DCH Foundation, Inc.

What is the DCH Health System?

The DCH Health System is a comprehensive regional health care system serving residents and visitors throughout all of west Alabama. Druid City Hospital opened in 1923. Since that time, the DCH Health System has grown to four campuses (Regional Medical Center, Northport Medical Center, Fayette Medical Center & Pickens County Medical Center. Serving over 13 counties in west Alabama, there are 904 licensed beds and roughly 5,000 employees.

What do you mean when you say that DCH is a not-for-profit hospital?

The term "not-for-profit" is somewhat misleading, because all hospitals must make a profit in order to stay in operation. The difference is that not-for-profit hospitals reinvest their reserve, or the amount of revenue left over after expenses have been paid, back into health care services. For-profit hospitals use some of it to pay dividends to thier stockholders. Also, for-profit hospitals do not usually consider caring for indigent patients as part of their mission.

Public hospitals like the hospitals in the DCH Health System, are owned by citizens of the community. Public hospitals are usually operated by a board appointed by local governing bodies. Private hospitals are owned by groups or individuals who own stock in the hospital. Some other hospitals are owned by church groups or charities.

The DCH Health System is operated by a nine-member board. Two members are appointed by the Tuscaloosa City Council, two by the Tuscaloosa County Commission, one by the Northport City Council, two by the medical staffs of DCH Regional Medical Center and Northport Medical Center and two by the board itself. Terms are for six years.

How does DCH provide educational opportunities for people interested in the health care field?

The DCH Health System provides clinical training sites for students in many health care fields. Much time and effort are put forth by our health care professionals to ensure that these students are well-trained in the fields they have chosen.

Since 1976, DCH Regional Medical Center has helped the College of Community Health Sciences at the University of Alabama graduate more than 260 residents in the Family Practice Residency Program. Many of those physicians are now practicing medicine in West Alabama and in several other areas in Alabama and the Southeast.

"We hope that more and more new family practice physicians will decide to stay in West Alabama, in the state and the Southeast because of the training they receive at DCH Regional Medical Center through our Family Practice Residency Program," said Dr. William Curry, Dean of the College of Community Health Sciences. "Our partnership with DCH Regional Medical Center meets the mission of both the University of Alabama and DCH to train physicians to practice in Alabama."

In addition to medical students, DCH helps train more than 1,500 students each year for careers in:

Radiology.
Nursing.
Medical lab specialties.
Physical therapy.
Occupational therapy.
Pharmacy.
Respiratory therapy.
Nutrition services.
Emergency medical technician.

We also offer internships for students in nonclinical areas, such as patient accounts, marketing, communication and human resources.

For more information about these training opportunities or internships,click here.

Does DCH receive tax dollars to help finance free care to those that can't pay?

DCH Regional Medical Center receives 10 percent of the 2-cent county sales tax to help provide care for residents of Tuscaloosa County who have no money or insurance. In fiscal year 2006, the Regional Medical Center received $4.48 million in sales tax to provide health care for the poor. For every dollar ($1) received, DCH hospitals provided almost $7 in free care.

Although the sales tax money does not nearly cover the cost of free care, the tax support is very important to DCH's financial well-being. Because our major sources of reimbursement -- the federal government and Blue Cross -- pay us based on a set rate rather than billed charges, it would be very difficult for us to make up for the sales tax revenue if it were no longer provided.

Why do DCH hospitals need to maintain a reserve?

Like any business, DCH needs to bring in more than it spends in order to replace equipment, purchase new technology, build new facilities and renovate existing facilities to accommodate new services. Funds are also set aside to cover unexpected needs and to meet credit ratings that allow us to borrow money for major projects at reasonable rates.

What does DCH do to support the community?

DCH provides the community many free health services, such as health screenings and serves as a health education resource as well. DCH supports Adopt-A-School and sponsors the hospital exhibit at the Children's Hands On Museum. DCH encourages employees to become involved in many area civic groups and charities, especially health-related charities.

Is DCH Foundation a charitable non-profit organization?

Yes. The DCH Foundation is a 501C3 tax exempt public charity. This means that all contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

How does the DCH Foundation raise funds?

Funds are raised through charitable donations. The DCH Foundation secures and administers philanthropic giving to The DCH Health System through capital campaigns, annual giving programs, planned giving and special events that take place throughout the year.