Astera Health

TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.

TRI COUNTY HOSPITAL (TCH) LEADS DELIVERY OF HEALTHCARE TO ITS SERVICE AREA THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF 541 EMPLOYEES WHO COORDINATE THESE EFFORTS TO DELIVER QUALITY PATIENT CARE. ALL OF THE TCH FACILITIES OPERATE IN FEDERALLY DESIGNATED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREAS. OUR SERVICE AREAS GENERALLY RANK AMONGST THE MOST ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY CHALLENGED IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WHICH FOLLOW HIGHLIGHT THE COMMITMENT OF TCH TO ITS COMMUNITIES. REQUIREMENTS OF THE IRS COMMUNITY BENEFIT STANDARD FOR TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS ARE INTEGRAL TO TCH'S LARGER CHARITABLE MISSION OF "IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE." TCH IS GOVERNED BY AN INDEPENDENT BOARD INCLUDING COMMUNITY LEADERS, BUSINESS EXPERTS, AND CLINICAL HEALTHCARE EXPERTS AND HAS BEEN PROACTIVELY EVALUATING OPPORTUNITIES TO VOLUNTARILY ADOPT GOVERNANCE BEST PRACTICES TO ENSURE THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO OPERATE WITH THE HIGHEST INTEGRITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY. TRI COUNTY HOSPITAL, A CERTIFIED CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL, OPERATES 25 BEDS AND PROVIDES NEEDED MEDICAL SERVICES AND PATIENT CARE TO ALL PATIENTS REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY. SERVICES INCLUDE INPATIENT, OUTPATIENT, EMERGENCY, SURGICAL, INTENSIVE, OBSTETRICAL, AND PEDIATRIC NURSING CARE. ANCILLARY SERVICES INCLUDE LABORATORY, RADIOLOGICAL, THERAPY SERVICES, CHIROPRACTIC, REHABILITATIVE, AND PHARMACY. TRI-COUNTY HOSPITAL IS THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN THE COMMUNITY, EMPLOYING 541 STAFF DURING 2021. TRI COUNTY HOSPITAL'S UNCOMPENSATED CARE (CHARITY CARE) PROGRAM PROVIDES DISCOUNTED AND FREE SERVICES TO PATIENTS WHO LACK THE RESOURCES TO BE FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HEALTH CARE THEY RECEIVE. THE UNCOMPENSATED CARE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ENSURE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY SERVED BY TCH HAS ACCESS TO NEEDED HEALTHCARE SERVICES. IN 2021, $1,143,644 OF REVENUES WAS DESIGNATED AS CHARITABLE SERVICES. TRI-COUNTY HOSPITAL CARED FOR 923 INPATIENTS FOR A TOTAL 2,539 DAYS OF CARE. ADDITIONALLY, TRI-COUNTY HOSPITAL OPERATES SIX CERTIFIED RURAL HEALTH CLINICS IN AREAS IDENTIFIED BY STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES AS HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREAS. THESE CLINICS EXAMINED AND/OR TREATED 55,918 PATIENTS IN 2021. TOTAL OUTPATIENT ENCOUNTERS FOR 2021 (INCLUDING THE CLINICS) WERE 158,149. TRI-COUNTY HOSPITAL OPERATES A FULL TIME EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND ACCEPTS ALL PATIENTS WHO PRESENT THEMSELVES FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES AT THE FACILITY, SEEING 5,342 PATIENTS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IN 2021. TRI-COUNTY HOSPITAL OPERATES AN AMBULANCE SERVICE WHERE PATIENTS RECEIVE EMERGENT CARE AND TRANSPORTATION BY EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS THAT PROVIDE ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT SERVICES. TCH ALSO OFFERS EMS EDUCATION COURSES FOR THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING SURVIVAL, IMPROVING COMMUNITY AWARENESS, AND INCREASING INDIVIDUAL CONFIDENCE AS A PART OF ITS CHARITABLE MISSION. COURSES OFFERED INCLUDE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN BASIC, FIRST RESPONDER, CPR, AND FIRST AID. TRI-COUNTY HOSPITAL PROVIDES A COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC PROGRAM. COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC IS A PROVISION OF OUTREACH TO PATIENTS AT RISK FOR USING THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL OR INPATIENT HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FOR PRIMARY CARE SERVICES, AND HELPING THEM FIND MORE APPROPRIATE RESOURCES FOR THEIR MEDICAL NEEDS. THE COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC PROGRAM HAD 369 VISITS DURING 2021. TCH ALSO PROVIDES OR PARTICIPATES IN OTHER PROGRAMS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO ITS CHARITABLE MISSION. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IS A PRIORITY INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM; PROVIDING A CLINICAL ROTATION SITE FOR NURSING STUDENTS AND FOR RADIOLOGY AND LABORATORY TECHNICIANS FROM AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGES, PARTICIPATING AS PRECEPTOR SITES FOR MEDICAL SCHOOLS INCLUDING THE RURAL PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATE PROGRAM AND SUMMER INTERNSHIP IN MEDICINE AS WELL AS PROVIDING CAMPUS-BASED PRECEPTOR PHYSICIANS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA-DULUTH AND ST. CLOUD RESIDENCY PROGRAMS, AND HEALTH FAIRS WITH SCREENING OPPORTUNITIES IN ITS SERVICE AREA. TRI-COUNTY HOSPITAL ALSO OPERATES AN ADJUNCT ORGANIZATION (TRI COUNTY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION) WHICH HAS DEVELOPED A LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND GRANT DOLLARS FOR WORTHY CAUSES, AND PROVIDES COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE CONSISTENT WITH IMPROVING THE COMMUNITIES' HEALTH STATUS. TCH ALSO PROVIDES ORGANIZATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO VARIOUS COMMUNITY BASED GROUPS OFFERING PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS. THESE INCLUDE AREAS SUCH AS CANCER, BREAST CANCER, ARTHRITIS, DIABETES, AND OTHERS. TCH PROVIDES SEVERAL AVENUES FOR LOCAL INDIVIDUALS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS. INCLUDED ARE THE HOSPITAL INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT VOLUNTEER SUPPORT PROGRAM, AND VARIOUS ADVISORY COMMITTEES. WE ARE CONTINUALLY THANKED BY THESE INDIVIDUALS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO FEEL NEEDED AND OFFER A PRODUCTIVE OUTLET FOR THEIR TALENTS.DURING 2021, 78 VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED SERVICE TO TCH.