Mountain View, CA - June 19, 2013-- Last night, the El Camino Healthcare District Board of Directors unanimously approved the consolidated budget for the District and ratified the hospital's budget for Fiscal Year 2014, which begins on July 1. The consolidated budget for the hospital and all entities under the District estimates a net income of $83 million. The hospital's budget was approved last week by the Hospital Board of Directors. The District Board also approved the Community Benefit plans for both the hospital and the District, which combined, will provide more than $8 million in grants and sponsorships to community organizations filling critical health needs and providing services to those in the community with limited or no access to healthcare.
"This past fiscal year, we have worked hard to maintain a high level of financial strength to ensure the continued delivery of quality care to the community we serve," said John Zoglin, chairman of the El Camino Healthcare District Board of Directors. "In the coming fiscal year, we will continue to focus on enhancing the well-being of the community through programs and initiatives that address the continuum of care through innovative partnerships with physicians, businesses and payers."
The Community Benefit program, which is administered separately by the District and hospital, develops its strategy following the triennial community health needs assessment, which identifies core areas of need within the community. Based on the findings, the Community Benefit Advisory Council prioritized four areas of need in the coming year: healthcare access, mental health, obesity reduction and health literacy. The grants from both the District and the hospital focus on organizations that concentrate on these areas. In FY14, the District will provide $6.6 million in grants and the hospital will provide $1.6 million.
"The Community Benefit program is a crucial part of the District's mission to provide healthcare services to all who live within its boundaries," continued Zoglin. "Through a thorough assessment of needs, a careful selection of partners and rigorous reporting requirements, we can ensure that healthcare gaps are being filled and critical services are being provided to those who need them most."
A comprehensive overview of the District budget and community benefit plan can be found on the District web site. A similar overview on the hospital's budget and Community Benefit program can be found on the hospital's web site.
Also signaling the start of the new fiscal year, the District Board of Directors elected its new officers, which will take effect July 1. Patricia Einarson, MD, will be the incoming Board Chairman, taking over for John Zoglin. Julia Miller will become the next Vice Chair, and Dennis Chiu will become the new Secretary.
El Camino Hospital is an acute-care, 443-bed, nonprofit and locally governed organization with campuses in Mountain View and Los Gatos, Calif. In addition to state-of-the-art emergency departments, key medical specialties include heart and vascular, cancer care, urology, orthopedic and spine, genomic medicine, and the only Women's Hospital in Northern California. The hospital is recognized as a national leader in the use of health information technology and wireless communications, and has been awarded the Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center as well as back-to-back ANCC Magnet Recognitions for Nursing Care.
The El Camino Hospital District was established by voter approval in 1956 in accordance with California Local Hospital District Law. The purpose of the District is to establish, maintain and operate or provide assistance in the operation of health facilities and other health care services provider, groups and organizations that are necessary for the maintenance of good physical and mental health in the communities served by the District. The District, now known as El Camino Healthcare District, encompasses most of Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills; a large portion of Sunnyvale, and small sections of Cupertino, Santa Clara, and Palo Alto. The publicly elected El Camino Healthcare District Board of Directors approves tax dollar expenditures, including expenditures for the award winning Community Benefit program. Community Benefit funds are granted each year to local nonprofits, schools and government programs that provide critical health services to the underserved. All District Board meetings are publicly noticed, open to the public, and available for viewing on the District website.