It's important that Meriter remain financially healthy. And it means striking the right balance, because as a not-for-profit, locally governed hospital, we need to generate income greater than expenses to reinvest in the health-related needs of south-central Wisconsin.

How do we reinvest in you? Other than the obvious - an extremely skilled staff and up-to-date equipment and facilities - we positively impact our community's good health through a variety of programs and outreach. Please see the Quality - Community Health and Giving Back sections for more information.

As one of the area's largest private employers, we are a major contributor to a healthy economy. You, the community, are our major stakeholders. That means we must strive to have ample financial resources in order to be prepared - around the clock, every day of the year - should you need us.

For every dollar of revenue Meriter received to provide care in 2007, 84 cents went toward our day-to day operations (staff salaries and benefits, maintaining equipment and facilities, purchasing supplies, staff training, etc.) Our excess revenues, always reinvested in our buildings and equipment, accounted for ten cents of each dollar. And six cents went toward funding community benefits. In 2007, we spent $20,170,150 on community benefits such as subsidized services, charity care and medical education.

Please note: This breakdown does not include the shortfall from Medicaid and other government sponsored public programs (Eldercare Options Program and Tricare-CHAMPUS). If these were included, another $15,379,458 would be counted toward community benefits.

7/27/2009