8/30/2016
ALTOONA, Pa., Aug. 30, 2016 – UPMC Altoona provided $41 million in IRS-defined “community benefits” last year, an average of more than $112,000 a day for programs and services to improve the health and quality of life of all the communities UPMC Altoona serves. The $41 million total includes:
• $18.5 million in charity care and unreimbursed amounts for programs for the poor
• $19.8 million in community health programs and donations
• $2.8 million in medical research and education
UPMC Altoona’s contributions were part of UPMC’s $892 million in total community benefits the health system provided during fiscal year 2015 and published recently in the Community Benefits Report 2015-2016 . The report shows UPMC provided nearly 70 percent of western Pennsylvania’s charity care, which is more than double all other hospitals combined, and far exceeds UPMC’s 40 percent share of hospital patients in the region.
UPMC's $892 million in total community benefits includes:
• $313 million in charity care and unreimbursed amounts for programs for the poor
• $217 million in community health programs and donations
• $362 million for medical research and education
“We are more committed than ever to the residents of our region,” said Jerry Murray, president of UPMC Altoona. “Some of our major community health programs and donations throughout the year involve the Healthy Living Club, various health screenings and health fairs, various support and educational groups, and discounted or free prescription drug programs.”
A major community health improvement effort is in collaboration with the Healthy Blair County Coalition. UPMC Altoona is helping to encourage children and adults to eat healthier and be physically active. The hospital’s recent efforts include launching Let’s Move Clair County, an extension of the national Let’s Move campaign, by promoting outreach and education about obesity and diabetes.
“Our role as a tertiary hospital has grown as we continue to regionalize our clinical and community services by sharing programs, resources, technology, physician specialists and other expertise with UPMC Bedford Memorial and others throughout UPMC,” added Murray, who also is the president of UPMC Bedford Memorial.
UPMC Altoona also teaches tomorrow's health professionals through a family medicine residency program, a medical technologist school and relationships with area universities to provide hands-on training to future registered nurses, physical therapists and radiology technologists.
UPMC Altoona has a powerful effect on the local economy with a total annual economic impact of more than $546 million.
