Advocate makes a difference
Caring for more children, more heart patients, more cancer patients, more stroke patients and more trauma
patients than any other provider in Illinois, Advocate Health Care makes a difference in the lives of more than a
million people a year. The largest health system in the state, it is also one of the very best in the country: U.S.
News & World Report, Truven Health Analytics, the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the Leapfrog
Group are among the many national organizations that have acclaimed Advocate for clinical and operational
excellence.
As a faith-based, not-for-profit organization, Advocate exists to serve—and serve it does: In 2013 Advocate
reported $614 million in community benefit for the previous year. That total included free and discounted charity
care for the uninsured and underinsured, as well as care without full reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid.
It also included dozens of other programs and services that respond to communities’ unique needs—such as
health and wellness screenings, behavioral health services, school-based health care and language-assistance
programs.
Donors make a difference
As large as Advocate Health Care is, the needs of the individuals, families and communities it serves are larger
still—and the cost of meeting those needs exceeds annual operating revenue. For every dollar in patient fees, only
a few cents are left after expenses to reinvest in vital facilities, equipment and programs.
Donors help bridge the gap between what communities need and what Advocate has the resources to provide.
In 2013, more than 18,000 donors collectively gave approximately $34 million to help Advocate extend access to
care, enhance the patient experience, foster innovation and improve health care outcomes. The pages that follow
highlight some of the ways Advocate’s generous donors are making a difference for tens of thousands of people
across Illinois each year.
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