qualify for either government assistance or for the
hospital’s discount or charity care program. Hospital staff does everything they can to connect patients with resources
that can help them work through the complexity of their financial issues.
In 2013, hospitals provided more than $328 million in charity care. It is just one example of how hospitals create a
“safety net” of care in the communities they serve.
Community hospitals provide access to care regardless of
ability to pay
Community Benefits
Charity Care at Cost
$328,529,991
Imelda Chavira and her husband are both employed but neither has health
insurance through their employment. They feel strongly about paying for their
Medicaid Shortfalls
$967,736,397
own expenses, and didn’t believe in applying for medical assistance because
Losses on Other Public Programs
$45,335,076
they both felt others needed the financial support more than they did—until
Imeda was diagnosed with cancer. Chemotherapy expenses alone exceeded
Subsidized Health Services
$102,086,775
$120,000, not including X-ray and MRI charges.
Nursing Home Losses
$12,993,798
At Westfields we believe all patients deserve to be treated with dignity,
respect and compassion. And all receive the same exceptional care, regardless
of their ability to pay. Our Charity Care Assistance program helps uninsured
patients with verified financial need. Chavira was approved for a partial discount on her medical expenses. Thanks to medical treatment, she was
in remission and feeling better.
"I applied for Medicaid but they didn’t help me,” says Chavira. “The hospital was the one that helped me.”
Hospitals are vital to meeting the health care needs of the communities they serve whether it’s providing access to specialized resources such
as cancer care or treatment of heart attack or stroke; providing a safety net role for all who seek emergency care, regardless of ability to pay; or
providing disaster readiness and response in the case of large-scale accidents, natural disasters or epidemics.
Westfields Hospital, New Richmond
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2014 Community Benefits Report
“No Place to Go”
Access to routine medical care provides a number of challenges for many people.
When emergency care is needed, quick decisions can make the difference between life and death, but what many people fail to realize is
that proper follow-up and monitoring is equally important.
It’s hard to imagine what goes through a person’s mind when they know they need immediate medical care, but also realize they have
no means to pay for it.
That was the case of a 49-year-old man who was transported to Ministry Saint Clare’s in Weston recently from a homeless shelter in
Portage County.
Complaining of chest pain, he was evaluated and prepared for a heart catheterization that eventually discovered serious signs of heart
disease and the need for open heart surgery.
After successful treatment and recovery, case management staff at Ministry Saint Clare’s quickly realized they had a major issue on their
hands because the man had no job because of his health condition, no family in the area and no place to go upon discharge.
“Typically we make sure all of our heart patients can be discharged to an environment where they have access to someone who is
available to supervise and assist them 24/7,” said Mark Moser, director of case management at Ministry Saint Clare’s. “Clearly in this case, the
homeless shelter could not provide what he needed, and we knew we could not send this person back on the street.”
Left without many options, Moser and his staff set the wheels in motion to do the only thing they could think of to ensure his care:
readmit him to the hospital.
In short order they were able to get a commitment from the Hospitalist Program to supervise his care until he was fit for discharge to the
community and could once again get access to resources in his home town.
Costs for his care will ultimately be written off by Ministry Saint Clare’s, and Moser takes great pride in the fact that staff came together to
“live the Ministry mission.”
“When you consider that we had a patient without the ability to pay that had gone through open-heart surgery, but still had care needs,
it was comforting to easily secure support from our leaders to provide a safe place for him to stay,” added Moser. “We knew it was the right
thing to do because he had no place to go.”
Ministry Saint Clare’s Hospital, Weston
Community care takes “A load off my mind…”
On January 3, 2012, Larry Hoefs was without medical insurance.
That wasn’t on his mind at the moment. His diabetes-related foot ulcer brought such
excruciating pain to the pinky toe of his right foot that he could no long bear it.
Needing immediate medical attention, Larry drove to Beaver Dam Community Hospital’s
emergency room. Soon, doctors informed him that the ulcer was so advanced that they would
need to amputate his toe. Dr. Paul Shuler successfully removed the toe the next day, and Larry
needed to spend a total of seven days in the hospital.
During his recovery, Larry got to know a lot of different people, including doctors, physician
assistants, nurses and therapists. He also met Liz Schliewe, a financial counselor with Beaver
Dam Community Hospital (BDCH), who visited Larry to discuss his financial situation.
Thanks to Schliewe’s gentle persistence and guidance, Larry applied for and was granted
Community Care through BDCH, covering Larry’s hospital bill, which included a second
Photo courtesy of Beaver Dam Community
diabetes-related inpatient stay.
Hospital
As part of the Community Care application process, Liz had Larry contact the State of
Wisconsin to enroll in BadgerCare, which covered his follow-up medical costs through
June 30.
“I can’t say enough for what Liz and Beaver Dam Community Hospital did for me,” Larry said. “When I was going through this, I was
feeling really hopeless, and when I feel hopeless, I don’t feel like doing anything. Liz really kept on me, motivated me to keep my spirits up
and made sure I filled out all the paperwork properly.
“If they hadn’t provided this Community Care for me, I’d be in trouble and facing a lot of unhappy bill collectors,” continued Larry. “It
took a lot off my mind because I’m on disability, and I only have so much money to spend each month, and I can’t get on Medicaid until
October.”
Beaver Dam Community Hospital, Beaver Dam
Thankfully, she didn’t have to choose
Nikki, a single mom, was working as a certified nursing assistant and living without insurance. She wasn’t able to afford housing and health
insurance, so she had to choose what was most important: providing for her son.
“Insurance through work was just too costly,” said Nikki. Her son was covered by Badger Care.
Nikki unexpectedly became ill and was hospitalized at Mayo Clinic Health System - Red Cedar for a week. Following her hospitalization,
she needed therapy through Behavioral Health at Mayo Clinic Health System in Menomonie.
She was struggling to make payments for her bills, so a staff member at Mayo Clinic Health System - Red Cedar called her to tell her
about the financial assistance program that the medical center offers. She submitted her application and qualified for a full discount.
“I was wondering how I was going to pay these bills. This way, it didn’t have to go through collections,” she said with gratitude. “It was
huge. It took a huge burden off of me. To pay the bills was to take money away from my son’s needs.”
Nikki now has peace of mind as she is able to afford insurance coverage for her own medical needs.
Mayo Clinic Health System – Red Cedar, Menomonie
Read more about hospitals connecting with their communities at www.WiServePoint.org.
3
Patient receives financial help from Community Care Program
Having experienced a mild heart attack in 2011, Thomas knew the pain in his chest was more serious this time around a year and a half later.
At only age 51, he didn’t expect to have this condition bring his busy lifestyle to a crashing halt. He was transported by rescue squad to Grant
Regional Health Center where lifesaving measures were put into action.
“I know the value of having a hospital close by in our rural community,” Thomas explains. “It was a close call,” he remembers. “It’s not
something you can just wait and see what happens.” Thomas was then air-lifted to a Madison hospital where he underwent surgery including
three stints. Remarkably he was home within 72 hours and back to work within three weeks.
Tom is employed by a local feed company, so he had some insurance, but the coverage was minimal. Given the fact that he was worried
about the cost of emergency care and a hospital stay, he was encouraged to apply for assistance through Grant Regional’s Community Care
Program. After reviewing his financial situation, Grant Regional Health Center forgave 100 percent of the charges incurred for his emergency
care – totaling $5,000.
“I know how lucky I was to have prompt, experienced medical care close to home. They helped through a very difficult time –and for
that, I’m very grateful to Grant Regional Health Center.”
Grant Regional Health Center, Lancaster
Mom is grateful Theda Clark helped son with more than $17,000 in medical bills
An accident at home left major medical expenses for Town of Menasha resident Jeffrey Beltz.
Beltz’s accident happened on Thanksgiving Day when he fell down the basement stairs and landed on his head.
“He bruised his brain and cracked a bone over his ear,” said his mother, Sandy Beltz, who lives next door to Jeffrey, 25. “He was
paralyzed on the side of his face,” she added, noting the accident could have been much worse. “He’s so lucky.”
The family also experienced more luck when, while at the hospital, they were told they could apply for ThedaCare’s Caring Harts
Financial Assistance Program. “I would have never have thought to apply or ask,” she said, noting the nurse who told them about it “was an
angel.”
Sandy Beltz said the application process was amazingly quick. “I thought it was going to be one of those long and lengthy things,” she
said. “Someone called me right away. It took a big load off our shoulders.”
The program covered $17,373.82 for expenses at Theda Clark Medical Center.
She added that her son is grateful to have support from Caring Hearts. He was unemployed and uninsured at the time of the accident.
With the mounting medical costs, she had worried her son would need to take out a loan to cover the medical expenses.
“We are very thankful to the Caring Hearts for helping with his hospital bill,” she said, adding that her son was able to get a payment
plan for his remaining payments.
She said her son is doing much better and the bruising on his brain will take a year to heal.
“He’s a very lucky boy,” said Sandy Beltz.
Theda Clark Medical Center, Neenah
At the end of the road? Perhaps not
Courage is difficult to find in these hard times, and finding it became very complicated for a 52 year-old Two Rivers man. He was rushed into
the Emergency Department at Aurora Medical Center in Two Rivers with complaints of severe headaches. Sadly, test results revealed that his
pain stemmed from brain cancer.
The doctor gave the patient some hope that the cancer was still in the early stages and that treatment and preventive measures could be
pursued. He was left to cry alone in the patient room for a while, until a financial counselor arrived.
Overcome with fear and worry, the patient told the financial counselor, “I am at the end of the road.” He was uninsured, unemployed
and living temporarily with a friend. But the financial counselor would not hear of it, and immediately addressed the situation. She helped
the patient apply for the Aurora Helping Hand Patient Financial Assistance Program and was pleased to learn that he qualified for a 100
percent discount for three months of care and treatment.
In addition, the financial counselor assisted the patient with the government program called Foodshare for food stamps, as well as
ongoing medical assistance throughout the course of his chemotherapy.
Overwhelmed by all the support, the patient expressed his appreciation as best he could.
Aurora Medical Center in Two Rivers
Tom Kariean
Tom Kariean of Shawano was diagnosed with hypertension that requires a prescription to get his condition under control.
But each time he saw a doctor, or picked up the needed medicine, the totals racked up. And Kariean, 53, is currently not making a
steady income.
He was being treated in the Emergency Department at Shawano Medical Center when he found out about ThedaCare’s Caring Hearts
Financial Assistance Program. He applied and was able to get the assistance needed to meet the medical bills piling up.
“This program has relieved me of some pressure right now,” he said. “I wouldn’t know how I would pay for this right now. They’ve been
very kind, too.”
The Caring Hearts program has helped with over $10,000 in medical bills relating to a one-night stay at the hospital and numerous
doctor visits. Kariean said the Caring Hearts program is a lifeline for those struggling. “I think it’s an excellent idea,” he said. “With today’s
economy, there are a lot of people who don’t work. We’re human beings. We all get sick, but we still have to maintain our bodies.”
Caring Hearts has relieved much pressure from Kariean, who continues to look for employment. “It’s been very kind to me and very
helpful to me,” he said.
Shawano Medical Center
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2014 Community Benefits Report
Free to focus on healing
Community Care “Heaven Sent”
Imagine being unemployed, recently
Aspirus Medford Hospital & Clinics’
widowed, and caring for your three
Community Care program is devo
ted to
providing compassionate health care
grandchildren and your daughter who
services of the highest quality to peo
ple who
cannot afford them otherwise.
suffers from mental illness. Now imagine
trying to balance all of this when you
Here are words from a recipient of
the Community Care program:
receive a cancer diagnosis.
“Our experience with the Commun
ity Care program was wonderful. The
This is exactly what happened to
financial counselors were very kind
and kept everything confidential. We
couldn’t
a patient at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical
have asked for more.
Center: This caring grandmother of three
This program and the staff were reall
y heaven sent. It’s been very difficult
received her melanoma diagnosis and was
over
the past few years to make ends mee
t, so when we were told our debt was
informed she needed multiple treatments
wiped
clean this past year, it was a huge burd
en that had been taken off.
that were going to cost $120,000 per
This program is a great opportunity
for people who can’t afford health
hospital admission.
care or
insurance. It means a lot to me and
I hope other people in the commun
Needless to say, she was beside herself
ity know
there are options for those who reall
y need it.”
with worry about paying for treatments,
as she was already selling off personal
Aspirus Medford Hospital & Clinics
possessions just to make ends meet while
caring for her family. She met with the
hospital financial counselor before her first
admission and applied for the Aurora Helping Hand Patient Financial Assistance Program. A few days before her first treatment, the counselor
called the patient with great news that she was approved for a 100 percent discount for all of her necessary treatments. In addition, the
financial counselor also was able to help her get the drug she needed through the Prometheus Patient Support System.
Free of the financial burden associated with her cancer diagnosis, the patient was able to focus on healing and “being there” for her
family for years to come.
Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, Milwaukee
Patient grateful for charity care
A patient at Aspirus Wausau Hospital was being treated for a type of brain cancer and her insurance would not cover her care. Her
outstanding balances at Aspirus and other medical facilities were totaling more than $135,000. With very little equity in her home and no
other assets to make payments, Aspirus covered this patient’s services through charity care. The patient was so grateful, she wrote a letter to
Aspirus that reads:
“When I received your letter regarding the 100 percent reduction of eligible services, I was overwhelmed! Not only the best care in the
hospital, but now I was blessed again. Thank you for everything you have done for me. I am truly grateful!!!”
Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Just not enough to make it work...
Bernard had to retire earlier than he wanted to due to several health conditions. Because of this, his Social Security income is less than he
had planned on. Bernard had an emergency admission to Holy Family Memorial for a pulmonary embolism and deep vessel thrombosis
resulting in a two-day stay and numerous follow-up visits. On his limited income, Bernard found it impossible to pay the Medicare deductible
and co-insurance and also pay his mortgage, utilities and other living expenses. Bernard lives very frugally and could not cut corners any
further. Holy Family Memorial was able to assist Bernard with his Medicare deductibles and co-insurance through Community Care. He did
not know what he would have done had he not had this program to assist him. Bernard appreciated all Holy Family Memorial did for him in
his time of need.
Holy Family Memorial, Inc., Manitowoc
Community Care takes care of treatments for an optimistic, strong woman
It has been a long journey for Natalie. She has been battling Multiple Sclerosis for over 10 years. In 2010, she had to endure back surgery and
treatment due to her condition, making her unable to work and with no income.
Her disabilities were taking a toll on her mind and body. She began having trouble walking, making her depend on a cane for stability.
She also began to have trouble remembering short-term events like what she did the day before. These symptoms are only few compared to
the many effects that Multiple Sclerosis has on the body.
Not only did she have to deal with her disability, Natalie also had to worry about how to pay for her back surgery and infusion therapies.
She has to pay $666 a month along with a co-pay to receive any coverage from her private insurance. Unable to work, Natalie has no
income to pay her insurance or her medical bills.
“I had no idea how I was going to pay for these bills,” she expressed.
Sue, a financial counselor for Wheaton’s Community Care program, was there to comfort and help her through a time of need. Sue went
above and beyond by even visiting Natalie after her treatments.
“She treated me with the most respect and she was very kind,” Natalie said.
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare provided her back surgery at no cost to Natalie through Community Care, the System’s charity care
program that assists patients with financial need. Wheaton also continues to pay for her infusion therapies.
Despite her hardships over the past 10 years, Natalie still remains kind hearted, optimistic and strong. “I appreciate the abilities that I still
have, not what I don’t have,” Natalie humbly said. “Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, Milwaukee
Read more about hospitals connecting with their communities at www.WiServePoint.org.
5
Community Care provides relief for patient with irregular heartbeat
Four years ago George Olwell, a genial 72-year-old, got a shock. Tests showed he had a heart
arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, and he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation severe enough to
require treatment. George went through a regimen of medications, surgery, and other options. As
his medical expenses mounted, so did his frustration – nothing seemed to be helping.
George was finally referred to Dr. Peter Chapman at Wheaton Franciscan – The Wisconsin
Heart Hospital Campus. Dr. Chapman performed an ablation procedure on George’s heart that
put George on the road to recovery.
That recovery stumbled when he received a bill for the surgery. George was covered under
Medicare, but not at 100 percent. With no additional insurance and four years of medical office
visits, tests and procedures under his belt, George already faced significant debt. This final
surgery pushed his finances over the brink.
After sharing his concerns with Dr. Chapman’s office, George was referred to a Wheaton
Franciscan financial counselor. Several options were explored and discarded – George was not
eligible for Medicaid or other government programs, some of his bills from other providers had
been sent to collections, and bankruptcy was a very real possibility. But his financial counselor
held out hope for one last option – Wheaton’s Community Care program.
Photo courtesy of The Wisconsin Heart
Community Care is a program offered through Wheaton Franciscan for patients in need
Hospital
of financial assistance. Patients are evaluated for financial eligibility and if appropriate, given a
discount on services provided at Wheaton facilities. In George’s case, Wheaton provided the care
not covered by Medicare. In addition, he received a discount on his follow-up care.
Remaining healthy is important to George. He visits his former wife every day. She is in a nursing home with cancer and dementia, and
George feeds her meals.
“Having Dr. Chapman fix me up was a terrific physical relief,” shared George.
“Getting the help I needed to pay the bills was a big mental relief. Without that relief, I wouldn’t be able to do what I need to do right
now. I really appreciate Wheaton’s Community Care program.”
Wheaton Franciscan-Midwest Spine/Orthopedic Hospital of WI/Wisconsin Heart Hospital
Charity Care Story
Beth*, a 63-year-old woman from Omro, was encouraged to get an annual exam and a mammogram after visiting Mercy Medical Center
with her husband for one of his appointments. Beth hadn’t had one of these exams in quite awhile and was unsure that she wanted to go
ahead with it due to financial setbacks. Her provider informed Beth about the Wisconsin Well Woman Program, which would pay for certain
wellness screenings for women with little to no health insurance.
Beth followed her provider’s advice and went ahead with the exam, only to find that she had stage two breast cancer.
With cancer in the picture, along with other medical issues, her providers at Mercy Medical Center wanted Beth to know that the medical bills
would be taken care of. Both Beth and her husband were able to receive many services which were provided for them through Affinity Care.
And when Beth started chemotherapy, she was reassured because of Affinity Care.
Beth said, “They surpass every hospital I’ve ever been to. They outshine everyone just by how much they care.”
*name changed for privacy
Mercy Medical Center, Oshkosh
Lowering blood pressure and deleting medical bills
What goes up doesn’t always come down, at least right away. That was the case with Randy Peterson’s blood pressure. The rural Willard man
was transferred by ambulance from a local critical access hospital to Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire with dangerously high blood
pressure.
“I was admitted directly into Critical Care,” says Peterson. “We have insurance, but it doesn’t cover hospital stays.” After one night,
some tests and medications, the physicians and staff were able to get his blood pressure under control and much closer to the normal range.
However, this stay left Peterson and his wife, Analee, with an approximately $10,000 bill. “I didn’t know how I was going to pay the bill,” says
Peterson.
Luckily, for Peterson and others in similar situations, Mayo Clinic Health System offers a financial assistance program. If patients need
financial assistance, they can apply for it before or after they receive the services. Many factors are weighed when determining if a patient is
eligible for financial assistance, including the patient’s income, assets and needs. Because of a previous injury, Peterson is on disability and
lives on a fixed income. Making payments on a large medical bill was not something he would have been able to do.
Mayo Clinic Health System works with patients to help set up affordable payment options or, if a patient qualifies, forgive part or all of a
medical bill. That was the case for Peterson when his entire balance was forgiven. “I’ve never even received a bill. I’m very grateful for that.”
Becca McHugh, patient financial planning supervisor, explains that patients are not always prepared for a large medical expense. “Paying
medical bills can be a challenge if someone has an unexpected health condition and little or no insurance. That’s why we have this program.
Our planners work very hard to help patients.”
Thanks to medications, Peterson’s blood pressure is now more under control and he’s very grateful for the help, both medically and
financially, he has received from Mayo Clinic Health System. “I think everyone there is great. You really have some great people.”
Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire
6
2014 Community Benefits Report
Man grateful charity care gives grandson fresh start
An elderly gentleman came in requesting to speak to a financial counselor. He had recently lost his wife, his only income was from Social Security
and his grandson was living with him. His grandson was unemployed, had no insurance, and had previous medical bills with St. Mary’s. He
spoke with one of our financial counselors requesting to pay for his grandson’s bill in small monthly increments. After reviewing his situation,
it was determined that they would not qualify for a monthly payment plan, so our financial counselor suggested that he have his grandson
complete a charity application. At first the gentleman strongly objected that they were not a charity case and that we should reserve that for
others who truly need it. It took a somewhat lengthy discussion, some counseling and reassurance to convince him that it would be okay if all
they did was complete the application and return with the required documents.
He left and returned a few days later with all of the paperwork in hand. The financial counselor reviewed the information and brought to
her manager for an immediate approval. We were able to approve the case at 100 percent that day while the grandfather waited in our Atrium.
When he was informed of our decision he began to sob and remarked, “Why is the Lord being so good to me?” He thanked us over and over
again for resolving his grandson of his medical debt and allowing him a fresh start. As he left, he emphatically stated that they would not forget
what we did for his family and would definitely be sharing his story with others.
St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center, Green Bay
“Going the extra mile”
There are cases when an emergency can set the wheels in motion for a relationship that launches the potential for a new lease on life, often
between people who don’t even know each other. That was the case recently of a 40-year old that was treated at Ministry Good Samaritan
Health Center in Merrill after sustaining injuries in a fall.
Upon admission to the emergency department, it became clear to staff that the fall injuries needed to be treated, but so did a number of
health issues as the result of a lifelong battle with obesity. Weighing in at nearly 700 pounds, Ministry Good Samaritan staff quickly realized
they needed specialized equipment to safely care for him as an inpatient.
“We knew we had a bariatric wheelchair, but we were not well equipped to care for this patient,” said Ministry Good Samaritan Case
Manager Cindy Lezotte. “Within short notice we were able to secure a specialized bariatric bed and shower chair to ensure his safety while he
was here.”
Once a safe haven was established in the hospital, Lezotte and fellow case manager Colleen Schuett then began to turn their thoughts to
another challenge, what to do with the man upon discharge.
“From our conversations with him, we knew that going back to his current home was not an option,” says Schuett. “It just wasn’t safe.
He needed help and we were determined to find someplace for him to go that could meet his needs.”
Schuett and Lezotte knew he needed a rehab facility with access to psychological support and other health services, but just as they had
experienced at Ministry Good Samaritan, who had a facility that could safely care for him?
What happened next might be considered a wild goose chase, as after a quick survey of other area facilities, no one locally could take a
patient of this size. They expanded their search regionally and statewide. Eventually after contacting 24 different facilities, they found a facility
in southwestern Wisconsin that had a program that was a perfect fit, but had no rooms available.
By this time the patient was ready to be discharged and his limited insurance coverage had run dry. That’s when staff engaged hospital
leadership to advocate for keeping him in the hospital until a room opened up at the specialized bariatric facility.
In the end, it turned out to be an 18-day odyssey with Ministry Good Samaritan covering the costs of several hospital days and the
specialized equipment through its Charity Care program.
Ministry Good Samaritan staff were recently contacted by the man’s family who indicated that he was doing well with the program and
was nearing a point where he could likely return to a facility closer to home.
All this made possible by a hospital with staff willing to go the extra mile.
Ministry Good Samaritan Health Center, Merrill
Charity care
Rhonda, a senior citizen living in the Green Bay area, was recently in a tight spot – unemployed, living on Social Security benefits and no
health insurance.
Getting by day-to-day was a challenge in itself, so regularly-scheduled visits to the doctor for necessary checkups were out of the
question, especially without the means to pay for the health services or medication.
“Unless you have been in a position of having no health coverage, you cannot imagine what a terrifying feeling hangs over your
shoulders all the time,” Rhonda said. “It is horrible to have to try resisting going to see a health care provider when you are in need because
you know that the huge balances you will incur are going to drag you under as you have no means of paying them.”
But Rhonda could no longer resist seeing a health care provider when she began feeling severe chest pains. The pain quickly and
effectively rendered her fears of financial hardships moot as she found herself rushing to Bellin Health’s Emergency Services Pavilion for
treatment.
Following the emergency room episode, the medical bills eventually came, as did Rhonda’s concerns over her inability to pay them.
That’s when Bellin’s Community Care program stepped in.
Community Care (charity care) is offered to low-income patients that have little or no ability to pay for much-needed medical services.
“All too often we see seniors that are too young for Medicare come in with some serious health problems, as in Rhonda’s case, because
they’ve waited so long to see a doctor out of their inability to pay for services,” said Cathy Barbeaux, a financial assistance specialist at Bellin.
“That’s where we come in. Our Community Care program is able to assist during those special cases where patients do not qualify for any
other public assistance. Rhonda was one of those cases.”
The charity care provided to Rhonda was a relief, a weight lifted off her shoulders. “Your program is truly community care,” Rhonda
said. “I, for one, will always be so very grateful that it was there for me in my times of need. Thank you so very much.”
Note: The patient’s name in this story has been changed to protect patient confidentiality.
Read more about hospitals connecting with their communities at www.WiServePoint.org.
Bellin Health System, Green Bay
7
Oh, no!
Peter was going through a difficult time in his life. His wife left him, he was recently laid off, and he had just started a new job. With the
stress of an upcoming divorce and a new job with an uncertain future, he moved in with his parents for support. At their suggestion, he was
admitted to Aurora Psychiatric Hospital for the help he needed during this difficult transition.
Karen, lead financial counselor, was alerted to his admission when his case manager was unable to obtain authorization; the insurance
carrier could not identify his coverage. You see, he elected not to take out the COBRA coverage offered by his former employer because he
believed he was still covered by his wife's insurance. However, during the separation, his estranged wife had removed him from her policy.
Peter was ineligible for insurance offered by his new employer for several months. Karen quickly reassured Peter that Aurora understands
difficult situations like this, and she would find a program to help him. Because his estranged spouse would not provide any information,
Karen worked primarily with Pete’s mother to obtain the necessary information.
After providing Peter and his mother with information regarding various prescription and Veteran's assistance programs, Karen guided
Peter's mother through the Aurora Helping Hand Patient Financial Assistance Program application process. He received an Aurora discount
and an interest-free payment plan for the remaining balance through the Aurora Helping Hand program.
Peter’s mother sent an email to Karen’s manager to thank her.
“Karen was very kind and empathetic to Peter’s situation. She told us of several alternatives for paying his bill. Would you let her know
for me how much my husband and I appreciate her help?”
Aurora Psychiatric Hospital, Wauwatosa
Emphasizing Wellness: Breaking Down Barriers for the Uninsured
As the health care landscape shifts to emphasize the importance of wellness and illness prevention, Monroe Clinic is making changes to ensure
patients with limited financial means benefit from routine health maintenance and primary care.
Monroe Clinic's Community Care program has long served patients that do not have the resources to pay for healthcare coverage and
are ineligible for government programs. Last year, Monroe Clinic provided $4,870,046 in this type of medical care for families and individuals
in Southwest Wisconsin and Northern Illinois.
"Preventive health care is often underutilized, especially in the uninsured population. Unfortunately, if someone cannot afford health
care, they frequently put off seeking services until they are very sick. That is often when Community Care comes in," said Monroe Clinic’s
Chief Medical Officer, Mark Thompson, MD. "How different the situation might be if they benefited from routine screenings, risk assessment,
disease management and all the other services that accompany a close relationship with a primary care provider."
Benefits of Monroe Clinic's updated Community Care program include:
• All eligible participants will receive between 35-100 percent financial assistance on hospital and clinic expenses as specified in an enrollment letter.
• Annual wellness visits and all other scheduled preventative services are completely covered at 100 percent financial assistance.
• FastCare (a walk-in service that is available 364 days a year) visits are covered at 100 percent financial assistance.
The revised program encourages patients to establish a connection with a Monroe Clinic primary care provider (PCP), asking patients to
make a wellness appointment, covered 100 percent by Monroe Clinic, after enrollment. From there, patients follow-up with their PCP for their
continuing healthcare needs. If needed, that provider can refer them for specialist consultations.
The ultimate goal is to break down the preventive care barriers, so patients aren’t waiting for a medical crisis to arise before seeking help.
Additionally, PCPs can help their patients stay aware of and manage health risks, to proactively maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The program is already changing how patients utilize healthcare services at Monroe Clinic. Prior to the launch of the new Community
Care program, one in every five patients enrolled in the program did not have a PCP. With the new program, patients have a primary care
provider at Monroe Clinic, with access to their recommended health screenings as well as some newly covered services, such as behavioral
health and patient education.
"Our hope is for patients to benefit from comprehensive care that goes above and beyond addressing a single health threat," said
Dr. Thompson. "In the end, we want all patients to feel supported in their pursuit of wellness and to know that no health issue is too small,
especially if we can stop it from growing into a larger problem."
Monroe Clinic, Monroe
Charity care recipient grateful
Since beginning at Reedsburg Area Medical Center (RAMC) in 1996, Lori has always gone above and
beyond for the patients she encounters each day in her role as a collections coordinator. *Jill, a recipient of
RAMC’s Charity Care program, shared that it was because of Lori’s helpfulness that she and her husband
were able to make it through yet another winter.
“Thank you so much for helping us with the medical bills. We had no way of paying for all of them.
It’s nice to know that there are people like you out there that can help. We are very thankful, Lori, that you
made this happen for us. You really blessed us. Thank you so much!”
As part of RAMC’s mission, we are committed to ‘going beyond the expected’ in providing our topnotch care to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. Lori’s commitment to this mission is just another
example of how our employees take our mission to heart.
Photo courtesy of RAMC
8
*=name changed for privacy
Reedsburg Area Medical Center
2014 Community Benefits Report
Charity Care opens door for Wheaton Franciscan - St. Joseph patient
Elsie Jackson always had a job. Working since she was a teenager, Elsie enjoyed the independence of providing for herself and having an
income. But in early 2012, Elsie suffered a string of injuries and illnesses that had her in and out of the hospital and unable to work.
“I was in the hospital needing stitches due to injuries from domestic violence,” said Elsie. “A few months later, I was back with
pneumonia.” Her medical expenses continued to grow when she returned to the hospital with a broken ankle and later with a damaged disk
in her neck.
“Social Security denied me. My insurance denied me. I was out of work and had no income,” added Elsie. “With the bills piling, I had no
idea what I was going to do.”
Elsie was not used to being sick or without a job and she felt that all the doors around her were closing. Fortunately, Jennifer Mercado, a
financial counselor with Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, was able to open a door and lend a hand.
“Wheaton was a light at the end of the tunnel,” shared Elsie. “They provided not only physical support, but also emotional support.”
With the help of Jennifer and the staff at Wheaton Franciscan – St. Joseph Campus, Elsie applied to Wheaton’s Community Care program for
those in financial need and as a result, Wheaton provided the services for free.
“I know I am going to get better,” said Elsie. “This is the best thing that has happened to me all year.”
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare - St. Joseph, Milwaukee
Making dreams come true
Maryanne Hoekman was looking forward to her upcoming wedding, as all brides do. However, when crippling
ankle pain started bothering her, she began to wonder if she’d even be able to make it down the aisle on her
own two feet.
“I work on my feet, and I’d get done with work and could hardly move,” Maryanne remembers.
While planning a wedding and working full-time without health insurance, Maryanne struggled with the
thought of high doctor’s bills. Eventually, however, the pain became so bad that she made an appointment
with her primary care provider, Lisa Hinde, NP at the Marshfield Clinic – Chetek Center.
Lisa ran some tests and then referred Maryanne to Dr. Kevin Roberts, podiatrist at Marshfield Clinic Rice
Lake Center.
“As it turned out, Dr. Roberts found out I had tarsal coalition, where the joint in my ankle didn’t form
correctly,” Maryanne says. “The test came back with a list of six different things that were abnormal with my
right ankle.”
The tarsal coalition was causing Maryanne’s pain, but that wasn’t her only stressor at the time. “Without
insurance, I was nervous about being able to pay for the care I needed,” she said. So, Maryanne applied for
Charity Care, a program designed to help the uninsured receive the highest quality of care when they need it
Photo courtesy of Lakeview
most. Being accepted into the program was a game-changer.
Medical Center
“Because of Lakeview and the amazing Charity Care program, I didn’t have to worry about the
numbers,” remembers Maryanne. “It’s incredible because I was able to focus on the positive parts, learning
how to tolerate my limitations and look forward to my wedding.”
To treat the pain, Dr. Roberts ordered cortisone injections to reduce inflammation in her joints, as well as limiting her to six-hour
workdays. Maryanne couldn’t believe the difference it made.
“The pain is so much better,” she says. “Because of these shots, I’m able to function at work. I also knew that I was going to be able to
walk down the aisle in October.”
Maryanne and Shawn were married October 12, 2013.
“It means so much to us that the Charity Care program exists. It literally made it possible for me to walk down the aisle on my wedding
day. I couldn’t say ‘thank you’ enough.”
Lakeview Medical Center, Rice Lake
A Helping Hand saved one patient’s foot
The financial counselor of Aurora Memorial Hospital of Burlington was called to the emergency department (ED) to meet with a patient
who came to the hospital because he was having difficulty managing his diabetes. On her way to the ED, the financial counselor received a
second call about the patient, this time from the ED nurse. The nurse told the counselor that due to the severity of his medical condition, the
patient needed to be admitted to the hospital but that he was refusing because he did not have insurance or a way to pay for the services.
When the counselor met with the patient, she immediately performed a financial assessment. She then explained the Aurora Helping Hand
Patient Financial Assistance Program to him and provided him with an application. The man still refused to be admitted to the hospital and
went home.
Two days later, the counselor received a third phone call about the man, this time from a friend of his. The friend informed the counselor
that the man’s medical condition had gotten worse and she wanted to bring him back to the hospital with the Helping Hand application and
the supporting documents. Upon their arrival, the financial counselor was immediately able to review the man’s application, which resulted in
approval for a 100 percent discount.
Diabetes can be difficult for many patients to manage, and in this patient’s case, continuing without proper blood sugar regulation nearly
resulted in a need to amputate his foot. The man and his friend were extremely grateful for Aurora’s Helping Hand program because it meant
that he could now concentrate on managing his diabetes and not on the financial concerns related to it.
Aurora Memorial Hospital of Burlington
Read more about hospitals connecting with their communities at www.WiServePoint.org.
9
Working together for financial relief
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Roger
When Kristina Stellrecht learned she was pregnant with her
first child, she knew she would have to pay for medical care
out of pocket. And immediately after Milton was born in April
2009, she began to make regular payments on the bill from
Spooner Health System.
“There was no question that I would have the baby at
Spooner Health System, and I received great care,” Kristina
recalls. “But without health care insurance to cover the
delivery and hospital stay, the entire bill was mine to pay.”
Kristina and her husband, Dale, dutifully chipped away
at the balance with minimum monthly payments. But after
nearly three and a half years, they still had more than $9,000
in outstanding charges remaining.
Then early one morning in August 2012, the phone rang.
“It was Spooner Health System asking if I had heard
about the Financial Assistance Program,” Kristina says. After
a brief chat, Kristina requested the paperwork to apply for
assistance in paying her medical bill. A week after returning
the completed application, she received a response she wasn’t
expecting.
“I thought they might pay a portion of the balance
— maybe 50 or 70 percent at most,” she says. “But they
covered all of it! Dale went right over to his parents’ house to
tell them — and his mother just cried.”
Kristina, who now has three children after twins Rachelle
and Olivia were born in 2010, reflects on the relief she felt
upon learning the good news. “At the rate we were able to
pay, it would have taken us a very long time to pay off the
debt. We are so appreciative. It’s one less thing that we need
to focus on each month, and that’s a big help.”
Spooner Health System, Spooner
Helping to fill the gap in coverage
D.M. is a single man who arrived in the emergency department (ED) of Aurora Lakeland Medical Center after experiencing a severe stroke.
The ED visit resulted in an inpatient admission to the hospital, followed by a long stay in inpatient rehabilitation. It was clear that the damage
caused by the stroke left D.M. unable to work, so his Power of Attorney (POA) contacted the financial counselor for help. The financial
counselor was able to guide D.M. and his POA through the Medicaid and Social Security Disability (SSD) processes, and he did receive
approval for benefits.
Unfortunately, his Medicaid and SSD benefits did not begin immediately and would not cover the expenses already incurred for
his care. D.M. was a hospital inpatient for over a month before his new benefits would kick in, with total hospital expenses in excess of
$124,000. Aware of this, the financial counselor also guided D.M. and his POA through an application for the Aurora Helping Hand Patient
Financial Assistance Program. D.M. received a 100 percent discount on those hospital bills.
Being relieved of the financial stresses associated with his stroke, D.M. can now focus on his rehabilitation and learning to live with his
new normal.
Aurora Lakeland Medical Center, Elkhorn
A second chance at life
“Meriter gave us the best miracle ever,” says Karla when she recalls how her husband, Mark, was given a second chance at life. Mark and
Karla’s ordeal began when Mark experienced simultaneous failure of his heart, lungs and liver. They had been delaying care because Karla
had recently been laid off of work. However, once they arrived at Meriter, Mark spent three days in the Intensive Care Unit. His doctors
worked tirelessly to stabilize his condition and save his life. Following his stay in ICU, Mark remained a few days in a step-down unit to
continue his recovery and prepare for his transition home.
The experience changed Mark and Karla’s lives forever. They are grateful for the expert care Mark received.
“The doctors told us that if we had waited one more day to come in, Mark probably wouldn’t have made it,” said Karla. Overshadowing
the happiness and joy they felt for their new chance at life were the medical bills that were beyond their financial ability to repay. Now, Mark
couldn’t work.
The Financial Assistance program at Meriter allowed them to focus on Mark’s recovery without the financial stress hanging over their
heads. Karla happily reports that Mark is doing great now.
“He’s lost over a hundred pounds and is committed to living a healthy lifestyle. Thank you Meriter physicians and staff a million times
and more for all you have done.”
Meriter UnityPoint Health, Madison
10
2014 Community Benefits Report
Medication Assistance Program: Jan Spencer
“Because I have complex patient issues-- diabetes and a blood disorder to name two, I am in need of a lot of medical care and medications. I
actually moved to this area in 2007 to be close to my brother for assistance and support as we thought I might be dying.
I have had my thyroid removed, suffer from low calcium and magnesium levels, have scoliosis and experienced several back surgeries.
I’m sure I’m leaving something out. I have been fortunate in many ways, but my brother thought we should ask St. Croix Regional Medical
Center (SCRMC) staff to review my medical issues and see if I might be able to get some help covering costs.”
It’s been lifesaving how the people at SCRMC helped me. They were able to help me access the Celebrex and Insulin I desperately
needed. I take a thyroid pill, vitamin D, calcium, two types of Insulin, and magnesium currently. I was having a lot of problems with Humana
Insurance and through the Diabetes Care Clinic and other programs they found, I’m saving $1,000 per month on meds that I could never
afford on my own.
I would be totally lost without this help from the clinic and their hospital connections. I feel I truly owe my life to SCRMC. My quality of
life is improved, and I have some hope for days ahead." - Jan Spencer
St. Croix Regional Medical Center, St. Croix Falls
“They really do work hard to help you.”
Serving others is in Peggy McLean’s blood. For 30 years, she provided child care for families in her hometown of Mondovi. After that, she
worked at two different local restaurants including a town favorite pizza restaurant. When she walks into the Mayo Clinic Health System clinic
in Mondovi, the staff jokingly asks her, “Where’s the pizza?” She’s also quick to joke and laugh about how she can’t get rid of her two adult
children who live nearby.
But three years ago, the tables turned and McLean needed help from others. Years of hard work had caused such agonizing back pain
that she needed surgery to fuse some of her vertebra.
“After all the tests and doctor’s visits, the bills got to be too much,” McLean says. “I was scared to death, not knowing how I was going to
pay the bills. If they hadn’t helped me, I would have never gotten them paid.”
When asked if she was interested in applying for the financial assistance program, McLean’s response was, “Yes, please!”
If patients need financial assistance, they can apply for it before or after services are given. In some cases, part or all of a medical bill may
be forgiven. If treatment extends from one Mayo Clinic Health System location to another, financial assistance information can be transferred
along, too. This was the case for McLean, as she was treated at multiple Mayo Clinic Health System locations. This streamlined process
reduces paperwork requirements and anxiety for patients.
McLean completed the necessary paperwork, worked with a financial planner and set up monthly payments that she could afford. “I
haven’t met anyone who is grumpy or anything. They really do work hard to help you.”
McLean’s health concerns are far from over, as she continues to struggle with a gall bladder issue and a heart condition that developed
as a result of having rheumatic fever as a child. However, she remains optimistic. “They really try to help anyone who needs it. They give 100
percent. I have no worries about getting the help I need.”
Mayo Clinic Health System – Oakridge, Osseo
Charity care story
Around Christmas time, Dave* felt his health declining rapidly, to the point where he couldn’t even get out of bed. This feeling lasted for
about a week and when he decided to go to the hospital, it took him two hours to get down the stairs and out the door.
Before becoming ill, Dave went through a job loss and had heard about the affordable services provided at St. Elizabeth Hospital in
Appleton.
Upon arrival at the hospital, Dave was taken right in and immediately diagnosed with severe blood loss due to internal bleeding, which
required prompt treatment.
“I knew the people at St. Elizabeth Hospital were very understanding of the situation and that they would help me out,” Dave said.
Because of Charity Care, Dave was able to receive six units of blood and was able to recuperate in the hospital over the weekend.
He was also provided after-care upon being checked out and set up with food stamps. Charity Care helped with a portion of the $16,000
bill, and a patient financial advocate worked with Dave to set up an affordable monthly payment plan. Not only that, but the quality of care
Dave received at St. Elizabeth Hospital renewed his faith in hospital care.
“Of all the times, their care was over-the-top the best I’ve ever received,” Dave said. “They never made me feel like a number, but a
person. They treated me with a lot of respect.” (*name changed for privacy)
St. Elizabeth Hospital, Appleton
Financial assistance for Fort HealthCare patients
Concern over a medical bill should never prevent a patient from receiving good health care. Our goal is to arrange a manageable payment
plan based on one’s ability to pay.
Fort HealthCare offers two financial aid options to patients who meet our income, asset and need criteria. They are the Self Pay Discount
and the Community Care Program.
The Self Pay Discount is a discount of up to 20 percent on Fort Memorial Hospital’s inpatient and outpatient services. Potential Self
Pay candidates are defined as those who have no health insurance and those receiving services that are not covered by health insurance or
another state, government, liability or workers’ compensation program.
The Community Care program is a partial or complete write-off of all outstanding charges. The program serves patients requiring
medically necessary treatment with no or limited ability to pay and whose income does not exceed current federal poverty guidelines. Also
persons whose income exceeds current federal poverty guidelines, but whose expenses also exceed income are eligible. Community Care
candidates are required to complete a financial questionnaire and provide proof of income.
Fort HealthCare, Fort Atkinson
Read more about hospitals connecting with their communities at www.WiServePoint.org.
11
Charity Care at Mile Bluff - Making a difference one dollar at a time
At Mile Bluff Medical Center, our goal is to improve the health and wellness of our community, to provide
care at its best and to be there when we're needed most.
Mile Bluff has a history of responding to the needs of the community. Often times, that comes in the
form of offering and expanding service lines and bringing new medical experts to the region. Other times it's
in the form of financial assistance through Mile Bluff's Community Care Program.
Throughout the 2013 fiscal year, Mile Bluff was able to help 755 individuals through its Community
Care Program. The estimated cost of forgiven medical bills during that timeframe totals well over $1 million.
One woman who helps walk patients through Mile Bluff's program is Pam Schryver. She knows that
the individuals she is working with are under a lot of stress, and she patiently answers their questions to
ensure they get the help they need. It's because of her dedication to the mission of the organization, and
serving patients, that Pam receives letters, cards, and even flowers of thanks.
A few of the notes of thanks Pam recently received include:
Photo courtesy of Mile Bluff
Medical Center
"This may be an unconventional act but I would like to thank you and Hess Memorial Hospital for
removing my medical bills from your records. I can’t tell you how much weight that it has lifted off my
shoulders. I really wanted you and whoever else was involved to know how much I really do appreciate it."
"To all whom helped make my bills in regards to the Community Care Application possible, I’m so thankful to all. To all at Hess
Memorial Hospital…Happy Holidays and God Bless."
"Thank you for all your help you did for my family and myself. God bless you."
At Mile Bluff Medical Center, the goal is to improve the health and wellness of the community, to provide care at its best and to be there
when its needed most—including when what patients need most is medical financial assistance.
Mile Bluff Medical Center, Mauston
Charity Care Story
The last several years were quite a battle for Diane* and John*, a couple in Calumet County. Between post-transplant care, hip replacements,
monthly labs and other medical treatments, the bills began to add up. Throughout all of this, Diane went uninsured for six years.
Affinity Care was highly beneficial for Diane and John, who both were treated for fibromyalgia and various other conditions that required
treatment.
“It’s made it a lot easier on us to have the majority of the expenses covered,” Diane said. “We depend on it because we are on a very
limited fixed income.”
Diane and John had their medical care and bills covered 100 percent, thanks to Charity Care. Calumet Medical Center in Chilton made
things easier for them by providing them with affordable, quality care.
“The pressure of our financial burden has been lifted,” Diane said. “It makes a huge difference.”
Affinity Care provides financial assistance to patients who are unable to pay for their medical care. Through Charity Care, portions of
medical bills are paid, and payment plans are set up to cover the rest. This type of financial assistance, provided by Affinity Health System,
has helped many patients across northeast Wisconsin – patients just like Diane and John. (*names changed for privacy)
Calumet Medical Center, Chilton
A family’s health comes first
Most of us wake up with an ache or a pain, most of which the common pain reliever works wonders for. However, many residents of our
community have overwhelming health needs that make life a complex struggle. Such is the case with the Scott and Jackie Jones family of
Beloit.
Scott and Jackie met in the military where they were stationed during the Gulf War. Unfortunately, some of their ailments are directly
associated to this traumatic experience with Scott having 20 percent disability from injuries on active duty, and Jackie having 70 percent
disability with asthma, PTSD and severe GERD. Jackie most recently worked as a supervisor of a crisis team for a Rockford Mental Health
Center, but due to multiple family health needs, she couldn’t keep up and had to resign.
What kind of family health needs would force her to resign from her job? The needs of her mother, her children, and her extended
family. After Jackie’s mother survived breast cancer in 2005 and then experienced a heart attack in 2009, she needed assistance for trips to
the doctor and daily care.
In addition, the Jones’ have four lovely children. Meghan, the oldest at 10 years old, sees a pediatric specialist for her migraine
headaches that she’s experienced for the past 18 months. The triplets, now age 7, include Stephen, Danielle and Michael. All were born full
term and healthy. However, in November, Stephen was diagnosed with Hyper Eosinophilia Syndrome (HES), a very rare condition where his
white blood cell count soars, causing pulmonary conditions, coughing, vomiting and breathing difficulties.
Left untreated, medical experts say HES is progressively fatal; therefore diligent follow-up care is vital for survival. This means bi-monthly
blood work at Beloit Health System and monthly visits to his UW-Madison pediatric specialist. Stephen’s condition has also caused him to be
hospitalized twice and required several trips to the emergency room for breathing difficulties.
“I really appreciate the help we get from Beloit Health System,” explains Jackie. “The emergency room has been very attentive to my
needs, as well as Stephen’s. The lab is great at getting us the results we need to monitor his medications. We just can’t seem to take care of all
of the issues we are facing.”
These are the type of overwhelming obstacles that face some of our residents every day—the kind of stress that causes you to experience
sleepless nights and tension-filled days. The Jones’ are very thankful that both Jackie and Stephen have recently qualified for 100 percent
financial assistance. Without this financial help, their lives would be totally underwater. They are so grateful that we are able to extend this
“helpful hand” at a time in their lives where nothing seems to be going their way. We are here to offer them some relief… after all, we are
their Beloit neighbors.
Beloit Health System
12
2014 Community Benefits Report
Grateful for Community Care
Carl and Kate were already struggling with medical bills when Carl’s health took a turn for the worse. Carl was no longer able to maintain his
business and had to close it. The couple was familiar with the Community Care program at Community Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls,
and had been granted a discount on their accounts. However, even after the discount, they were still facing a sizeable sum.
“Kate called and asked if there was anything that we could do,” said patient financial assistance specialist Monica Hatton. “She explained
that her husband was no longer able to work anymore due to his health, and they were struggling to make their payments. They were in a
situation with multiple medical bills from other providers and not enough money to pay everything.”
Monica was glad to help. She advised Kate to update their Community Care application with their current circumstances. “When she
hand-delivered it two days later, she gave me a hug and thanked me for taking the time to look at their application again,” said Monika.
Monika discovered that their income was reduced by more than half since the time they originally applied for the Community Care
discount, and she was able to arrange an additional discount enough to eliminate their outstanding medical bills at HSHS St. Clare Memorial
Hospital.
“Kate called me when she received the news and was very emotional, thanking me over and over,” said Monika. “Two days after that
phone call, I came into work to find a large bouquet of flowers on my desk.” The message on the card read, "We appreciate what you and
your staff have done for us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Carl & Kate"
HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital, Oconto Falls
Financial assistance helps patient get back on his feet
Daniel Knitter, 49, was trying to turn his life around, but it wasn’t easy without a job or health insurance.
He was struggling to manage his diabetes and other health concerns and didn’t know where to turn.
His sister-in-law, a nurse at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – Franklin, encouraged him to talk to one
of the financial counselors there. That’s when he met Linda Stephens.
“Linda was a blessing,” Daniel said. “She helped me apply for Wheaton’s Community Care program,
which has paid for 100 percent of my care.”
Linda was also able to secure some of Daniel’s medication through the Wheaton Franciscan
Healthcare - Foundation for St. Francis and Franklin. With her assistance, Daniel also applied for
BadgerCare. He is currently on the state’s waiting list.
Today, Daniel’s diabetes is under control, which he credits in part to the support he’s received from
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare. “Everyone from Linda to the receptionist to the doctor has been kind
and caring,” he said.
“If Wheaton hadn’t helped me, I would be suffering. I know this is a gift and I don’t take it for
granted,” he said.
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – Franklin
Photo courtesy of Wheaton
Franciscan Healthcare - Franklin
Some surgeries can’t wait
S.H. was suffering from a thyroid bleed. She had been experiencing symptoms, such as blood in her urine, for a couple of weeks and her
symptoms were increasing in severity. Even though she didn’t have insurance, she became so concerned that she visited a physician at Aurora
Medical Center Kenosha for an exam. The physician advised her that she needed surgery to correct the issue or it would continue to get
worse if not treated.
S.H. is an unemployed, single, middle-aged woman who had been living off an old work-comp benefit that was about to expire.
Although her mom had been doing the best she could to help her, having no income and no insurance meant S.H. would be responsible for
all of the expenses associated with surgery.
Aware of S.H.’s financial situation, the physician’s office contacted the financial counselor at Aurora Medical Center Kenosha in hopes
that she could assist S.H. in finding a way to pay for the much-needed surgery. The counselor helped S.H. apply for the Aurora Helping Hand
Patient Financial Assistance Program that approved her for a 100 percent discount. Because of the Helping Hand approval, not only did S.H.
receive her surgery, but she also is able to continue visiting the hospital clinic frequently for the continued care she requires to remain well.
Aurora Medical Center, Kenosha
2012 Community Care Program
Linda was involved in a motorcycle accident that left her injured with a broken back and out of work. She wanted desperately to keep up
with her medical bills but found herself struggling financially. Vernon Memorial Healthcare (VMH) Patient Financial Counselors encouraged
Linda to complete a Community Care Application. Linda was approved for an 80 percent reduction in her medical bills. She was extremely
appreciative and was able to promptly pay the balance of her bill in full. Staff received a thank you card from Linda for telling her about the
program.
A Vernon County farm family had major medical bills that kept building. They were struggling financially and were in the process of
selling the farm in order to get all of their bills paid. Under Vernon Memorial Healthcare’s Community Care Program, they were approved for
a 90 percent reduction in their medical bills which they will now pay off once they sell the rest of their livestock. They were very happy and
stopped by the Patient Accounts office to personally thank staff for such a wonderful program.
Vernon Memorial Healthcare ensures that patients are treated with compassion in regard to payment of their bills. VMH provides various
levels of financial assistance to those who are unable to pay for health care services. Financial assistance is available to individuals who do
not have the ability to pay their full obligation as determined by qualification criteria. The amount of the aid will take into account each
individual’s ability to contribute to the cost of his or her care.
Vernon Memorial Healthcare, Viroqua
Read more about hospitals connecting with their communities at www.WiServePoint.org.
13
Caring Hearts Financial Assistance Program
Mark Marlowe was a healthy person until 2009 when seizures landed him in the hospital, and he was later diagnosed with a third stage brain
tumor. He went through chemotherapy and radiation treatment and now has chemotherapy treatments for five days every six weeks.
Marlowe lost his insurance at the end of November 2009, and his mother left her home and job in Chippewa Falls to be in Appleton as
his caregiver. She had to retire early from her job after taking family medical leave and using up vacation time.
Marlowe was 39 when all this started.
“It’s kind of young to have such a drastic diagnosis," said Patricia Bergeron. “On the other hand, we’re thanking God every day because
of how many don’t make it with that type of tumor. They couldn’t remove it.”
Medical bills started to pile up, bringing a total of over $10,000.
“It was a long struggle,” said Bergeron.
That is when ThedaCare’s Caring Hearts Financial Assistance Program stepped in to help ease the financial burdens brought on by
doctor visits and treatment programs.
“That was huge,” said Bergeron. “It was definitely a gift from God. And they came through twice for us.”
Marlowe agreed. “That took a lot of pressure off,” he said. “It felt a lot better not having to worry as much or at all.”
Bergeron agreed. “Caring Hearts is a very good name,” she said. “It’s unbelievable the pressure it removed. They just take you in right
under your wing and take the stress off of what could have been many, many thousands of dollars.”
They are still hopeful Marlowe will one day return to work. “The tumor has shrunk,” she said. “It’s stable. They don’t say cancer free.”
Marlowe urged those who are struggling to seek out Caring Hearts. “I’d tell them that it’s helped ease the burden, the finances of it,” he
said. “It helped me feel more comfortable with the illness that I had.”
ThedaCare, Appleton
Feeling destitute inhibits healing
Depression and destitution can be a dangerous combination. A man who arrived at the Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center
emergency department was suffering from severe depression and suicide ideation. He informed the financial counselor that he needed help
but was destitute and unable to afford medical bills as he was unemployed and on the verge of eviction from his home.
After the nurses and physicians confirmed that the man was in need of medical care, the financial counselor met with him again to
discuss payment options. During their time together, she explained the Aurora Helping Hand Patient Financial Assistance Program and
encouraged him to apply. After he submitted his application and supporting documents, the financial counselor was able to inform him that
he was approved for a 100 percent discount that would cover his continued medical expenses at the facility through the following year. The
man cried tears of joy at the wonderful news.
When the financial counselor conducted an updated assessment with the man six months later, he expressed his continued appreciation
for her and the Aurora Helping Hand Program. He also informed the counselor that because of the medical care he received, he has been
able to begin building a new life: He is now working a part-time position and is living with a roommate who helps him keep up with his living
expenses. He is still under a physician’s care but no longer feels like he is struggling alone.
Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center
Critical access hospital’s commitment to community
John* has struggled with various medical issues for much of his adult life. Despite his struggles, he remains a positive force in northern
Wisconsin. He volunteers his time and enthusiasm to various projects to improve the quality of life for others. He’s initiated fundraising
projects for the local fire department, worked on restoration projects for the historical society, served as a mentor and collaborated with 4H to
beautify the community he calls home.
This commitment to community is just one reason a Memorial Medical Center Board Member intervened after John found himself in
dire straits following a 2010 visit to the emergency room. John came to Memorial Medical Center in Ashland after attempting to manage
excruciating head pains for several days. Given the extremity of his pain, he thought his VA insurance would cover the emergency visit versus
attempting to visit a VA Clinic. After disputing the charge for more than a year, his insurance ultimately denied the charge because they
deemed the visit was not an emergency.
John has minimal assets and was in no way capable of paying the $6,900 bill, so he was encouraged to apply for Community Care.
Memorial Medical Center’s Community Care program assists patients who are unable to pay for hospital services. After receiving his
application, Memorial Medical Center ultimately decided to forgive the $6,966.50 bill in full.
This is one of many community members Memorial Medical Center has assisted as part of their mission to providing the health care
services people need to achieve independent and productive lives. (*Name has been changed to protect this patient’s identity.)
Memorial Medical Center, Ashland
One life at a time
Guiding the care provided by UW Health Partners Watertown Regional Medical Center (WRMC) is a simple mission: We will transform the
health of our community, one life at a time.
A recent recipient of charitable care was already carrying debt from a surgery performed the previous year. Unemployed, without
insurance, and alarmed by a new set of medical symptoms, they sought care at the community’s free clinic, but could not afford to pay for the
tests that were ordered.
“At WRMC we are committed to making the latest health care innovations available to our community,” says John Kosanovich, WRMC
president & CEO. “And we are equally committed to making health care accessible to those who need a helping hand.”
“I hope to see my unemployment and poverty change,” the patient wrote, following the tests. “I want to be able to have health
insurance and money. I’ve curtailed lots of spending with my current budget. I appreciate that these tests were provided to me.”
WRMC provided over $8 million in free and charitable care to the community over the past year, including approving 100 percent of the
diagnostic tests ordered for this patient.
UW Health Partners Watertown Regional Medical Center
14
2014 Community Benefits Report
Help during a rough time
By anyone’s account, May 2008 was a bad month for Ann Johnson* of rural northern Wisconsin. Her husband, Jim*, needed surgery due to
ongoing health conditions. Then tragedy struck when a family member was killed in an accident.
“It was a really, really hard time for us,” says Johnson.
Their medical bills were piling up because of Jim’s many doctor appointments and lab tests. “I didn’t know how we would pay the
hospital and then funeral bills,” says Johnson. “We didn’t qualify for other programs because we had insurance. But the insurance didn’t
cover all of his expenses.” The family’s insurance had a low limit of outpatient service coverage.
Johnson worked with the patient financial planners at Mayo Clinic Health System – Northland in Barron. “The girls in the office —
Theresa and Chris — are just wonderful.” They helped her apply for the Financial Assistance Program. If patients need financial assistance,
they can apply for it before or after they receive the services. Many factors are weighed when determining if a patient is eligible for financial
assistance, including the patient’s income, assets and needs.
Mayo Clinic Health System works with patients to help set up affordable payment options or, if a patient qualifies, forgive part or all of a
medical bill. That was the case for Johnson when their entire balance was forgiven.
“I was so relieved! I don’t know what we would have done without the help.”
Ann and Jim have experienced better months since 2008. Jim’s health has improved following his surgery even though he does have
some long-term effects as a result. And they are grateful for the care they received during this dark time in their lives.
“They helped us emotionally, physically and financially. It’s so appreciated,” Ann says.
*Names changed
Mayo Clinic Health System – Northland, Barron
Wheaton Franciscan provides emotional healing for patient
After decades of on and off heart issues, Chris Maurer found himself with more health complications
– kidney cancer. The 62-year-old always managed the medical expenses from his surgeries and
hospital visits with private health insurance from his employer. But with the economic downturn,
Chris lost his job and his insurance after working 40 years in consumer finance in the automotive
industry.
Chris remained on his insurance plan for a time through COBRA, but after exhausting his
savings and assets, he could no longer afford the premiums. Without health insurance to cover his
medical bills, Chris began to lose hope as his health problems increased in severity.
“I had private health insurance for years, and I always took care of myself. I was faced with a
situation that I didn’t know how to handle,” said Chris. “I found myself with the daunting task of
asking, ‘Where do I go? Who do I turn to?’”
In early 2012, as Chris was being treated at Wheaton Franciscan – Elmbrook Memorial for both
heart and kidney complications, he was approached by Cris Liebhauser, the Wheaton Franciscan
financial counselor. Not only did she help Chris apply for Wheaton’s Community Care Program, but
she also connected him with resources to pursue coverage through Medicaid and Medicare due to his
severe kidney condition.
“Wheaton’s timing couldn’t have been any better. You can really shut down in dealing with
everything when you realize what you are going through and the possibility that things can get
worse,” said Chris.
Chris met criteria to receive free care from Wheaton to cover his IV treatments for anemia and
Photo courtesy of Wheaton Franciscan other services. While he hopes to eventually have government insurance, Wheaton will pay for tens
Elmbrook
of thousands of dollars in uncovered costs for the kidney dialysis Chris requires.
After his financial counseling sessions and qualifying for Wheaton’s Community Care program, Chris began to feel less anxious and
stressed in a time of uncertainty.
“So much of healing is related to your emotional state. It really impacts your immune system. Having support from Wheaton Franciscan
Healthcare was a huge load of my shoulders,” said Chris.
Wheaton Franciscan – Elmbrook Memorial, Brookfield
Aurora Helping Hand helped put the focus back on school
A college student was fighting off severe pain in his back and side for two days in order to study for and complete his college final exams.
After that, he arrived at the emergency department of Aurora Medical Center Oshkosh and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
for observation. Upon further evaluation, his ICU doctor determined that he needed an emergency appendectomy. The emergency surgery
took place later that evening.
The student was not working, and neither of his parents’ employer-provided health plans provided coverage for their son. While the
student was recovering in the hospital as an inpatient, the financial counselor walked him through a financial assessment. On the morning
of his discharge, the counselor visited once again and was sorry to inform him that he did not qualify for any state or federal programs, but
explained that he may be eligible for the Aurora Helping Hand Patient Financial Assistance Program.
A few hours after his discharge, the student returned to the financial counselor’s office with all the documentation needed to apply to the
Helping Hand program. The student was approved for a 100 percent discount on his medical expenses, which totaled well over $35,000.
The financial counselor later received the following note from the student:
“I am forever grateful for the Aurora Health Care Helping Hand program for helping me regain focus on my education rather than on
how I was going to pay my major medical expenses, which was worth more than three years of my college tuition.”
Aurora Medical Center, Oshkosh
Read more about hospitals connecting with their communities at www.WiServePoint.org.
15
Patient Hardship Funds
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who has been transferred to another
facility is important to that child and
the family. Patient Hardship Funds
have allowed BRMH to provide
reimbursement to volunteer drivers or gas cards to patients or family when they do not have the funds to put gas in their car.
At times, BRMH has paid for lodging for a person who was in an accident; no hospitalization was needed and the car was no longer
drivable. Unfortunately, the patient needed to wait for a ride until the next day. These funds provided them with a safe place to stay.
Cell phones have been given to patients with poor medical conditions who are discharged to home and need to have access to a phone.
BRMH has used the Patient Hardship Funds to purchase car seats, formula, cloths, thermometers and bathing supplies to get moms
without means started in parenting a healthy baby.
When a patient was traveling and had an accident in the area, BRMH provided food vouchers to local restaurants. Occasionally, boxed
lunches have been supplied from the Food Services Department to take on the road when a loved one is transferred to another medical
facility.
The Patient Hardship Funds have allowed us to make things a little easier in those moments that are so difficult.
Black River Memorial Hospital, Black River Falls
When hours matter
He had extreme pain in his backside, blood in his urine, fever, chills and vomiting—all signs of a kidney stone and infection. In some cases,
kidney stones can constitute an emergency and even be fatal if not treated aggressively.
Such was the case for a 34 year-old uninsured Hartford man who lives with his parents. Holly, a financial counselor at the Aurora
Medical Center in Hartford, received a call from one of the urologists at the Aurora Advanced Health Clinic in Hartford. The doctor asked
Holly to assist his patient with an application for the Aurora Helping Hand Patient Financial Assistance Program so that he could proceed with
surgery the next day to a remove the offending kidney stone.
Holly met with the patient on the same day to provide him with the application. "He was very cooperative," Holly reported. "I gave him
the application and he returned it to me with the required paperwork within a few hours. His application was expedited and approved for 100
percent coverage. It was a critical situation because a special order had to be placed for the equipment in order for the doctor to perform the
surgery the next day."
Aurora Medical Center in Washington County, Hartford
16
2014 Community Benefits Report
Charity Care Story
Needing charity care for health care expenses is not an expectation of most individuals. Yet life can bring unexpected twists and turns that
leave people in great need of financial assistance. Such was the case for one woman who visited St. Nicholas Hospital, incurring out-ofpocket expenses exceeding $35,000 for her care. A genetic blood clotting disorder complicated her stay and required the use of expensive
medications to prevent post-surgical complications. The hospital and orthopedic surgeon who performed her surgery helped her acquire
them as well.
“Your donors’ charitable contributions…astounded me,” she said. “The medical and administrative staff of St. Nicholas was
compassionate, attentive, and supportive. Even though I was an uninsured patient, everyone involved in my care went ‘above and beyond’
to assist me. From my arrival in the emergency room to my discharge five days later, the hospital’s medical professionals kept me informed of
my condition, treatment options and recovery plan.
The Chaplain provided the emotional support and spiritual encouragement I desperately needed. The financial services staff thoroughly
explained the available financial assistance options and followed up with me after discharge.
Everyone I encountered at St. Nicholas treated me as though I was the only person in his or her care.”
St. Nicholas Hospital, Sheboygan
B-r-e-a-t-h-e
Chronic obstruction airway disease (COAD) is a pair of commonly co-existing diseases of the lungs in which the airways become narrowed.
This leads to a limitation of the flow of air both to and from the lungs, causing shortness of breath. It could be fatal if left untreated.
A 60-year-old female Green Bay resident came in the emergency department at the Aurora BayCare Medical Center for COAD. She
was uninsured, unemployed and received Social Supplemental Income (SSI) for disability. She had recently lost her Medicaid coverage due
to issues that can be characterized as “red tape.”
The financial counselor met with the patient and provided her with the Aurora Helping Hand financial assistance program application.
Due to the severity of her medical condition, within days the patient was approved for a 100 percent discount. The patient was able to stay in
the hospital and breathe easier without having to worry about medical bills, on top of her other financial challenges.
Aurora BayCare Medical Center, Green Bay
Mission in Action
Langlade Hospital has a program called Community Care that offers a way to ease the financial worries of patients in need of medical care
that do not have a means to pay for those services. Our mission-driven organization embraces those that are in need. Read on.
Grace retired in Wisconsin a few years ago and no longer has family close by. She depends solely on friends for her transportation
and emotional support. At age 70, Grace’s health took a turn for the worse and she was suddenly faced with an overwhelming burden of
mounting medical bills. She is on a tight budget as Social Security is her only source of income. She was in need of ongoing medical care and
physical therapy and considered declining care because she was concerned about the cost and how she would pay for it. Langlade Hospital
Community Care program wrote off 100 percent of the charges that were incurred at Langlade Hospital and encouraged Grace to keep her
appointments and get the care that she needed. Grace sent a note to the hospital that said: “I don’t know what to say! God bless everyone
that helped me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
A few years ago, William became disabled as a result of degenerative spine disease and was no longer able to work. Shortly thereafter,
he was diagnosed with cancer. Disability payments have not come through for him and he is unsure if it will ever happen. William cashed
out his 401K which has provided the only family income that he and his wife have. His wife provides full time care to William and continues
to look for part time employment but in the struggling economy is having difficulty finding work. She is ineligible for unemployment so the
couple’s cash reserves are exhausted. Langlade Hospital Community Care program has taken care of all hospital charges as William continues
his battle with cancer and degenerative spine disease. William’s wife wrote: “Thank you so much for your help. We are so blessed to be living
in this community, where people help people. God bless the Sisters, hospital Board and anyone who had a hand in helping us qualify for this
wonderful program.”
Steven was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer and was undergoing debilitating treatments. He lives with his elderly step-father and
has no other family to count on. Steven had a compromised immune system and became very ill with pneumonia. He has been unable to
work due to his illness, has no health insurance and his unemployment has run out. Steven worries about the cost of his chemotherapy
and extensive lab work. Langlade Hospital Community Care program has taken care of 100 percent of his hospital costs. Steven writes: “I
sincerely thank your organization and staff for the assistance with my bills. Our family has been economically burdened for quite some time
and the help you have provided has been an unexplainable blessing.”
Langlade Hospital – An Aspirus Partner, Antigo
A fighting chance at recovery in sight
In 2008 he lost his job. In due time he lost his home. As his opportunities and options diminished, he moved in with his father, who provided
him with $300 a month in income. All the while a lesion on his face grew worse and finally became frightening. That’s when he sought help.
This 53-year-old male was diagnosed by a primary care physician with an advancing stage of basal cell carcinoma—a skin cancer lesion
that disfigured and obstructed the upper and lower lids of his left eye. The condition required surgical removal of the lesion and reconstructive
skin grafting to save the eye. He was referred to an ophthalmologist at Aurora Medical Center in Summit for further evaluation.
Clarice, the financial counselor, evaluated this gentleman’s financial situation and introduced him to the Aurora Helping Hand Patient
Financial Assistance Program. He completed the application process and was approved for a 100 percent discount to receive the surgery and
other treatment he needed for a recovery that would give him to have a fighting chance at getting back into the mainstream.
Aurora Medical Center in Summit
Read more about hospitals connecting with their communities at www.WiServePoint.org.
17
Community Care helps a couple in need
When Mark was laid off from his carpentry job, he lost his insurance and things began to get complicated. Being a carpenter for 36 years had
put a great strain on Mark’s body. His knee was now failing him and needed to be replaced. That also made it tough for him to get another
job since carpentry was all he had known.
Linnea, who had worked at a deli for decades, had health issues of her own with diabetes and Crohn’s Disease. The diabetes caused
neuropathy, making her feet go numb, also making her unable to stand for long periods of time. She’s no longer able to work in food services.
With Mark’s pending knee surgery and no insurance, the couple learned about Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare’s Community Care
program, which provides financial assistance to those in need. Mark and Linnea’s hope was restored.
“The day they told me about Community Care I cried because I was so relieved,” expressed Linnea.
Wheaton provided Mark’s pain treatments, his knee replacement, and physical therapy at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare- All Saints free
of charge through the Community Care Program. Wheaton also provides Linnea with free annual colonoscopies and appointments with her
gastroenterologist and endocrinologist.
“I am thankful for a lot of things in my life, and this is at the top of my list after my family,” Linnea remarked.
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – All Saints, Racine
Sacred Heart Hospital provides quality care and compassion for those in need
It is our fundamental belief that everything we say and do must flow from the core of who we are. While we are fully committed to providing
the best medical care to our patients with the latest technology and advancements, we also know that as a Catholic health care ministry, we
are called to provide witness to the Gospel mandate by offering care to everyone– especially the poor and the marginalized – who comes to
us, seeking healing of body, mind and spirit.
Each year, Sacred Heart Hospital does, indeed, give witness to that fundamental value by providing millions of dollars of support
to thousands of individuals throughout the western Wisconsin communities we serve. Last year alone, Sacred Heart Hospital provided
$11 million of non-billed Community Care services to aid our uninsured and underinsured patients facing financial strain. Sacred Heart’s
Community Care Program is tangible proof of our commitment to providing health care for all people, regardless of their ability to pay.
Through this program, patients may be eligible to have their hospital bills partially or completely forgiven.
As a Self Pay patient, George Patterson was under severe financial strain after several urgent hospital stays. A 76-year-old non U.S.
citizen then living with his ex-wife, Rhonda, George found himself without insurance or the means to pay his mounting medical bills. Although
he had been living in the U.S. since 1991 and had become a legal Wisconsin resident, George had been denied Social Security due to lack
of payment, thus making him ineligible for Medicare coverage. Without insurance, they contacted a financial advisor at Sacred Heart with the
hope of receiving financial assistance, and were advised to put in their application to Community Care.
“We are pleased to notify you that you qualify for our Community Care Program and a 100 percent reduction of your account balance.”
To the Pattersons, these were the words of hope at a time of despair. Not only was the hospital able to forgive their account balance, but
the financial advisor they contacted also put them in touch with other outreach services that the hospital offers. Through these free outreach
services, a hospital representative helped George complete the necessary applications required to gain state assistance and sent them to the
county in which he resides. George recently received word that he had been approved for BadgerCare assistance, ensuring all his future
medical bills will be covered for all providers. In a follow-up letter to Sacred Heart, George and Rhonda wrote, “Thank you for all you did to
help George in his financial difficulties when he was in the hospital. We both appreciate your efforts very much. His inability to get insurance
coverage has been a great worry for us both. BadgerCare was a God-send, but what you did is truly a miracle for us.”
Sacred Heart Hospital’s sacred obligation to providing care to all those in need is rooted in the legacy established by the Hospital Sisters
121 years ago. As illustrated by all that we say and do, George, Rhonda, and many others have come to realize that Sacred Heart Hospital
offers unique and much needed assistance to individuals and families in the Chippewa Valley and beyond.
Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire
Unexpected surgery and help
“I’m generally a very healthy person,” says Kim Loofboro. “I rarely needed to go to the doctor.” And that was a good thing for this selfemployed New Auburn resident. She didn’t have health insurance, so her good health kept her medical bills to a minimum.
That all changed in late 2010, when she had an appointment with her primary care provider, John Larson, MD, at Mayo Clinic Health
System – Chippewa Valley in Bloomer. At the appointment, she found out she had a prolapsed uterus and, after discussing the options with
Dr. Larson, Loofboro decided to have surgery to repair it.
“I didn’t know how I was going to pay for it,” says Loofboro. She and husband, Scott, had not budgeted for a surgery and didn’t have
the money available to cover the costs. That’s when she learned about Mayo Clinic Health System’s financial assistance program.
If patients need financial assistance, they can apply for it before or after services are given. In some cases, part or all of a medical bill may
be forgiven. If treatment extends from one Mayo Clinic Health System location to another, financial assistance information can be transferred
along too. This was the case for Loofboro, as she was treated at multiple Mayo Clinic Health System locations. This streamlined process
reduces paperwork requirements and anxiety for patients.
“We understand patients aren’t always prepared for medical expenses. That’s why we have this program,” says Becca McHugh, patient
financial planning supervisor. “Our planners work very hard to help patients.”
Loofboro completed the necessary paperwork and, for good measure, included a short note to the approval committee, thanking them
for considering her application. A short time later, she was notified that her $22,000 medical bill was forgiven. “I just started crying when I got
the letter. I wasn’t expecting that at all. I was so overwhelmed and appreciative!”
Loofboro continues her follow-up care with Dr. Larson and is able enjoy the “simple life” with her husband and Beagle named Moose.
And she continues to show her gratitude for the medical and financial care she received. “After this, I sent a nice thank you card to everyone!”
Mayo Clinic Health System – Chippewa Valley, Bloomer
18
2014 Community Benefits Report
Financial counselors at Aurora Sinai go beyond the call of duty
Aurora Sinai Medical Center (ASMC) is one of only two essential safety-net hospitals remaining in Milwaukee for the city’s low-income
neighborhoods. Patients visit the ASMC emergency department who are homeless, uninsured, unemployed, and suffering from ailments that
have gone untreated because they believe their inability to pay precludes their ability to seek help. Often financial counselors at ASMC receive
calls and visits from patients requesting help for paying medical expenses. Sometimes the need goes beyond paying their medical bills, as it
did for one particular young woman with no family to support her.
The young woman arrived one cold, winter morning in the office of an ASMC financial counselor. She was pregnant and applied for an
Aurora Helping Hand Patient Financial Assistance Program application to receive medical services she required for her pregnancy.
While talking with the young woman, the financial counselor noticed that she was not wearing shoes that were proper for the winter
weather in Wisconsin. The counselor immediately went through her personal items and found a pair of her own shoes for the young woman
to try on. The woman left the counselor’s office not only being approved for the Aurora Helping Hand Patient Financial Assistance Program,
but with a new, slightly used pair of shoes and the comfort of knowing that someone truly cared about her personal well-being.
Aurora Sinai Medical Center, Milwaukee
When pain makes it hard to hold a job
The ability to obtain medical care can determine whether or not a person is capable of obtaining and maintaining a job; and, employment is
often essential to an individual’s ability to survive and lead a productive life.
A young man in his mid-20s was finding it difficult to hold a job due to pain in his knee. He contacted Upland Hills Health because
he had been referred to an orthopedic surgeon for possible knee surgery. He was unemployed, living with his parents and without health
insurance. A patient benefit specialist at Upland Hills Health spoke to the young man about the Uncompensated Care program and he
completed an application. Based on his financial situation and his medical need, he was granted a discount on the hospital’s facility charge.
The young man expressed his gratitude to the patient benefit specialists at Upland Hills Health.
Upland Hills Health, Dodgeville
Fresh Start for the Heart
When 50-year-old Raymond Nett started having chest pains, he recognized the signs. He’d received stents after a
prior heart attack, and was doing well until the pains started again.
“The pain felt familiar, and it was getting worse,” says Ray. “I was talking with my 13-year-old daughter on New
Year’s Eve, and I realized I had to do something about it. I want to be around for my kids.”
At the St. Joseph’s Hospital emergency department in West Bend, the medical team quickly determined Ray was
not in cardiac arrest - yet. The team moved Ray to Froedtert Hospital, where specialists in the Heart and Vascular
center discovered arterial blockage. They recommended additional stents.
“The decision to have the procedure was difficult,” explains Ray, who is a house painter by trade. “I’d had to give
up my health insurance at work because it got so expensive, so I knew financially it would be tough. However, I
Photo courtesy of
wanted to live. I just put myself in God’s hands.”
Froedtert & The Medical
College of WI Froedtert
Ray’s procedure went smoothly, and he quickly returned to his work and his passion for hunting and fishing. “My
Campus
experience with Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin was first class,” says Ray. “I have never felt safer
than when I was there. I knew it was the best place I could be.”
He also received some good news from Froedtert’s financial assistance program.
“When I heard I qualified for 100 percent coverage for my inpatient expenses, I couldn’t believe it,” he says. “It was an incredible feeling.”
Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin Froedtert Hospital Campus, Milwaukee
A setback in healing
Healing from sexual assault is difficult enough and can take years. This is the story of a 29-year-old single female who had been sexually
assaulted a year prior to her arrival in the emergency department at Aurora Medical Center in Grafton (AMCG). She was experiencing
seizures and presented with a badly injured arm. The seizures were of greatest concern to the emergency department physician who ordered
an MRI of her brain. But the woman objected, revealing that she was unemployed and therefore reluctant to proceed.
Arica, the financial counselor at AMCG, stepped in to introduce the patient to Aurora’s Helping Hand Patient Financial Assistance
program. Surprised and grateful, the woman left and returned the next day with her father and the necessary documents to complete the
application. Her application was approved and the MRI was completed to identify the structural abnormalities in her brain associated with
the cause of her seizures. With this confirming evidence, and Aurora’s Helping Hand, she was able to receive the kind of medically necessary
treatment to address her seizure disorder.
Aurora Medical Center in Grafton
Medicaid coverage is often not enough
G.S., originally from India, was diagnosed with a rare form of Tuberculosis. The severity of his illness and the risk to the health of others
around him required him to be an isolated inpatient at Aurora West Allis Medical Center. G.S. was receiving some Medicaid, but Medicaid
payments are often not enough to cover the cost of care for a hospital to provide necessary medical treatment. Worried that he was accruing
a hospital bill he could not pay and wanting to be released, G.S. contacted the hospital’s social worker and financial counselor. Through their
combined efforts, G.S. received a discount on his medical bills from the Aurora Helping Hand Patient Financial Assistance Program. After
several weeks of isolation in the hospital, G.S. recovered and was able to go home and hug his family again.
Aurora West Allis Medical Center
Read more about hospitals connecting with their communities at www.WiServePoint.org.
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You can’t put a price on peace of mind
Imagine the anguish you might feel if you needed a medical test or treatment that
you could hardly afford. No one should live in such uncertainty.
For years, making ends meet was difficult. Let alone, finding disposable income
to cover health insurance costs. As her opportunities and options diminished, she
had no choice but to drop health insurance. All the while a mysterious lump was
developing on one of her breasts. Scared and desperate, she sought help.
This 49-year-old woman came to the Mercy Regional Breast Cancer team in
May 2013, after a referral from the Wisconsin Well Woman Program (WWWP),
short-term medical assistance that provides preventive health screening services
to women with little or no health insurance. Shortly after the results from her
mammogram came back, it was quickly determined she needed a breast MRI
to diagnose the problem. Since WWWP does not cover MRI services, one of
the Center’s new breast health navigators advocated and investigated any and
Photo courtesy of Mercy Health System
all options so this patient could get the quality health care she deserved. After
exhausting all possible leads, Mercy forgave her entire screening balance due,
using part of its recent grant funding offered by Susan G. Komen. Luckily, the results from the MRI showed she was cancer free. Mercy was
fortunate to not only to help her get the care she needed, but also give her the good news we all hoped for.
In 2012, Mercy received a $150K grant from Susan G. Komen for its efforts to reach and direct low-income and minority populations.
Mercy used some of the funds to hire two breast health patient navigators to coordinate community breast health education, awareness,
treatment, access to care, translation services, rehabilitation, case management and counseling in an effort to increase breast cancer screening
rates among uninsured and under-insured African American and Hispanic women in Rock County.
But it’s not just about treatment; it’s about feeling good enough to carry on through your treatment journey.
Mercy Regional Cancer Center also selects ten of its patients to participate in Mercy’s Journey to Health program at Mercy Cardiac
Fitness Center. The program allows breast cancer patients the exercise and nutrition benefits to help them feel better through the treatment
process. The membership is fully funded by community support from events like Paint the Rink Pink and other Mercy Foundation events.
Mercy Health System provided almost $40 million in uncompensated care and free services in 2012. What we strive to give, however, are the
things that cannot be measured. Health care is mission-driven, and our mission is healing those who need us most.
Mercy Health System, Janesville
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare provides a home away from home
61-year-old Tahereh Samakar lived in Iran and occasionally traveled to visit her daughter in Wisconsin. On her trip in 2011, what Tahereh
expected to be an ordinary visit took a serious turn when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Not only was Tahereh sick while abroad, but
she also did not speak English and needed an interpreter.
“I had no idea that I had cancer when I left Iran. I was so shocked and I had no idea what to do,” shared Tahereh.
Although she was far from home, Tahereh knew she needed to move quickly and had a right breast ultrasound-guided needle core
biopsy at Wheaton Franciscan - St. Francis.
When Tahereh needed more surgeries, she worried about how a visitor without health insurance would handle the costs. That is when
her doctors introduced her to Donna Semons, a financial counselor with Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare. With Donna’s help, Tahereh
applied to Wheaton’s Community Care program and was approved to receive free care.
“I was so surprised and happy,” said Tahereh. “Everyone treated me like I was an ordinary person who had health insurance. I am really
grateful.”
While Tahereh received treatment at several Wheaton Franciscan campuses, she has daily radiation at the Elmbrook Memorial Campus.
Tahereh will be extending her visa so she can finish her treatments before going home. Though Tahereh is eager to return to Iran, she said
Wheaton has helped her more than ever in her time of need.
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-St. Francis, Milwaukee
Rebuilding her life
“Rebuilding a new life,” said J.M., repeatedly. It was all she wanted. A single, 44 year-old Milwaukee woman who worked hard all her life,
she owned a home, lived alone and she rarely shed a tear in front of anyone. After she received a pink slip from her employer and was told
that she was “let go,” her life crumbled right before her eyes. In order to make ends meet, she withdrew money from her pension fund, and
that fund was quickly exhausted.
That is when her health began to deteriorate. She started coughing and vomiting fresh blood. She continued to let the condition go in
hopes that it would stop on its own, but the day came when she totally collapsed on the floor. When she woke up, she found herself in the
emergency department at Aurora St. Luke’s South Shore diagnosed with hematemesis.
J.M. was met by Leslie Thomas, financial counselor, to discuss her payment options. Leslie reported, “The patient was in tears when
I went to see her in the patient room. After I explained the Aurora Helping Hand Patient Financial Assistance Program to her, she was so
happy at the possibility of receiving some help.”
J.M. told Leslie the reason she put off going to the hospital was because she did not have health insurance and had no money.
However, through the Aurora Helping Hand Patient Financial Assistance Program, J.M. was approved for 85 percent assistance. The patient
was able to rest well and begin focusing on her recovery and building a new life.
Aurora St. Luke’s South Shore, Cudahy
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2014 Community Benefits Report
Charity Care offers support for an underinsured patient
Tasha M. is like millions of Americans today – she is underinsured. Despite having insurance, the 30-year-old Milwaukee resident struggles to
cope with the growing bills from her uncovered medical expenses.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, Tasha was overwhelmed and frustrated when her insurance denied coverage on
a much-needed surgery. Luckily, she knew where to turn for help. Tasha had previously received free services for a past injury thanks to
Community Care, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare’s program for those in financial need. She was hopeful she would receive assistance again.
Jennifer Mercado, a financial counselor with Wheaton, was able to help Tasha complete the paperwork necessary to gain approval for
the assistance. Once she was approved, Tasha was assigned to Cancer Care and worked with Donna Semons, also a Wheaton financial
counselor.
With this financial assistance, Tasha was able to receive radiation, pain medication and an MRI at no cost to her. Tasha is currently
meeting with her doctors at Wauwatosa to receive further treatment for her cancer.
“Being approved meant so much, and Lord knows I can’t afford all my bills,” said Tasha. “Thank goodness Charity Care was there for
me. It is an amazing program for people who fall on hard times. It is hands down the best.”
Wheaton Franciscan - Wauwatosa Campus
St. Ben's Clinic Helped Anthony Hannon Fight Cancer and Homelessness
When Anthony first discovered the lump in his neck, he faced the same decision that many people
do when confronted with a strange, new ailment. Is it something that can be ignored until it just
goes away on its own? Or is it something serious, requiring an immediate trip to the doctor?
That decision is much harder, however, when you’re living in a homeless shelter.
At the time, Anthony was living at the Rescue Mission Shelter in downtown Milwaukee.
Fortunately, he was there when Ellen Krueger, the Outreach Nurse for Columbia St. Mary’s St.
Ben’s Clinic, was doing one of her bi-monthly screening and health counseling sessions.
After examining the lump on his neck, Ellen was concerned and asked Anthony to come to St.
Ben’s Clinic for further evaluation. There, Anthony met with Sara Zirbel, a nurse practitioner, who
was similarly worried and referred him to Dr. Gretchen Durkin, an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist.
Dr. Durkin returned with the diagnosis: cancer.
Although he was without financial support—diagnostic testing was funded through the
Specialty Access for Uninsured Program (SAUP), a form of financial assistance charity care at
Columbia St. Mary’s—Anthony had the courage to forge ahead through treatment planning and
implementation.
The first step of his treatment was to visit a dentist to ensure his teeth and gums were healthy
enough for the radiation treatment of his neck. It was at this time Anthony decided to call his
father, from whom he had been estranged, and ask if he could stop by to tell him about his health
problems. After hearing about Anthony’s cancer, his father did not want him going through
Photo courtesy of Columbia-St. Mary's
treatment while living in a shelter and asked him to move in with him.
With the renewed support of his father, Anthony made his way through the 35 radiation
treatments and two rounds of chemotherapy. His stress over treatment costs was relieved when the
St. Ben’s Clinic social worker referred him to a Columbia St. Mary’s financial counselor for help in applying for Medical Assistance. They were
successful in the application and Anthony did receive Medical Assistance for his ongoing care.
Today, Anthony feels blessed, not only for the life-saving care he received, but also for the reconciliation with his father.
“This was all through the grace of God. It was like a miracle,” Anthony says. “I haven’t earned any of this. It was all through God’s
mercy.”
For their part, the St. Ben’s Clinic staff is thankful they could be there and be part of God’s plan for Anthony.
Columbia St. Mary's, Inc., Milwaukee
Community Care helps uninsured student
A 26-year-old gentleman suffered a traumatic brain injury while riding on an inner tube that was being pulled by an ATV. During the ride he
was spun around and smashed his head on a fence post. The patient was an uninsured student who lived with his parents and worked part
time—14 hours per week. His very limited income left him without insurance and no funds to cover his care. Property insurance for the site
of the accident only covered a very small portion of his extended medical bills due to the severity of his injury and length of care. He and his
parents were very grateful for the gift of Community Care that allowed his medical bills to be covered.
St. Vincent Hospital, Green Bay
Walter and Judy Finch
Walter and Judy Finch of Menasha have each had medical expenses. But on a fixed income, the bills coming in were more than they could
handle. “They’ve saved me as far as I am concerned,” said Walter Finch, 73.
Finch said he tried to pay medical bills on his own. But as more medical issues came up, the bills just started adding up. “When the
medical bills start to pile up, you are kind of in a bad way,” he said.
He learned about ThedaCare’s Caring Hearts Financial Assistance Program and asked to apply. “As it turned out they said yes,” he said.
“I can’t say enough good things about it. They took excellent care of me and my wife.”
Appleton Medical Center
Read more about hospitals connecting with their communities at www.WiServePoint.org.
21
Free Clinics
Where do you go when you need a doctor and you don’t have insurance? More and more hospitals are establishing
free clinics to serve those who do not have a “medical home.” Every effort is made to connect patients with follow
up care and even help them obtain the medical supplies or prescription drugs that they need.
St. Clare Health Mission
It is a painful reality that millions of Americans are without health insurance, keeping many from seeking health care. The La Crosse area is no
exception. Fortunately, help is available through St. Clare Health Mission in La Crosse, supported in part by Gundersen Health System.
“St. Clare Health Mission provides free basic health care to people who are uninsured but are not eligible for medical assistance,”
explains Chad Thurman, MD, a family medicine doctor at the Gundersen Health System – Onalaska Clinic. He—like so many other
Gundersen physicians, physician assistants, residents, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, lab technicians and support personnel—has
volunteered his medical services at the Mission for several years.
“Serving at St. Clare is the right thing to do. There is a growing demographic of people who don’t qualify for government-paid health
insurance and can’t afford private insurance,” Dr. Thurman says. “The Mission is their safety net. For me, it is very rewarding to help the
community in this way.”
The Mission sees a wide range of people for a variety of health issues from asthma, abdominal pain and diabetes management to
psychiatric care. According to Dr. Thurman, they’re seeing more young people—recent college graduates—who haven’t been working long
enough to afford or qualify for health insurance. If not for St. Clare Health Mission, many of these patients would go without health care and
medication or would be receiving their health care via emergency rooms—one of the most costly ways to provide health care and puts extra
stress on already-overburdened emergency rooms.
St. Clare is open for walk-in care two evenings a week. In addition, many Gundersen board-certified specialists in areas such as
cardiology, surgery, orthopaedics, pain medicine, gynecology, gastroenterology and others are available for scheduled patient appointments
at the clinic.
There’s also an evening Continuity Clinic and Prevention Clinic to care for those with chronic medical conditions. Those clinics are run
by students along with their preceptors. They provide nutrition counseling, diabetic education, smoking cessation, foot care and specialty
medical care.
Since it began in 1993, dedicated and compassionate volunteers from both of La Crosse’s health care organizations have cared for more
than 16,000 patients during more than 64,000 visits. The Mission serves people of Houston, La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau and Vernon
Counties in Wisconsin and relies almost exclusively on volunteer services and donated equipment, supplies, pharmaceuticals and money.
Gundersen Health System, La Crosse
22
2014 Community Benefits Report
A place to turn for help
What would you do if you were sick, scared and had nowhere to turn to receive the medical attention that you are in dire need of? Millions
of Americans do not have insurance coverage and struggle every day because proper health care is not available to them. At Mercy, we lend
a helping hand to our local communities by providing services for those in need who cannot afford it. The Janesville Community Health
Center (JCHC) at Mercy Clinic South is a place where patients receive primary health care services at a reduced rate and low-cost prescription
drugs through a federal drug program. This clinic is located within Mercy Clinic South and is fully staffed by 26 family medicine physicians—
residents and faculty alike. JCHC provides quality health care services for Medicaid, underinsured and uninsured patients in Rock County.
Eligible persons can receive primary care at a reduced rate (a sliding fee scale based on income) and discounted prescription drugs. In each
calendar year, nearly 4,300 patients are served.
When medical problems suddenly arise, it can become a very serious and frightening time for those uninsured individuals. Jane, a recent
patient at Janesville Community Health Center, said her experience was a tough but very grateful one. Jane says it was never easy for her
to see a doctor because of long-term financial constraints, but, when headaches and high blood pressure started in January of this year, she
knew it was time something needed to be done. She turned to the Janesville Community Health Center for help before her health worsened.
“It is a great thing to have a place that will take care of you if you do not have the money,” said Jane. “I was very scared to ask for help,
but it has been such a godsend to be able to turn to Mercy for help.”
She says one of the best aspects of her care is that she receives financial assistance to help pay her medical bills. Jane would like to thank
everyone, from the bottom of her heart. “Without Mercy and the Janesville Community Health Center, I’m not sure where I’d be today.”
Mercy Health System donates over $32 million in uncompensated care and free services every year. What we strive to give, however, are
the things that cannot be measured. Health care is mission-driven, and our mission is healing those who need us most.
Mercy Health System, Janesville
Fond du Lac woman finds 'friend' in Samaritan Health Clinic
It took a life or death situation for Robin Ingram, of Fond du Lac to find one of her new best friends. Three years ago, Robin started
experiencing shortness of breath so extreme that a friend brought her to St. Agnes Hospital's emergency department.
"The ED doctor knew right away that something was wrong," Robin recalls. "I had a 104 degree temperature, and felt like I was drowning
and suffocating at the same time. I couldn't breathe and I thought I was dying."
Robin credits her physician with his persistency. "He didn't stop until he had answers."
The answer came after a CT scan—a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung). That treatment, along with a new diagnosis (chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease—COPD), started what has become an enlightening and beneficial relationship with Agnesian HealthCare's
Samaritan Health Clinic.
Providers with the Agnesian Care Clinic have been a mainstay in Robin's road to recovery and overall maintenance of several chronic
health conditions, such as diabetes, COPD, asthma and osteoarthritis.
When Robin's health scare came in 2011, she was unemployed due to physical disabilities. "I had no income other than unemployment
and I needed health care desperately. The Samaritan Health Clinic and Agnesian HealthCare have been a Godsend. Without the medical
care they have given me, I would not be here today. I couldn't afford my rent let alone the co-pays for medication."
Robin gets a breath of fresh air when she visits the team at the Samaritan Health Clinic.
"They're always wonderful and are happy to see you," Robin says. "They make what is going on seem not so bad."
Robin's story is not unusual. The Samaritan Health Clinic welcomes more than 275 new patients each year, providing nearly 500 health
care services vouchers monthly for physician follow-up visits, vision or dental care, and medication assistance.
For Robin, she hopes sharing her message about the Samaritan Health Clinic will help give others encouragement who may be facing
health concerns without the financial means to pay for care.
"I have a renewed hope for the future," Robin explains. "The people through the Samaritan Health Clinic take care of me. They are
wonderful, personal and show genuine concern for their patients."
Agnesian HealthCare, Fond du Lac
Seton Dental Clinic Prenatal Oral Health Program
The Seton Dental Clinic recently began a Prenatal Oral Health program to offer preventive care and
restorative dental care to pregnant women from the Columbia St. Mary’s OB/GYN Clinic, Columbia St.
Mary’s Family Health Center and Sixteenth Street Community Health Center. Many physicians believe that
avoiding dental infection can reduce overall infection and inflammation in the mother, resulting in better
health for her and her baby.
Tiara Shaffer was one of the first women in the Prenatal Oral Health project of Seton Dental Clinic.
She was referred by the CSM Family Health Center when she was five months pregnant and experiencing
significant dental pain. Seton’s full time dentist, Dr. Kosowski, found that she had an infection that required
immediate treatment and that she also needed other extensive dental work. Much of the work of Prenatal
Photo courtesy of Columbia St.
Oral Health is done with a dental hygienist who offers dental cleaning and reduction of plaque along the
Mary’s, Inc.
gum lines. Tiara kept all her appointments with dental hygienist Robyn Kibler and Dr. Kosowski and was
appreciative of the Seton staff for coordinating her appointments to accommodate her work schedule and obstetrics appointments.
“The staff at Seton always made me feel comfortable and welcome,” said Tiara. “I’m grateful and appreciative of all the work that they
did for me."
Most of her oral care was completed before she delivered a healthy 7.5-pound baby boy on Mother’s Day. She returned to Seton after
the birth to finish her care.
"The education that I received at Seton helped me,” said Tiara. “I will pass on to my son what I learned at the clinic."
Columbia St. Mary’s, Inc., Milwaukee
Read more about hospitals connecting with their communities at www.WiServePoint.org.
23
Rock River Free Clinic provides essential health care to those in need
True to its mission, the Rock River Free clinic provides access to free health services
for low income and uninsured individuals. And, in these days of economic hardship,
the number of persons who suddenly find themselves without health insurance is
growing steadily.
Fort HealthCare leadership appreciates the critical role the Free Clinic plays in
ensuring the health of the area’s most vulnerable residents. With that in mind, David
Rutledge, MD, a family medicine physician at Fort HealthCare Jefferson for 29 years,
was recently appointed full-time medical director. Dr. Rutledge’s commitment, paid
for by Fort HealthCare, helps the Rock River Free Clinic Board reach its goal of
adding more regular physician services to this invaluable program.
Since its inception, the clinic operated on a limited basis with volunteer
clinicians and support staff. His new role also benefits Fort HealthCare, as patients
with acute illnesses and no health insurance will be able to get the care they need
when they need it. He is joined by a full-time licensed practical nurse employed by
the Jefferson County Health Department. This new level of medical professional
staffing allows the clinic to be open four and one half days per week. Previously, the
Photo courtesy of Fort HealthCare
clinic was open only on Thursday evenings.
Free clinic services include individual assessments, medications, referrals for
diagnosis and treatment of serious conditions, lab tests, x-rays, health education, wound care, chronic and acute care, vaccinations, disease
screenings, seizure management and more.
On a recent clinic day the waiting room was crowded and the exam rooms were full. Doctor Donald Bates, a Fort HealthCare family
practice physician, was seeing a number of patients. Middle aged and with diabetes, a condition she’s had for six years, Margaret came to the
clinic for a medication re-fill. She is employed in a full-time position, but can’t afford the health insurance offered by her employer.
Amy comes once a month for care related to her asthma and high blood pressure. Recently widowed, she lived off her and her
husband’s investments and Social Security. The money didn’t go as far as she expected and she had to go to work. Now, she is working
part-time at a large box discount store, hoping to gain full-time employment and be eligible for health insurance benefits. Until then, she must
rely on the free clinic as she can’t afford a regular doctor. A prideful person, she heard about the free clinic from her friends and was at first
embarrassed to come. But, as she reports, everyone at the free clinic has been so kind and wonderful.
Fort HealthCare, Fort Atkinson
The Bread of Healing Clinic
The Bread of Healing Clinic is a free clinic whose mission is to provide basic medical care to the uninsured. With the support of Aurora Sinai
Medical Center and other grants, the clinic is open four half days each week at Cross Lutheran in Milwaukee, where an average of 300-350
patient visits are completed monthly. Two additional Bread of Healing Clinic sites are opened to accommodate an additional 50 patient visits
monthly. In total, the Bread of Healing clinic provides medical care to more than 1,500 people annually who do not have medical insurance.
C.M. is a patient of the clinic who knows all too well how difficult it is for an uninsured person is to find medical care. She had
developed a painful lump on her back but was only working part-time and had no medical insurance. She was so grateful to find help at
the Bread of Healing Clinic. After much effort, the staff of Bread of Healing was able to locate and refer C.M. to a surgeon who diagnosed
her with a rare and aggressive form of cancer called Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (DFSP). There is only about one case per million
annually. The surgeon removed the tumor for C.M., free of charge. Without the clinic’s surgeon referral, C.M. believes the tumor would still
be growing and it would be difficult if not impossible for her to keep working.
“It should be enough to say Bread of Healing saved my life, but there’s so much more. They attended to my body, heart, and soul.
That is what makes them an amazingly effective, friendly, and life-saving medical clinic.” – C.M., grateful patient & friend to Bread of
Healing Clinic
Aurora Sinai Medical Center, Milwaukee
Clinic offers a helping hand to those in need
Dave S. knows what it’s like to have good health insurance– and what it’s like to be without it. He was fortunate that Froedtert & the Medical
College of Wisconsin Community Memorial Hospital’s Community Outreach Health Clinic was there for him when he needed care.
In 2009, Dave was laid off from his steam-fitting job after 20 years, along with many of his co-workers. “I couldn’t afford to pay to have
my health insurance continue,” Dave said. Even though, like many of the patients the Clinic sees, he had chronic conditions that required
regular monitoring and medications. Dave, now 58, took prescription drugs to manage high cholesterol, hypertension, and borderline
diabetes. When his insurance ran out, he could no longer afford his medications. His health worsened, and his girlfriend encouraged him to
go to the Community Outreach Health Clinic. “I was able to get my medications and have regular check-ups with (nurse practitioner) Linda
and (RN) Anita, who encouraged me to take care of my own health and kept me on track.”
An accident with his overly-affectionate dog resulted in an eye laceration. Through the Outreach Clinic, Dave was referred to the Verre
Eye Clinic, where Dr. Robert Fish provided treatment and follow-up care that saved Dave’s eyesight (he has limited vision in his other eye
due to a previous on-the-job injury). He was referred to Dr. Tom Albiero for an abscessed tooth, which required oral surgery by Dr. Terrence
Riesch. A recurring staph infection in his leg was successfully treated at the Clinic with antibiotics.
After being laid off, Dave decided to improve his job prospects with additional training. He enrolled at Moraine Park Technical College
and recently completed a two-year degree in computer science and accounting. He is hopeful that his job search will result in regular
employment (with health insurance). But he is thankful that the Outreach Clinic was there to care for him when he needed it. He has
demonstrated his gratitude with homemade caramel corn and other treats for Clinic staff and volunteers. “That’s the least I could do, after all
they did for me.”
Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Community Memorial Hospital, Menomonee Falls
24
2014 Community Benefits Report
Providing dental care access to those in need
Ministry Door County Medical Center (MDCMC) Dental Clinic is located in Sturgeon Bay and is a non-profit facility that has been providing
oral health care throughout Door and Kewaunee Counties since 1999. The clinic is currently staffed with 1 general dentist, 1 Hygienist and
2 dental assistants; with clinic costs underwritten by MDCMC and grant funding. More than 1,800 people received dental care in 2013. The
dental clinic provides a dental home to a very diverse group of children and adults. The facility receives referrals from the Door County
Social Services and Health Department and from the Hispanic Resource Center.
Tooth decay is the most common childhood disease, affecting nearly 60 percent of children. For some it’s getting worse: Eighty percent
of dental disease in children is concentrated in 25 percent of children from poor families who face disproportionately high barriers to getting
care. The consequences can be devastating to those from low-income and minority households. Daily the clinic receives phone calls from new
patients needing help because they are in pain or are looking for an office to make their dental home.
Our office is the only dental facility in the area that accepts Medical Assistance, Badger Care or children who have no insurance and no
dental home. With the MDCMC’s commitment to the poor, the dental clinic is now available four days a week every week (Monday, Tuesday,
Thursday and Friday) from 8-4:30pm. The clinic provides a spectrum of services including six-month recall cleanings, fluoride treatments,
x-rays, restorations, extractions and root canals.
Ministry Door County Medical Center, Sturgeon Bay
Free Clinic of Pierce and St. Croix Counties
The Free Clinic of Pierce and St. Croix Counties provides preventive health care, including prescription drugs, to those with nowhere else to
turn. In 2013, the Free Clinic provided care to 485 patients through a total of 2,2586 patient visits, dispensing 8,231 prescriptions.
All services at the Free Clinic are provided free of charge. To qualify for services, patients must be low-income (at or below 185 percent of the
federal poverty level) and be uninsured with no other source of care.
The clinic’s volunteer health care providers see an average of 25 patients each week on a first come, first serve basis. Follow-up services,
including blood work, dressing changes, diabetes education, physical therapy and prescription refills, are provided to an additional 25-50
patients each week. When a patient has a chronic condition requiring maintenance medication, the clinic helps enroll them in a prescription
assistance program.
When patients need follow-up care, the clinic works with community partners to try to arrange for the needed services. Patients are
referred to and receive follow-up care from specialists like physical therapists, diabetic educators, ophthalmologists, gynecologists, dentists,
surgeons and others.
The Free Clinic has leveraged many community assets and ultimately provides care on a very modest budget. In 2013, River Falls Area
Hospital supported the Free Clinic by:
yy Acting as the employer-of-record for the three Free Clinic staff members;
yy Providing space for patient pre-screening on Tuesday evenings;
yy Providing laboratory and imaging services at cost, then covering the first $10,000 with a grant from the hospital foundation;
yy Working with clinic staff and volunteers to arrange for needed follow-up hospital services, then enrolling eligible patients in the
hospital’s charity care program;
yy Providing significant in-kind staff support for the Free Clinic, including the support of the hospital’s foundation and community
engagement director, who is the secretary of the Free Clinic’s board of directors; and,
yy Providing direct financial support through the Allina Health charitable contributions program.
While we have not quantified the financial impact of the Free Clinic on our hospital, we know the Free Clinic is serving many individuals
who would otherwise have ended up at an emergency room, either our own or at one of the other hospitals in our region, receiving care that
would ultimately be uncompensated. By providing access to primary care services, the Free Clinic is helping to meet the health care needs of our
region in a way that is better for the individual patient, the broader community and the health care system at large.
River Falls Area Hospital, part of Allina Health, River Falls
Partnership helps meet prescription needs of young dental patients
In 2009, Fowler Memorial Free Dental Clinic began serving patients in Green County, offering free dental care for children ages three-12 who
may otherwise go without due to lack of dental coverage and financial resources.
Because Fowler is an important local resource which helps promote a healthier community, Monroe Clinic Pharmacy partnered with
the organization to expand the support of its patients by offering a prescription program. This special service allows Fowler patients needing
antibiotics or pain medication to have their prescription filled at Monroe Clinic Pharmacy free-of-charge. Through partnerships such as this,
there are fewer barriers between children of lower-income families and essential dental care.
Monroe Clinic
Red Shield Free Clinic
In operation since 1992, The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Free Clinic serves the medical needs of low-income people who lack insurance.
It’s the only clinic of its kind in Sheboygan County and a valuable community resource. During 2013, a total of 12 physicians from Aurora
Sheboygan Clinic logged over 250 volunteer hours seeing and treating people who turn to the clinic for the medical attention they need.
Pam Sandee, Red Shield clinic coordinator, points out “We are very fortunate to be able to refer our most chronically ill patients to
Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center to apply for the Aurora Helping Hand Patient Financial Assistance Program. Without this
program, many of our patients would be left with a big financial burden. Aurora has always been so easy for us to work with. There is an easy
transfer of our patients to the hospital because we have great relationship with the staff, some of whom are volunteers at our clinic.”
Many people seeking medical care at the clinic also require lab work. Red Shield patients receive a voucher to have their lab work
completed at Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center, free of charge, and the hospital also assists in funding prescription medications for
the clinic’s patients.
Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center, Sheboygan
Read more about hospitals connecting with their communities at www.WiServePoint.org.
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It takes a community
She was in her third decade when she first rang the doorbell to Shalom Holistic Health Services (Shalom), Stoughton’s free health clinic for
those without health care insurance and having financial issues. She arrived at the clinic with a several-year history of substance abuse and
in the phase of early recovery. She credited her recovery at that time to attendance at weekly AA meetings and a lot of prayer. Though she
held a part-time job at a local fast food facility, she had bigger dreams – dreams that entailed a purpose for her life and the acquirement of a
dependable health care insurance policy.
Over the course of a couple of years, Shalom became the major support for her health care needs. Through professional volunteers,
she would have the continuity of care that she would not find in the local urgent care or emergency room. She and Shalom worked together
through counseling sessions and psychiatric visits to improve her health. Her physical needs were met through the regular availability of
volunteer doctors and nurses. She even corrected a problem with a muscle strain through physical therapy. And though prayer was already
integral to her life, she further had access to pastoral counseling, a facet of health care that often goes overlooked.
After two years, our client continues in her life of sobriety and is thankful for her improved good health received through AA and the
existence of Shalom. She has completed her certified nursing assistant education and is gainfully employed by an area health care facility.
She is enjoying the space of apartment living. She will soon be a candidate for her employer’s health care insurance, a clear symbol to her of
reaching beyond poverty.
Stoughton Hospital, Stoughton
Fort HealthCare provides access to dental care for uninsured and under-insured
Throughout small communities in Jefferson and Walworth Counties, impoverished or underinsured families are cared for with the skilled
hands of experienced physicians and dental professionals. The Community Dental Clinic in Fort Atkinson came to life through the generous
contributions of many, including the volunteer services of 14 area dentists and numerous volunteer dental assistants and hygienists. Fort
HealthCare offers technical support, lab services and rental of the 1,200-square-foot medical office to the clinic for one dollar per year. The
clinic is located in a Fort HealthCare medical office building at 520 Handeyside Lane, suite #4.
Since the program began in 2007, the number of patients served by the free dental clinic has almost tripled. This six-chair clinic has new
equipment, on-site digital x-rays and computerized patient records. Patients are provided standard evaluations and exams, x-rays, cleanings
for adults and children ages three and older, fluoride treatments, sealants, fillings, extractions, smoking-cessation information, and oral health
and dietary counseling.
Fort HealthCare, Fort Atkinson
Angel of Hope Clinic provides a family feel to health care for the uninsured
Photo courtesy of Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare
Thomas Rivas, 56, had been trying to piece some work together after being laid off from
his manufacturing job when a series of health issues beset him – including a nagging cough,
high blood pressure, and the start of diabetes. With no insurance, he stopped at a community
health fair, where a social worker encouraged him to go to the Angel of Hope Clinic.
The Angel of Hope Clinic is a partnership between Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare,
Outreach Community Health Centers (a Federally Qualified Health Center) and Hope House
of Milwaukee, a homeless shelter on Milwaukee’s near south side. Angel of Hope provides
health care services for low-income individuals and is funded in part through the Wheaton
Franciscan Healthcare Foundation for St. Francis and Franklin.
What Thomas finds comforting about Angel of Hope is the personalized attention and
family-like feel he gets when he visits.
“It’s actually relaxing to come here,” Thomas said. “I used to be afraid of getting shots.
I’m not afraid now. They helped me. I’m on a better diet, and I exercise. It’s a different
feeling here. It’s so good.”
Nurse Practitioner Tara Seleen said patients really appreciate the care and are willing to
make lifestyle changes to get healthier.
“This is my dream job,” said Tara. “I love helping people in the community.” Tara said that her patients aren’t simply looking for a
handout. They truly want to improve their lives. Through the clinic’s educational approach to healthier lifestyles, Tara and the staff see many
positive results. And their patients agree.
“We’re like family here,” said Thomas, who rides his bike to his clinic appointments. “They always want to know what’s going on with
you, and how they can help.”
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, Milwaukee
Joey’s Story: dental issues addressed = healthy boy!
Joey attends school at one of the more rural school districts in our service area. He had gone to the health room aide almost daily at school,
complaining of pain in his mouth and ultimately vomiting. One of ProHealth Care’s community outreach nurses conducted a home visit and
worked with his family to assess the situation and to provide education on oral hygiene.
Joey and his family had BadgerCare coverage, but they did not have a favorable relationship with their current dentist. The ProHealth
Care nurse worked with the family to secure inexpensive transportation to the Waukesha County Community Dental Clinic, a community
service co-founded and supported by ProHealth Care. There, Joey obtained compassionate, low-cost care and was found to have many
cavities—so severe he required several extractions and spacers. In addition, Joey developed other medical issues, which have been resolved
by linking Joey with a primary care provider at ProHealth.
As of today, Joey states, “All my problems are fixed!”
ProHealth Care, Waukesha
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2014 Community Benefits Report
Smiling again
Allie remembers how painful her tooth decay had become. “I was recommended to the
Riverview Community Dental Clinic by my doctor, who knew I was in serious pain and
wasn't able to find a dentist anywhere in the area to help me.” She also remembers how
her tooth loss affected her life. “I wouldn't smile. I didn't talk to people; I would cover my
mouth with my hand a lot. I didn't like to go out, and I really didn't like getting my picture
taken.”
After losing her front teeth to tooth decay, Lucy found it nearly impossible to get a job,
“They wouldn't say anything when I was missing my two front teeth, because people didn't
talk about it.”
At the Riverview Community Dental Clinic, thousands of low-income adults and
children are getting relief from the pain of tooth decay. As Allie and Lucy know firsthand,
the pain is more than physical. It affects their overall health, as well as their ability to eat,
speak, earn a living, concentrate on learning and enjoy socializing.
“The Riverview Community Dental Clinic has changed my life very much,” says Lucy.
“I looked for services for three years, had two teeth in front that the caps had broken off.
I'm a professional, and trying to get a job was fairly impossible because my teeth were
missing. After three years, I now have new dentures and am very, very pleased with
everyone at the Riverview Community Dental Clinic.”
Photo courtesty of Riverview Medical Center
Riverview Medical Center in Wisconsin Rapids has a mission “to provide compassionate,
affordable, state-of-the-art health care to our communities.” That is why Riverview opened
the Riverview Community Dental Clinic in June 2009. The clinic serves only patients with Medicaid or BadgerCare insurance.
“It's astonishing how down on yourself you can feel when you're missing teeth, and that's what people look at,” remembers Lucy. “I feel
extremely better about myself now. Thanks, Riverview Community Dental Clinic.”
Riverview Medical Center, Wisconsin Rapids
Greater Milwaukee Free Clinic
The Greater Milwaukee Free Clinic’s (GMFC) mission is to provide free medical care and pharmaceuticals to low-income community
members who do not have medical insurance or the ability to pay for medical care. The clinic opened in December 1995 with the help
of donated funds and equipment and is staffed by volunteer medical professionals and support personnel. In addition, Aurora West Allis
Medical Center (AWAMC) has supported the clinic since its onset with donated laboratory and radiology services. This support has aided in
patient diagnoses of breast cancers, liver failure, diabetes, and so much more.
One patient’s story is a great example of how the clinic and the hospital can work together to save lives:
One Tuesday night, a self-employed man in his late 40s arrived at the GMFC and explained to a physician that he had lost 80 pounds
over the past year and is very weak to the point that he could no longer work. After the physician examined the man, he arranged for the
man to have lab work performed at AWAMC. On Wednesday afternoon, the physician received the lab results, which indicated that the man
had a blood sugar level of 704, a glycated hemoglobin level off the charts, and his electrolytes were abnormal. The GMFC physician started
the man on insulin to treat his newly diagnosed diabetes and within several weeks, his blood sugars dropped to well within the normal level.
Had he not come to the free clinic, the man would have likely ended up in a hospital intensive care unit.
Aurora West Allis Medical Center
Community Chronic Disease Management (CCDM) Clinic of Columbia St. Mary’s
Ernell doesn’t like needles. A burly, muscular man, he sits tensely, mumbling as a CCDM technician carefully locates the right spot on his
forearm to draw blood. As she gently inserts the needle, Ernell winces, turns away, and kiddingly lets out a howl.
That Ernell should harbor such fears about needles is striking, considering that, as a self-employed electrician, he is accustomed to
scaling ladders up to 300 feet high inside the huge wind-power turbine towers he helps to wire, carrying a 100-pound load of tools over his
shoulder. The full climb takes 45 minutes in either direction.
Ernell has diabetes. He learned about the disease when he lived in Phoenix and was still insured. His blood sugar readings went as high
as 500 and 600. Ernell initially refused to go to the hospital, unwilling to admit he had a problem.
He changed his mind as symptoms developed. He needed to use the bathroom several times each night and became dizzy whenever he
stooped or squatted down.
Later, after moving to Milwaukee, Ernell monitored his blood sugar daily. But he had no insurance or medicine. He learned about
CCDM through his church two years ago.
CCDM treats Ernell for diabetes and borderline hypertension. He quibbles about the latter, claiming that his aversion to needles will
cause his blood pressure to spike whenever he visits a clinic. “I don’t care if it’s a foot doctor,” he said. “I feel the same way.”
Ernell has learned a lot since coming to CCDM. On his first visit, he weighed 280 pounds. Today he weighs about 240. “If I lose this,” he
said, pointing to his stomach, “my diabetes will improve. I'm working on it, but it's a battle. It sticks to you like glue.”
He now eats more vegetables, salads, dates, pecans, and cashews, and he avoids chips, sweets, and sodas. “I drink fresh squeezed
orange juice and stay away from processed sugar,” he said.
An electrician for 23 years, Ernell gets exercise on the job. Climbing up the wind towers is extremely challenging, but the work is
seasonal. He also does residential, commercial, industrial, and marine work, which keeps him physically active.
CCDM has been good for Ernell. He calls the clinic’s staff friendly and helpful. “They don't have any attitude,” he said. “They're nice to
you, want to know how you’re doing. They’re real cool and help you unwind.”
Columbia St. Mary’s - Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Institute, Milwaukee
Read more about hospitals connecting with their communities at www.WiServePoint.org.
27
The Diabetic Clinic at the St Vincent DePaul Free Medical Clinic
Poorly managed chronic health conditions affect individual quality of life.
“Improving access to health care improves the general health and economic viability of the community and has been targeted as an
important focus in county health assessments,” said Christine Maghrak, DNP, RN Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital (MSJH).
As an example, ‘George’ walked into the Free Medical Clinic at St. Vincent DePaul Outreach with high blood pressure, high cholesterol,
and high blood sugars. Diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes five years earlier, a change in financial status and insurance eligibility forced him to
stop regular care. A minimum wage job meant he didn’t have insurance and couldn’t afford to see a doctor for over a year.
Currently, he manages his diabetes by attending the new St. Vincent DePaul Outreach Diabetes Clinic, which is an offshoot of the Free
Medical Clinic that has operated for nearly 15 years. The Diabetes Clinic provides nutrition education, aid in monitoring blood sugar, help
with eye and foot exams, and medications.
MSJH, through its Foundation Grant Program, provides funding for the Free Clinic, along with Marshfield Clinic. The objective is to
provide primary care (limited preventive care and chronic disease management) until patients can obtain insurance. Assistance is provided in
applying for benefits and obtaining medications. St. Vincent DePaul donates the space. Volunteers at the clinics are staff from both medical
institutions (e.g., physicians, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, educators and clerical support personnel) and retired clinicians.
“Our goal is consistency and improved quality of care for patients,” said Lori Remeika, MD, a Marshfield Clinic internal medicine
specialist who volunteers as well as coordinates volunteer residents. Peter Dalum, MD, a Marshfield Clinic family practice physician and
volunteer, identifies that traditional medical care has not worked for many of the patients served.
“They don’t have a regular health care provider. A lot of what we do is listening to patients and giving them the respect and time they
deserve, in addition to health care,” Dalum said.
‘George’ for one is very grateful for the services. “I can’t say enough about the free clinic,” he said. “They saved my life.”
Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Marshfield
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – All Saints clinic helps underserved patients avoid emergency care
Racine is not unlike other working class communities across the nation struggling with unemployment rates and uninsured or underinsured
residents. There are neighborhoods with a large share of residents who have limited access to routine health services. It’s a growing scenario
in the City of Racine, which has one of the highest unemployment rates in Wisconsin.
Until 2009, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – All Saints served a large portion of this underserved population through a family medicine
residency program. When the program dissolved, All Saints continued the clinic in the same location on Wisconsin Avenue under Wheaton
Franciscan Medical Group – All Saints.
Physicians and staff recognized that additional health issues needed to be addressed in addition to the services that were offered at the
clinic. With funds from Wheaton’s Mother Clara Pfaender Grants Program, the clinic is proactively reaching out to underserved populations.
One initiative provides a registered nurse who works closely with patients to manage specific needs. Patients receive support and
education on smoking cessation and healthy lifestyle choices as well as consistent follow-up for uncontrolled conditions like diabetes.
All Saints also identified patients with frequent use of emergency services for non-emergent conditions. Twenty patients were initially
identified as candidates for a pilot program aimed at curbing avoidable visits to All Saints’ Emergency Care Center, and ultimately, decreasing
readmissions to the hospital.
“Our efforts help patients who often visited the Emergency Care Center for non-emergent care to establish a relationship with a primary
care physician and better manage their health care needs,” says Dawn Simon, nurse practitioner, at the Wisconsin Avenue site.
Since the program’s inception in spring of 2012, All Saints has had good success with eliminating visits to the emergency department
for participating patients. The program has grown to include patients being discharged from the hospital who might normally return to the
emergency department because they may possibly not follow up with a primary care physician or have medication management issues. The
goal is to reach 500 patients through these efforts.
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – All Saints, Racine
Huiras Family Ozaukee Community Health Clinic: A healthy weight gain
A young woman came into the Huiras Family Community Health Clinic one winter night. Her chief complaint was that she was unable to eat.
She weighed 110 pounds. The nurse practitioner assessed the patient and conducted multiple tests. Her weight continued to drop. By the
next month, she weighed only 86 pounds. It was soon discovered that the patient was extremely hyperthyroid.
The Columbia St. Mary's financial services staff enrolled her in the Community Care program which assists patients in paying for their
medical expenses. The Huiras Family Community Health Clinic staff found her a primary care physician that prescribed her medications to
relieve some of the symptoms she suffered. The patient also needed to have a thyroid uptake and scan, which was
covered through Community Care.
Now, months later, she has gained nearly 30 pounds and is feeling much better. The combination
of the care she receives from her primary care physician and the medication the clinic provides continue to significantly improve the patient’s
health. The Huiras Clinic, primary care physician’s office, and the nuclear medicine department have teamed up to provide the best possible
care for this patient.
Columbia St. Mary’s Ozaukee, Mequon
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2014 Community Benefits Report
SPMHC supports dental clinic for low-income patients
Thanks to a collaborative effort within the community, low-income residents of Sauk and Columbia counties have access to basic dental care.
“The need is definitely there,” said Karen Fabisiak of St. Vincent de Paul. “We just had to come together to figure out how to provide the
service.”
With contributions from 16 Sauk County organizations including Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital & Clinics (SPMHC) and the Sauk
Prairie Memorial Hospital Foundation, St. Vincent de Paul’s Dental Clinic began taking dental appointments last August.
SPMHC originally contributed to the cost of writing grant applications to hire a dentist for the clinic. Once a dentist was hired, SPMHC
and the Foundation contributed matching gifts toward the salary of a dental hygienist. Last fall, it became clear that equipment updates were
in critical need and SPMHC donated $20,000 to cover half these costs.
“By helping people access dental care, we help the overall community,” said Carol May, SPMHC’s chief financial officer.
The dental clinic will accept qualified uninsured or underinsured patients who are on Medicare, Medicaid and BadgerCare. Applications
must be completed to determine if a patient qualifies based on income and need. The clinic now has four dentists on staff and is open
frequently, as often as four days a week.
Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital & Clinics, Prairie du Sac
Aurora Walker’s Point Community Clinic
Founded in 1992, Aurora Walker's Point Community Clinic (AWPCC) is one of Milwaukee's oldest health clinics for families who do not have
health insurance and cannot afford health care. Located on Milwaukee’s south side, the clinic provides medical services such as general
check-ups, minor injury care, various lab services, children's vaccinations, walk-in blood pressure and blood sugar checks, ophthalmology
and referrals for other medical services. Patients can also take part in diabetes education, spiritual counseling, psychological counseling,
prescription assistance, social services, and adolescent health programs. AWPCC served 3,746 patients in 2013, with 12,859 medical visits,
1,400 mental health visits and more 1,200 social service visits.
E.S. is a young man who arrived at the clinic one morning with a swollen and bruised ankle. At the time, he was a participant of a workstudy program and had no income or medical insurance coverage. When the nurse practitioner examined him, it was determined that his
ankle was badly sprained. The practitioner was able to wrap his ankle properly and provide him with a prescription through the prescription
assistance program to help with the severe pain he was experiencing. Once his ankle healed, E.S. was able to complete his work-study
program and is now employed full-time, insured, and established with a primary care provider.
“Walker’s Point was there for me when I needed help. There was no way that I could afford a visit to the emergency room. I am forever
grateful for the support they gave me.” -E.S.
Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center, Milwaukee
Community Clinic of Door County
The Community Clinic of Door County (CCDC) provides health care services on a sliding fee basis for uninsured patients. The clinic provided
649 medical visits, 333 mental health visits and 429 family planning and reproductive health visits in 2013. Aurora Health Care supports
CCDC by providing an average of $7,000 in lab and diagnostic services for approximately 100 patients annually. Aurora Health Care’s
support of the clinic allows them the tools they need to provide the best care possible for the underserved population of Door County.
A 56-year-old man came to the Community Clinic of Door County complaining of a chronic cough and tightness in his chest. After and
evaluation, the clinic physician diagnosed him with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The physician prescribed medication to
the man and provided him with a rescue inhaler to help manage his symptoms.
The man returned to CCDC three months later for a follow-up with the physician. Before his arrival to the clinic for his follow-up visit,
he went to the outpatient Aurora Health Center in Sturgeon Bay for lab tests to determine whether the medication was affecting his liver
function. The lab forwarded the results to his primary health care physician at the Community Clinic of Door County, who was able to review
the lab results and adjust the man’s medication accordingly. Because of the collaborative partnership that exists between Aurora Health Care
and the Community Clinic of Door County, medical professionals are now able to effectively monitor and manage the patient's COPD.
Aurora Health Care, Milwaukee
Luck and magic help asthma disappear
It might have been (bad) luck that landed Mary at a free asthma clinic in Madison, but she claims
it was magic that gave her a new lease on life.
Mary, who will turn 70 this fall, has suffered from asthma for nearly 50 years. During those
five decades, her condition was never controlled, and breathing was always a struggle. To add
insult to injury, her meager fixed income put expensive medications at the bottom of the priority
list.
In January 2008, Mary was visiting Madison from her home in Neillsville, about three hours
to the northwest. A severe asthma attack put her in St. Mary’s Hospital for three days, and a
staff member recommended she visit the free Dean & St. Mary’s Neighborhood Asthma Clinic.
Through free medication and education provided at the clinic, Mary has been able to keep
her asthma under control – so much so that she calls the clinic “magic.” She further believes
Photo courtesy of St. Mary's Hospital
the clinic saved her life. Thanks to trips with family to visit grandchildren in Madison, she has
become a regular patient at the clinic.
“I never used to be so healthy,” she explains, adding that she feels better now than she did 20 years earlier. “My friends ask me all the
time what I’ve done, and I tell them I go to the Magic Clinic in Madison.”
St. Mary’s Hospital, Madison
Read more about hospitals connecting with their communities at www.WiServePoint.org.
29
N.E.W Community Clinic
For 35 years, the N.E.W. Community Clinic has been providing quality care to the hard-working, low-income, and uninsured people of
Brown County. One of the N.E.W. Community clinic sites includes a pediatric clinic in Green Bay's Nicolet School, where a bilingual, Aurora
pediatrician, provides care. This clinic is a lifeline for children whose families do not have the resources to pay for health services. Without
the clinic, parents may delay care for their child until he or she arrives at a hospital emergency room with a significant health issue that the
clinic can prevent with a simple patient visit.
Aurora BayCare Medical Center, Green Bay
Community Connections Free Clinic
Upland Hills Health annually supports the Community Connections Free Clinic in Dodgeville by offering laboratory tests, imaging procedures
and follow-up care for the patients who receive free care at the free clinic. During the past year, Upland Hills Health has been involved in the
care of 117 patients, including x-rays and follow-up care, without compensation. Additionally, 835 laboratory tests were performed without
charge to the Free Clinic patients.
Phyllis Fritsch, administrator, says, “The local free clinic is a vital part of our community’s health, and Upland Hills Health is honored to
be a part of providing services to the free clinic patients.”
Upland Hills Health, Dodgeville
NEW Dental Clinic
Nationally, tooth decay is four times more common than childhood asthma and seven times more common than hay fever. A recent dental
Medicaid mapping found Brown County to be one of seven counties statewide with less than 20 percent of Medicaid recipients receiving
dental care.
The NEW Dental Clinic at Northeastern Wisconsin Technical College hopes to change that, thanks to support from St. Vincent Hospital,
St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center, Bellin Health and other Brown County health care providers.
Typically, Medicaid recipients receive little or no dental care. And in the Green Bay area there are currently no dentists who accept new
Medicaid clients. Thus, these individuals end up in hospital emergency rooms seeking pain relief. In fact, St. Vincent alone served 504 dental
patients last year; St. Mary’s provided care to another 95 dental patients.
The NEW Dental Clinic, begun in December 2011, has begun seeing these dental patients post-ER visit. Most seek the clinic upon
referral from the ER, just seeking relief from their pain, which, according to NEW Clinic Executive Director Bonnie Kuhr, is just a part of the
overall problem.
Many of the Clinic’s dental patients have never seen a dentist in their entire lives. And so the concerns needing to be addressed are
many. The first step is often treatment of the infection that is causing the immediate pain. Once that is resolved, the tooth can be filled, pulled
or have a root canal, depending on the severity of the problem.
That is only a first step, but one for which patients are very appreciative. They are thankful to have gotten rid of the pain. But that is
generally only the solution for the worst tooth, according to Kuhr. The goal is to gradually address all of the individual’s oral health concerns
and progress to a complete care plan that can be maintained to avoid future issues.
This goal begins with the very first treatment as, never having had oral care, many of the Clinic’s patients do not value it. So care needs
to be provided in the most accepting environment and made as pain-free as possible. Caregivers strive to make a connection with the patient,
give them time to process what needs to be done and to become comfortable with it. In this way, the hope is that they will continue to come
back, not just two or three times, but as many as are needed to resolve their personal mouthful of issues and then for ongoing preventive care.
St. Vincent Hospital/St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center, Green Bay
Free clinic dedicated to aiding community members when they need it most
Unemployed and with no access to health insurance, Gary came to the Albrecht Free Clinic late in 2011 for the first time after he had been
discharged from Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin St. Joseph’s Hospital in West Bend for congestive heart failure and atrial
fibrillation. Gary had a history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia and had been recently diagnosed with diabetes. Under its Chronic Care
program, Albrecht Free Clinic provided the help he so urgently needed with his medications, follow-up appointments, and educational
tools to help him better manage his conditions. A carpenter by trade, Gary was able to regain employment and spend more time with his
granddaughter, something that Gary sorely missed.
Like a majority of the chronically ill patients the clinic supports, patients occasionally lose touch as their condition improves. Gary
returned to the clinic in January of 2014 in need of medication refills. He had been off of his medications for several months and was starting
to feel the effects of his neglect. Three days after the clinic refilled his medications and ordered lab work, he suffered cardiac arrest. St.
Joseph’s stabilized Gary and helped to connect him to its financial assistance program. After his discharge he returned to the Albrecht Free
Clinic. With the help of the certified application counselor, he was approved for BadgerCare and transitioned to the Froedtert and the Medical
College of Wisconsin Health Center West Bend.
The Albrecht Free Clinic has been providing accessible and affordable health care to thousands of qualifying residents needing it most in
Washington County since 1996. Through those years, the clinic has found a strong partner in Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin
St. Joseph’s Hospital, which continues to provide diagnostic exams and most importantly the volunteer hours provided by our internal
medicine and family physicians and nurses who see patients free of charge.
Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin St. Joseph’s Hospital, West Bend
30
2014 Community Benefits Report
L.E. Phillips-Libertas Treatment
Center provides free behavioral
health services
Imagine
"Imagine you joined the military at
18, proudly served 23 years full-time
in the Army
and National Guard. You always supp
orted yourself, your family and exte
nded a
hand to anyone in need. Imagine
after retiring, circumstances changed.
You became
unemployed, were not eligible to rece
ive benefits from the military and you
were
challenged when you found out that
you had a life-threatening medical
condition.
You had no idea where to turn, how
to take on the burden of the illness
and
find the medical help you needed.
If you are a person who has worked
all of your life
and are thinking about retiring som
eday, what would you do if you ende
d up in this
situation?
My best friend Steven is the person
in this situation. I can tell you, he was
not
able to do much. It was too overwhe
lming. Every time he went to the eme
rgency
room or hospital, someone came to
get his personal information and upo
n finding
out he had no insurance, gave him
a business card and asked him to call
the number
on it. The bills kept coming. During
one hospitalization, a Meriter Patie
nt Finance
Coordinator came to speak to Stev
en. She showed genuine compass
ion and concern
for his health. She spoke to me as
a caregiver and told me she had been
a caregiver
for her parents and understood the
stress we both felt. She then gave us
forms to fill
out for financial assistance through
the Meriter.
I must also tell you about his expe
rience at the HEALTH (Helping Edu
cate and
Link the Homeless) clinic. Thank God
Steven found his way there. If not
for this
clinic, his diagnosis would not have
been made until much later. The outr
each nurse
worked diligently to help Steven get
appointments that otherwise may
have taken
weeks or months. This time would
have passed while we learned the
‘uninsured’
world and his prognosis could have
been worse.
Even after medical plans were in plac
e the outreach nurse called to see
how
Steve was doing. Her care and conc
ern for him as a person, not just a
patient,
showed through every time we saw
her or talked to her. Please know how
much her
advice helped us.
It is very difficult knowing where to
turn when you don’t have medical
insurance.
Because of your amazing help, Stev
en’s medical bills from Meriter have
been
covered. Although Steven feels guilt
y and was reluctant to accept this char
ity given to
him, he is thankful to have one thing
—just one thing not to worry abou
t.
Thank you for this gift. Steven can
continue to fight for his life while bein
g cared
for by some of the most compassiona
te and knowledgeable medical staff
ever seen at
one of the world class medical facil
ities."
It started with just a spark – an idea that
would grow into something wonderful for
the community. When the state’s budget
began to dwindle and the Chippewa
County Department of Human Services
needed to cut back, most of the prevention
services were pulled, said Rhonda Brown,
Director of Chippewa Health Improvement
Partnership at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
That’s when St. Joseph’s Hospital
stepped in by paying a handful of
colleagues to oversee a mental health
program that would be offered free of
charge.
The Open Door Clinic in Chippewa
Falls was attempting to provide that
service, but the clinic’s volunteer
retired psychiatrist, Dr. Bruce Rhoades,
couldn’t keep up with demand.
When Brown learned that
Rhoades was seeing nearly 15 people
in four hours for mental health issues,
she knew the doctor wouldn’t be able
to keep up that pace for long.
“I went to administration (at
the hospital) and said, ‘We have to
provide (free) mental health services
… we have to support the good work
that Dr. Rhoades does at the clinic.”
Less than six months later, in
July 2011, L.E. Phillips-Libertas
Treatment Center – an affiliate of
St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa
Falls – began seeing its first patients
Meriter UnityPoint Health, Madison
screened at the Open Door Clinic.
The goal is to provide the service
for free to patients who meet
established eligibility criteria of the Open Door Clinic.
Unpaid Masters-level interns who are in their final year of schooling to become
therapists, and who need a set amount of clinical hours before they are certified, see Chippewa County citizens who
have little or no access to behavioral health services because of cost.
The Treatment Center started with two interns. Depending on the time of year, the Treatment Center could have up to four interns at a
time. Those students are supervised by Jon Snider, psychologist and Mental Health Clinical Supervisor at the Treatment Center, who is paid
by St. Joseph’s to oversee the interns’ work.
The process to get mental health services to people in need is a fairly simple one.
“They are treated like everyone else that walks through our doors,” Snider said.
The Treatment Center has seen about 15 patients in this program a week, which equates to more than 750 patients in a year,
Snider said.
In the last three St. Joseph’s Hospital Community Needs Assessment surveys since 2006, residents identified mental health services as a
top need in Chippewa County.
L.E. Phillips-Libertas Treatment Center, St. Joseph’s Hospital and the Open Door Clinic are working to fill that need by supporting the
operating costs of the center and the staffing that it takes to run and track the program, which amounts to between $7,000 and $11,000 a
year.
St. Joseph’s Hospital, Chippewa Falls
Read more about hospitals connecting with their communities at www.WiServePoint.org.
31
Expanded school nurse program has life-changing impact on students’ health
“I thought he’d die from an asthma attack.” Chris Keim, a nurse from Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin’s Community Health School Nurse
Program, shared the story of a third grade student she worked with at Hopkins Lloyd Community School in Milwaukee. “He was to the point
where his mother was calling 911 and going to the hospital to manage the asthma,” said Keim. “Now, he has an understanding of what his
medications are and what they’re used for. He knows what to do and how to take his meds. He now swims – before he needed an inhaler
after walking up the stairs.”
Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting Milwaukee’s central city students. Unfortunately, many of these students
and their parents don’t know how to properly manage the disease. Keim’s story of this third grader illustrates how Children’s Hospital’s
Community Health School Nurse Program is working to address students’ immediate health needs as well as issues impacting their overall
wellness.
When students are in pain or not feeling well, they don’t perform well in school, which can limit them from developing to their fullest
potential. Children’s Hospital provides eight full-time registered nurses and a full-time manager at designated Milwaukee Public Schools at
no charge to the schools. The nurses work in partnership with the school to implement the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s
coordinated school health model, which means they take a more active role with the school staff and administration, students and students’
parents to improve the health of all students. Children’s Hospital’s school nurses attend to both the student’s immediate health needs and
education of children, families and staff about preventive care. “Because nurses now spend the entire day in one school, every school day,
they have time to really work with families, building relationships and trust,” said Sara Siedenburg, school health nurse manager, Children’s
Hospital.
Community Health School Nurse Program nurses are trained in disease prevention. They provide direct care to students and screenings,
including vision and hearing. For chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, seizures or sickle cell anemia, they monitor students’ lifestyles
and recommend ways they can better manage their illnesses. The nurses also coordinate care with physicians, social workers and insurance
companies.
In addition to direct care, the nurses collaborate with Children’s Hospital’s Community Health Outreach Education staff to lead,
coordinate and support the activities of each school wellness team. Made up of principals, teachers, staff, parents and students, school
wellness teams work to set the health priorities for the school community. Together they develop a plan to achieve specific health goals in
areas of improvement as identified by the CDC’s School Health Index. Examples include staff wellness initiatives, health education and fresh
fruit and vegetable programs.
“We’re taking a comprehensive look at the school environment and working in partnership with administrators, teachers, students and
families to make changes that will impact overall health,” said Siedenburg.
“Many of the kids have so many health issues that it’s hard for them to learn,” Keim said. “We have a responsibility to be an advocate
for the kids. We want families to get the resources and the help they need so that they help their children lead healthy lives.” Children’s school
nurse program is one of the many strategies that Children’s is implementing to improve the health status of children throughout Wisconsin.
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
32
2014 Community Benefits Report
WHA Community Benefit Survey
FY 2013 Financial Summary
Surveys representing 135 hospitals (100%)
Community Benefits
Charity Care at Cost
$328,529,991
Medicaid Shortfalls
$967,736,397
Losses on Other Public Programs
$45,335,076
Subsidized Health Services
$102,086,775
Nursing Home Losses
Benefit Category
$12,993,798
Participants or Units
Community Health Improvement Services
5,749,667
$32,127,428
Community Based Clinical Services
271,776
$17,052,752
Health Care Support Services
627,114
$19,602,492
10,570
$1,967,164
Total Community Health Improvement Services
6,659,127
$70,749,836
Cash or In-Kind Donations
Community Health Education
Social & Environmental Improvement Activities
5,143,096
$30,019,398
Loss on Health Professions Education/Workforce
54,910
$193,512,637
Loss on Research
15,594
$18,586,586
Community Building Activities
2,247,843
$6,537,071
Community Benefit Operations
1,650,066
$6,179,809
TOTAL COMMUNITY BENEFITS*
$1,782,267,374
* WHA has elected to follow CHA Community Benefit Guidelines, which excludes Medicare shortfalls and bad debt expense from
the community benefit calculation. The statewide estimate for Medicare shortfalls was $1,085,936,499 and bad debt at cost was
275,827,750 using 2013 data.
October 2014
about
hospitals
connecting
communities
at www.WiServePoint.org.
ReadRead
moremore
about
hospitals
connecting
withwith
theirtheir
communities
at www.WiServePoint.org.
For a national perspective on the value that hospitals bring to their communities,
we encourage you to visit www.caringforcommunities.org.
If you would like to learn more about Wisconsin hospitals connecting to their communities,
visit www.WiServePoint.org.
Wisconsin Hospital Association, PO Box 259038, Madison, WI 53725-9038
608-274-1820 / Fax: 608-274-8554 / www.wha.org / www.WiServePoint.org
10-2014TP500