Memorial Hermann Community Benefit Corporation

Programs

1. Addressing the need for a "medical home" for the uninsured and underinsured, Memorial Hermann Community Benefits partners with five school districts, Houston--the largest in Texas, Pasadena, Lamar Consolidated, Alief and Aldine for its Health Centers for Schools program designed to provide a "medical home" for uninsured children and a secondary access point for insured children, grades k-12th. The Health Centers for Schools program provides primary healthcare, mental healthcare, nutritional care, navigation support and dental care to medically underserved, at-risk children. The program began in 1996 with two school-based health centers servicing three schools. Today, Memorial Hermann operates Health Centers on-site at nine campuses in the greater Houston area providing access to healthcare for students at 80+ schools. "Feeder" patterns are accommodated, making it possible for a child to receive continuity of care from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. All services are provided at no cost to families. The Health Centers for Schools operate Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, 12 months a year. The primary goal of the Health Centers for Schools program is to bring…

   $5,842,102 spent$1,780 earned by the program
   31% of program spending

2. Compounded by texas' lack of medicaid expansion, are people who cannot afford private insurance; who are eligible but not enrolled in government sponsored programs, and who are recent or undocumented immigrants. A growing number obtain their health care in ers. A houston study conducted by the university of tx school of public health indicated that roughly 46% of er visits are used for non er conditions. In november, 2008, when uninsured rates for the nation and the houston area were 15% and 32%, respectively, the Memorial Hermann Community Benefit Corporation launched a patient navigation program to address primary care related er use at memorial hermann southwest hospital. Overall objectives were and continue to be: (1) to connect patients with medical homes that are the right location, the right cost, the right hours of operation, and the correct services for each individual; (2) to reduce primary care related er use; and (3) to reduce primary care related costs, at least to the point of covering the cost of the program. Today, er navigators are located in all memorial hermann health system ers. The study design is based on pre/post data; and the intervention includes patient…

   $8,616,770 spentof which $77,752 as grants
   46% of program spending

3. According to an emergency department use study, published in June 2013 and conducted by the university of Texas school of public health, 46% of all patients treated and released from emergency rooms in Houston were treated for primary care related illnesses or injuries. Based on this data which represents a consistent trend, the Memorial Hermann Health System Nurse Triage Center dba the Nurse Health Line was established and designed to improve access to care and ensure more efficient use of the emergency rooms in Harris and the surrounding counties. The study highlights the need for patient education about appropriate emergency department use. Healthcare consumers are uncertain about where and when to go for treatment. The Medicaid 1115 waiver DSRIP program allowed Memorial Hermann to launch and operate a 24-hour nurse triage call center to assist patients with their level of care decisions. The goal of the program is to be a regional resource that Houstonians can call to discuss their health concerns, receive recommendations on the appropriate setting for care, and connect to appropriate resources. The call center is staffed with registered nurses and certified CHWs 24/7 and is…

   $4,076,680 spentof which $1,100,753 as grants
   22% of program spending

4. Support of Community Health Centers

   $285,000 spentof which $285,000 as grants
   2% of program spending

The 4 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $18,820,552.