title: Breaking through to improved community health.
abstract: Michigan's nonprofit community hospitals serve the state's citizens in extraordinary ways--regardless of whether anyone pays for that service. In 2001, these community-based organizations provided $885 million in free health care to area residents who were uninsured or otherwise could not pay for it. In addition, the state's nonprofit hospitals contributed more than $276 million in services such as health education, outreach, screening, counseling and free clinics. The total worth of these traditional and nontraditional benefits to Michigan communities in 2001 was a staggering $1.16 billion.
authors.affiliation: Michigan Health & Hospital Association, Lansing, USA. ldicks@mha.org
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dicks
mesh_terms: D001363:Awards and Prizes; D002648:Child; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000592:standards*; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006788:Hospitals, Voluntary / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008824:Michigan; D017664:Uncompensated Care; D014838:Volunteers