SSM HEALTH BUSINESSES

SINCE IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1872 BY CATHOLIC SISTERS, SSM HEALTH (SSMH) HAS EXISTED TO MEET THE HEALTH NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES. SSMH IS A CATHOLIC, NOT-FOR-PROFIT HEALTH SYSTEM SERVING THE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH NEEDS OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE MIDWEST THROUGH ONE OF THE LARGEST INTEGRATED DELIVERY SYSTEMS IN THE NATION. WITH CARE DELIVERY SITES IN ILLINOIS, MISSOURI, OKLAHOMA, AND WISCONSIN, SSMH INCLUDES 23 ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS, ONE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, MORE THAN 650 PHYSICIAN OFFICES AND OTHER OUTPATIENT AND VIRTUAL CARE SERVICES, 12 POST-ACUTE FACILITIES, COMPREHENSIVE HOME CARE AND HOSPICE SERVICES, A PHARMACY BENEFIT COMPANY, AND AN ACCOUNTABLE CARE ORGANIZATION. THE HEALTH SYSTEM EMPLOYS NEARLY 40,000 PEOPLE AND IS AFFILIATED WITH 13,900 PHYSICIANS MAKING IT ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN EVERY COMMUNITY IT SERVES. IN THE TRADITION OF ITS FOUNDING SISTERS, SSMH STRIVES TO FULFILL ITS MISSION BY PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL HEALTH CARE TO EVERYONE WHO COMES TO ITS HOSPITALS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. DESCRIBE THE TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSE ACHIEVEMENTS: SSM INTEGRATED HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES DIVISION (SSMIHT) WORKS CLOSELY WITH SSM HOSPITALS TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN THEIR HEALTH CARE MINISTRY, INCLUDING PROVIDING TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE TO THEIR HEALTH COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AS APPROPRIATE. SSMIHT HAS ONE PRIMARY SERVICE, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IHT), WHICH PROVIDES THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF MAINTENANCE, EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT, AND TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT. THIS SERVICE ENABLES SSM CAREGIVERS TO PROVIDE SAFE AND RELIABLE SERVICE TO OUR PATIENTS. THESE SERVICES AID IN REDUCING COST OF THE HEALTHCARE SERVICES OF SSM MINISTRIES. IHT SUPPORTS ALL THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS, TELECOMMUNICATION AND NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ALL OF SSM. THIS INCLUDES SUPPORT OF A WIDE RANGE OF APPLICATIONS. CLINICAL APPLICATIONS PROVIDE THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS USED BY THE ACUTE CARE FACILITIES TO SERVE SSM'S PATIENTS AND INCLUDE A FULLY INTEGRATED ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD, PATIENT REGISTRATION, PATIENT ACCOUNTING, PHYSICIAN CONNECTIVITY, AND MULTIPLE OTHER APPLICATIONS. ALSO INCLUDED IN THE CLINICAL SYSTEMS GROUP ARE APPLICATIONS UTILIZED BY OUR NON-ACUTE CARE USERS AND INCLUDE A HOME HEALTH AND A PHYSICIAN PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPLICATIONS PROVIDE THE BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEMS REQUIRED BY SSM TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE OPERATIONS. INCLUDED IN THIS GROUP OF PRODUCTS IS AN ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING (ERP) SYSTEM, WHICH INCLUDES FINANCIAL, MATERIALS MANAGEMENT AND HR/PAYROLL COMPONENTS. SOME APPLICATIONS, SUCH AS DECISION SUPPORT MODELS AND BENCHMARKING SOFTWARE, ARE UTILIZED BY BOTH THE CLINICAL AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPLICATIONS. SSMIHT PROVIDES THE APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY AND HARDWARE INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED TO SUPPORT THESE APPLICATIONS. IN ADDITION TO MAINTAINING AND MONITORING COMPUTER OPERATIONS, THIS GROUP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NETWORK MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTATION, AND ASSURING THE SECURITY AND INTEGRITY OF THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS. THESE SERVICES PROVIDE THE IT INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS THAT ALLOW THE INFORMATION APPLICATIONS TO PROCESS AND FUNCTION OPTIMALLY. TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING IS ALSO A FUNCTION PROVIDED BY THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS STAFF. SSMIHT'S SOLE PURPOSE IS PROVIDING SERVICE TO SSM FACILITIES TO CARRY OUT THE MISSION OF SSM. BY LINKING PATIENT DIAGNOSTIC AND MONITORING SYSTEMS WITH ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS, SSMIHT WORKS TO IMPROVE PATIENT SAFETY BY BRINGING CRITICAL INFORMATION DIRECTLY TO THE BEDSIDE. SSMIHT SERVICES ALSO HELP TO INCREASE PHYSICIAN AND NURSE PRODUCTIVITY BY REDUCING PAPERWORK AND STREAMLINING WORKFLOWS. SSM HOME CARE STRIVES TO PROVIDE HOLISTIC AND FAMILY-CENTERED CARE. SSM HOME CARE BRINGS HEALING HEALTH CARE SERVICES INTO THE HOMES OF OUR PATIENTS, WHERE FAMILY SUPPORT AND FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS CAN TRULY ENHANCE RECOVERY AND HEALING. SSM HOME CARE PROVIDES A VARIETY OF HOME CARE SERVICES TO MEET A VARIETY OF NEEDS -WHEN EXTENDED CARE IS REQUIRED AFTER A HOSPITAL STAY, AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO A HOSPITAL ADMISSION, OR INSTEAD OF A NURSING HOME OR ALTERNATIVE CARE SETTING. OUR SERVICES CAN BE ARRANGED QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY BY A SINGLE PHONE CALL AND REFERRALS CAN BE MADE BY PHYSICIANS, CASE MANAGERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS, OR BY REQUEST FROM THE PATIENT. THE HEALING SERVICES WE OFFER AT SSM HOME CARE INCLUDE SKILLED NURSING CARE, PALLIATIVE CARE, HOME HEALTH AIDES/NURSE ASSISTANTS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, SPEECH-LANGUAGE THERAPY, NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING, CHRONIC DISEASE AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT, AND MEDICAL SOCIAL WORK. SSM HOSPICE PROVIDES HOSPICE CARE AT A TIME WHEN CARING, COMFORT, ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL KIND OF HEALING ARE NEEDED. IT IS A VERY SPECIAL WAY OF CARING FOR PEOPLE WITH A LIMITED LIFE EXPECTANCY. HOSPICE ALSO PROVIDES COMFORT AND GUIDANCE TO CARE GIVERS, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF THE PATIENT. HOSPICE CARE GIVES INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR CARE GIVERS A COMFORTING ALTERNATIVE TO THE TRADITIONAL HOSPITAL SETTING, MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR THE TERMINALLY ILL PERSON TO REMAIN AT HOME OR IN OTHER FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS. THE EMPHASIS OF SSM HOSPICE IS ON PRESERVING THE DIGNITY AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT WHICH INCLUDES RELIEF FROM EMOTIONAL, SPIRITUAL, AS WELL AS PHYSICAL PAIN. THE SSM HOSPICE TEAM IS RECOGNIZED FOR OUR COMPASSIONATE APPROACH AND QUALITY NURSING CARE. THE TEAM CONSISTS OF REGISTERED NURSES, COUNSELORS, PASTORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, HOME HEALTH AIDES, AND VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL CARE. SSM HOME CARE WILL STRIVE TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO ALL PERSONS IN NEED REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. ALL BILLING AND COLLECTION POLICIES AND PRACTICES WILL REFLECT THE MISSION AND VALUES OF SSMH, INCLUDING OUR SPECIAL CONCERN FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR AND VULNERABLE. CHARITY CARE IS PROVIDED TO PATIENTS BASED ON A SLIDING SCALE FOR HOUSEHOLD INCOMES UP TO FOUR TIMES THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. PATIENTS WHOSE HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS NOT MORE THAN TWO TIMES THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE HOSPITAL SERVICES. IN ADDITION, AN EXCEPTION TO THE SLIDING SCALE IS PROVIDED FOR A PATIENT'S BALANCE DUE IF THE AMOUNT IS TOO LARGE TO BE REASONABLE PAID THROUGH AN INSTALLMENT PLAN OVER FOUR YEARS GIVEN THE FAMILY INCOME AND EXPENSES. DESCRIPTION OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT PROGRAMS: SSM HOSPICE BEREAVEMENT PROGRAM - BEREAVEMENT COUNSELORS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO SURVIVORS FOR THIRTEEN MONTHS AFTER THE PATIENT HAS DIED. BEREAVEMENT SERVICES INCLUDE TELEPHONE CALLS, VISITS, LETTERS, SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS AND INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING. BY RESPECTING INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES AND CULTURAL INFLUENCES THAT SURROUND GRIEVING, OUR TEAM PROMOTES A POSITIVE, HEALING EXPRESSION OF GRIEF CONSISTENT WITH SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS EXPECTATIONS. REDUCING HOSPITAL READMISSIONS INITIATIVE - THE INITIATIVE INCLUDES THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES TO REDUCE HOSPITAL READMISSIONS WITHIN 30 DAYS OF DISCHARGE. HOME HEALTH DISEASE MANAGEMENT AND HOME CONNECTION PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED FOR PATIENTS WITH SPECIFIC DIAGNOSES WITHIN SSM HOSPITALS WHOSE POST-HOSPITAL CARE IS PROVIDED BY SSM HOME CARE. BOTH PROGRAMS SUPPORT THE TRANSITION OF CARE FROM HOSPITAL TO HOME. SSM HOME CARE AND HOME CONNECTION PROGRAMS TEACH PATIENTS HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. THE PROGRAMS USE THE TECHNIQUES OF THE EVIDENCE-BASED CHRONIC CARE MODEL, WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO IMPROVE PATIENT CARE AND CONTROL COSTS. SSM HOME CARE STAFF CLARIFY HOSPITAL DISCHARGE MEDICATIONS IN THE HOME, MAKE SURE PATIENTS ARE TAKING MEDICATIONS AS PRESCRIBED AND ARE RESPONDING TO MEDICATIONS CORRECTLY; ASSESS HOME SAFETY; LOOK FOR OBSTACLES THAT MIGHT INTERFERE WITH HEALING AND TEACH SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF EXACERBATIONS TO PREVENT HOSPITAL READMISSION. OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFIT ACTIVITIES - HOME CARE - GRIEF SUPPORT SERVICES ACROSS THE COMMUNITIES SERVED AND EDUCATION ON END OF LIFE CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES. OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFIT ACTIVITIES - IHT -STAFF TIME WAS DEDICATED TO MEETINGS, TRAINING NEW TEAM MEMBERS, RUNNING REPORTS, DEVELOPING ONLINE COURSES, DEVELOPING PRESENTATION MATERIAL, AND FACILITATING BREAKOUT TRAINING SESSIONS ON COMMUNITY BENEFIT REPORTING. STAFF MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN VARIOUS COMMUNITY EVENTS INCLUDING HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, VOLUNTEERING WITH THE RIVER FOOD PANTRY, SUPPORT DOGS, THE UNITED WAY, AND BLOOD DRIVES. QUANTIFIABLE UNCOMPENSATED CARE: THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE TYPES OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT COULD BE INCLUDED AS UNCOMPENSATED CARE: CHARITY $42,929 MEDICAID $3,067,400UNPAID COST OF OTHER MEANS-TESTED GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS $67,388 TOTAL QUANTIFIABLE UNCOMPENSATED CARE $3,177,718