By Amy Weber

A Community Cancer Center Capital Campaign Volunteer

April 24, 2007

As you drive around town you might notice the signs. Those little white yard signs with the familiar-shaped green roof symbolizing Fitzgibbon Hospital. “You Can Help,” read the signs.

“Why me?” you may say to yourself. “That hospital makes enough money. Why are they asking the people for help?”

Because Fitzgibbon Hospital doesn’t ordinarily ask the public for help. It’s the other way around. In the course of its operations, it actually “gives away” about half the care it provides absolutely free. In fact, its 2006 Annual Report shows more than 50% of its charges were “underpaid,” unpaid or uncollectible. Yet Fitzgibbon turns no one away when they need care.

Fitzgibbon Hospital is truly one of the few independent, non-public, rural hospitals remaining in our state. Many other Missouri hospitals of like-size are tax-supported or affiliated with large, for-profit corporations. Fitzgibbon is truly independent. While it maintains a “consultive” relationship with Boone Hospital in Columbia, it does not receive direct financial assistance. Nor is Fitzgibbon the recipient of any federal, state or local tax revenues. It is not supported by a public hospital district, sales tax receipts or property tax funds. The only time in history that the hospital has ever asked the community for financial assistance was in the early 1950s, when the old facility on Brunswick underwent a major renovation. Since that time, the hospital has been self-supporting.

Keep in mind that the citizens of Saline County and visitors here pay property or sales taxes to support our schools, to operate the county jail, to fund road maintenance, to operate an ambulance district, to staff a county-wide 911 service, to support a public parks department - including a beautiful aquatic center and a first-class golf course. But not a dime of your tax dollars goes to the hospital, the very institution whose close proximity could mean life or death to you or a loved one.

A public misperception also exists that Fitzgibbon Hospital “makes a profit.”

The hospital’s 501 (c)(3) federally tax exempt status means that no individual “profits” from the hospital operation. Period.

Fitzgibbon must balance its books each year, and any excess funds go back into equipment, salaries, debt retirement, supplies, operational expenses, and “non-covered” or charity care. In fact, Fitzgibbon’s 2006 Annual Report shows more than 50% of total charges for patient care went unpaid – either via “underpayments” from Medicare and Medicaid, which only pays a fixed amount regardless of the charge; steep contractual “discounts” given to managed healthcare and insurance companies in order for Fitzgibbon to be part of their propriety “networks;” and in write-offs to patients who are unwilling or unable to pay their bills.

An additional consideration and sizable expense for the hospital is in employee recruitment costs to lure qualified staff to a rural community. This recruitment expense is likely higher in a small town like Marshall than in a metropolitan area where the pool of skilled medical personnel is larger.

As you consider how your donation might be of help, consider the travel costs alone incurred when patients must drive out of town for oncology services. For the infirmed or elderly, travel is one of the biggest hurdles they face. Asking friends, family and neighbors to assist with the drive is a burden for many. Additionally, many people shop, dine and otherwise spend dollars out of town while they receive their medical care – dollars that, if kept here, would further boost our local economy.

On a personal note, as my husband and I witnessed first-hand the toll that out-of-town care can take, as his dad battled the disease, the Fitzgibbon Hospital Cancer Campaign has taken on a new meaning. I am hopeful that even one of you might read this and decide to support this critical endeavor.

We have all heard the statistics on cancer. We know that it is only a matter of time until each of us is personally challenged in some way to obtain cancer care – either for a friend, a loved one, or for ourselves.

With everyone’s support, we’ll be able to get the care we need right here at home.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Capital Campaign office at (660) 831-1202.