By Helena Tavares Kennedy
Sentara released its first Community Benefit Report, reflecting the value their 12 hospitals in Virginia and North Carolina and their Optima Health Plan bring to the communities they serve in charitable care, healthy communities, medical education and career-level employment. The report noted that Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center (SNVMC) spent nearly $32 million in total community benefit and charity care provided to those in need in our region.
SNVMC President Kathie Johnson said, “For the last 45 years, SNVMC has been devoted to our patients and community. Throughout the years, there have been countless changes and significant growth, but the commitment to care, and the commitment to the community we serve, remains as strong as ever. We take our role as a nonprofit healthcare provider very seriously, never turning away anyone in need.”
Examples of how that mission is lived out every day is highlighted in the report and includes SNVMC’s Family Health Connections Mobile vans provide free and sliding scale healthcare to working families 200 percent below the poverty line, who wouldn’t otherwise receive care. The Sentara 3D digital mobile mammography van travels to community sites around Northern Virginia to provide accessible mammograms. Sentara partners with many organizations, such as the National Coalition of 100 Black Women to provide cancer and diabetes awareness, which includes health screenings. Members of the team are also actively involved in community charity activities such as the March of Dimes walk, United Way Day of Caring, ACTS iWalk, and the American Cancer Association, to name a few.
“Thank you for your ongoing trust, confidence and partnership,” said Johnson. “We look forward to working together to create a healthier, stronger community and improve health every day.”
The full report is available here.
Sentara is a progressive and integrated healthcare organization with various locations in Prince William County. They are dedicated to providing leading medical experts, advanced technology and continuous innovation to improve health every day. To find a doctor, call 1-800-Sentara or visit sentara.com.
Helena Tavares Kennedy (hkennedy@princewilliamliving.com) is a contributing writer for Prince William Living.
