Category Archives: Community Benefits

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Rush Provides $220 Million in Community Benefits

The majority of Rush’s community investment, more than $143 million, covered costs for unreimbursed but much needed care that Rush provides to its patients.

Rush University Medical Center and its affiliated Rush Oak Park Hospital provided more than $220 million in community benefits in fiscal year 2011 — an increase of roughly $20 million from the previous year.

The majority of Rush’s investment in the community, more than $143 million, covered costs for unreimbursed but much needed care that Rush provides to its patients. That includes charity care and financial assistance, which totaled more than $18 million, and subsidized care for Medicare and Medicaid patients, which totaled more than $86 million. Rush is among the top 10 hospital providers of Medicaid days in the state. Nearly $39 million were attributed to expected payments that were not made for health services provided by Rush, also known as forgiven or bad debt.

Rush provided nearly $43 million to support the education and training of future physicians, nurses and allied health workers since tuition and grants do not cover all the costs. In addition, the Medical Center provided more than $18 million to subsidize the costs of biomedical research not covered by private and federal grants.

Rush is able to provide this level of community benefits because it is a not-for-profit organization. Rush reinvests any revenues in excess of expenses back into the organization for needed facilities, equipment and new program support, as well as the activities described above and in its Community Benefits report.

Read the entire news release and Rush’s 2012 community benefits report.

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Free Health Services at Annual Spring Fair

Health services being administered at last year's Spring Into Health and Fitness Fair.

Free health services, including screenings, school physicals, immunizations and health counseling, will be administered to underserved Chicagoans at the eighth annual Rush University Medical Center Spring Into Health and Fitness Fair on Saturday, March 31, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy, a high school in the Pilsen neighborhood at 2520 S. Western Ave. Registration closes at 12:30 p.m.

RU Caring, Rush University’s student-run organization, and Rush University Medical Center, collaborate with local sponsors to provide better access to health care for underserved communities from across the city of Chicago. Organizers hope to reach more than 1,000 people with services at the fair.

The Spring Into Health and Fitness Fair offers free physical health screenings, immunizations, dental and vision assessments and mental health services. Blood glucose, blood pressure and body mass index screenings are performed at the fair.

Rush students from a wide range of disciplines are participating, including medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, audiology, health systems management and clinical laboratory sciences. The students will work under the supervision of Rush attending physicians, nurse practitioners, professional nursing staff and faculty.

Read the entire news release.

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Rush Renews Support of Malcolm X College

Rush University

Rush University Medical Center is providing resources, from equipment donations to clinical rotations and guest lecturers, to nearby Malcolm X College (MXC) in support of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s new College to Careers program, which has been established to ensure Chicago residents are prepared for jobs in high-growth industries.

Rush, which has been partnering with MXC since 2008, is helping to train people for jobs in the health sciences that are available now but remain unfilled due to a skills gap. The agreement allows MXC students to gain valuable experience at Rush through clinical rotations, career ladder programs and other initiatives that had already been in place.

City Colleges are key to Chicago’s economic viability,” said Dr. Larry Goodman, CEO, Rush University Medical Center. “This initiative is crucial not only because it will help ensure a pipeline of qualified workers in the health and medical field, but because we must all contribute  as corporate citizens to ensure that Chicago is a winner as more cities and countries vie for relevance in the world economy.”

MXC students will receive hands-on learning at the cadaver lab at Rush, and they have an opportunity to participate in clinical rotations at Rush in radiology, respiratory care, surgical technology, nursing and emergency medicine.

Continue reading →

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Rush Opens Health Clinic at Simpson Academy

Ribbon-cutting at the Simpson Academy for Young Women.

Chicago city officials, and executives from Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and Rush University Medical Center came together Friday, Jan. 27, at the Simpson Academy for Young Women, a school for pregnant women and young mothers, to mark the third school-based health center operated by the College of Nursing at Rush.

The ribbon-cutting at the Simpson Academy, which is located at 1321 S. Paulina St., was attended by Rush CEO Dr. Larry J. Goodman, CPS CEO Jean-Claude Brizard, Cook County Commissioner Robert Steele, Simpson Academy principal Joi Kidd-Stamps, Alderman Walter Burnett of the 27th Ward, Alderman Bob Fioretti of the 2nd Ward and others.

The Simpson Academy is a small school serving grades six to 12 that accepts students from throughout Chicago. Nurse practitioners from Rush and students from Rush’s College of Nursing provide on-site health and educational services. They also provide services for infants at a daycare center at the school. The aim is to help mothers and expecting mothers remain focused on schoolwork.

This special health service provides an additional type of support to keep these girls on a solid academic track,” said Sally Lemke, RN, an instructor at the Rush College of Nursing at Rush and the lead health care provider at the clinic. “So many of the girls were missing school because of prenatal visits or physical complaints related to their pregnancies. The hope is to increase the attendance rates.”

The health services at the clinic encompass primary care, prenatal care, school and sports physicals and contraceptive services. There is also a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner to provide one-on-one and group sessions with students. A family nurse practitioner provides infants with well-child care, urgent care and immunizations, among other services.

Read the entire news release.

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RU Caring Hosts Annual Back to School Health Fair

Rush University’s voluntary and student-led RU Caring program hosted its seventh annual Back to School Health Fair earlier this month at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School on Chicago’s West Side. Volunteers from Rush performed a record 260 physical exams; examined, cleaned and applied fluoride and sealants to more than 100 children; administered electrocardiograms to 25 patients; provided numerous immunizations, as well as hearing screenings; and distributed more than 400 backpacks filled with school supplies.

Here are a few photos from the event:

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