About Us
Presbyterian Healthcare is a not-for-profit health system known for delivering nationally recognized, quality care to residents throughout the region. With five hospitals, an extensive network of primary and specialty care physician practices, as well as outpatient centers and community health outreach programs, Presbyterian lives its mission of improving the health of our community, one person at a time. We are nationally recognized for our commitment to quality and patient safety and are continually ranked among the top hospitals in the country for clinical excellence, as well as physician, employee and patient satisfaction. From our physician partners and clinical staff to our leadership team and support professionals, the Presbyterian Healthcare team is passionate about our vision of delivering a remarkable patient experience in every dimension, every time.
Not-for-Profit Legacy
Presbyterian Hospital has been a not-for-profit healthcare provider since we first opened our doors in 1903. As a tax-exempt organization, we have adopted a charitable mission focused on ensuring that residents of our community have access to the care they need, and we treat all patients regardless of their ability to pay. Instead of paying shareholders, we place our excess funds back into the system, which enables us to add new technology, services and facilities for our patients.
Charity Care Program
As a not-for-profit organization, we provide charity care and other financial assistance for uninsured patients who do not qualify for government coverage in programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. In addition to providing free care, we provide other community benefits such as community outreach, support of free clinics, free mobile health services for needy children and community sponsorships. In 2010, Presbyterian Healthcare's parent company, Novant Health, provided a total of $469 million of community benefit and charity care.
In 2007, we improved patient eligibility requirements for charity care from 200 percent of the federal poverty level to 300 percent. This improvement means that an additional group of patients began qualifying for charity care in 2008 who, prior to that change, might have struggled to pay their bill. A 2010 report issued by the North Carolina Center for Justice recently recognized Novant Health for its charity care program: "An examination of posted charity care policies shows that financial assistance programs vary widely across the state. We can see that Winston-Salem and Charlotte-based Novant Health has the most sound and clear policy of any hospital system in North Carolina. At Novant any uninsured patient with an income level less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level qualifies for a 100 percent discount on hospital bills. This policy recognizes the realities of modern family finances."
Awards and Recognition
Every year, Presbyterian Healthcare, its staff and physician partners, services and facilities receive national awards and recognition for providing quality care. Recent awards include:
- America's 50 Best Hospitals: Presbyterian Hospital was named one of the 50 Best Hospitals in America in 2011 by Becker's Hospital Review based on national rankings for quality patient care. Presbyterian joined the elite 50 best list along with nationally renowned medical centers such as Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic and is the only hospital in the region on the "best hospitals" list for 2011.
- Magnet Designation: Our hospitals achieved national nursing magnet status in 2008. Only five percent of all hospitals nationwide have earned this designation, which recognizes facilities that provide the highest level of nursing care.
- 2008 Earnest A. Codman Award: We received this prestigious honor for improving system-wide quality and safety of care patient care. Novant staff was recognized for successful efforts to improve hand hygiene compliance which resulted in a 53 percent reduction in hospital methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection rates across the organization.
- 2008 Commission on Cancer Outstanding Achievement Award: Presbyterian Cancer Center
- 2008 VHA Leadership Awards: Presbyterian Hospital and Presbyterian Hospital Matthews
- 2008 Award for Excellence in Medication Use Safety by the American Society for Health System Pharmacies: Safe Med, Novant Medical Group's medication reconciliation program
- Chest Pain Center and Primary Stroke Center Designations: All three of Presbyterian Healthcare's acute care hospitals have achieved the highest level of Accredited Chest Pain Center and Primary Stroke Center designations.