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Eureka Community Benevolent Hospital Association

Eureka Community Health Services
200 J Ave
Eureka, SD 57437
Bed count4Medicare provider number431308Member of the Council of Teaching HospitalsNOChildren's hospitalNO
EIN: 460246437
Display data for year:
Community Benefit Spending- 2021
(as % of functional expenses, which all tax-exempt organizations report on Form 990 Schedule H)
10.05%
Spending by Community Benefit Category- 2021
(as % of total functional expenses)
* = CBI denoted preventative categories
Community Benefit Spending Compared to Functional Expenses, 2010-2021
Additional data

Community Benefit Expenditures: 2021

  • All tax-exempt organizations file a Form 990 with the IRS for every tax year. If the tax-exempt organization operates one or more hospital facilities during the tax year, the organization must attach a Schedule H to Form 990. On Part I of Schedule H, the organization records the expenditures it made during the tax year for various types of community benefits; 9 types are shown on this web tool. By default, this web tool presents community benefit expenditures as a percentage of the organization’s functional expenses, which it reports on Form 990, Part IX, Line 25, Column A. (The more commonly heard term, ‘total operating expenses’, which organizations report to CMS, is generally about 90% of the ‘functional expenses’). The user may change the default to see the dollar expenditures.

    • Operating expenses$ 4,643,985
      Total amount spent on community benefits
      as % of operating expenses
      $ 466,773
      10.05 %
  • Amount spent in the following IRS community benefit categories:
      • Financial Assistance at cost
        as % of operating expenses
        $ 11,959
        0.26 %
        Medicaid
        as % of operating expenses
        $ 21,879
        0.47 %
        Costs of other means-tested government programs
        as % of operating expenses
        $ 0
        0 %
        Health professions education
        as % of operating expenses
        $ 0
        0 %
        Subsidized health services
        as % of operating expenses
        $ 431,798
        9.30 %
        Research
        as % of operating expenses
        $ 0
        0 %
        Community health improvement services and community benefit operations*
        as % of operating expenses
        Note: these two community benefit categories are reported together on the Schedule H, part I, line 7e.
        $ 1,137
        0.02 %
        Cash and in-kind contributions for community benefit*
        as % of operating expenses
        $ 0
        0 %
        Community building*
        as % of operating expenses
        $ 0
        0 %
    • * = CBI denoted preventative categories
    • Community building activities details:
        • Did tax-exempt hospital report community building activities?Not available
          Number of activities or programs (optional)0
          Physical improvements and housing0
          Economic development0
          Community support0
          Environmental improvements0
          Leadership development and training for community members0
          Coalition building0
          Community health improvement advocacy0
          Workforce development0
          Other0
          Persons served (optional)0
          Physical improvements and housing0
          Economic development0
          Community support0
          Environmental improvements0
          Leadership development and training for community members0
          Coalition building0
          Community health improvement advocacy0
          Workforce development0
          Other0
          Community building expense
          as % of operating expenses
          $ 0
          0 %
          Physical improvements and housing
          as % of community building expenses
          $ 0
          Economic development
          as % of community building expenses
          $ 0
          Community support
          as % of community building expenses
          $ 0
          Environmental improvements
          as % of community building expenses
          $ 0
          Leadership development and training for community members
          as % of community building expenses
          $ 0
          Coalition building
          as % of community building expenses
          $ 0
          Community health improvement advocacy
          as % of community building expenses
          $ 0
          Workforce development
          as % of community building expenses
          $ 0
          Other
          as % of community building expenses
          $ 0
          Direct offsetting revenue$ 0
          Physical improvements and housing$ 0
          Economic development$ 0
          Community support$ 0
          Environmental improvements$ 0
          Leadership development and training for community members$ 0
          Coalition building$ 0
          Community health improvement advocacy$ 0
          Workforce development$ 0
          Other$ 0

    Other Useful Tax-exempt Hospital Information: 2021

    • In addition to community benefit and community building expenditures, the Schedule H worksheet includes sections on what percentage of bad debt can be attributable to patients eligible for financial assistance, and questions on the tax-exempt hospital's debt collection policy. When searching a specific tax-exempt hospital in this web tool, Section II provides information about bad debt and the financial assistance policy, and whether the state in which the tax-exempt hospital resides has expanded Medicaid coverage under the federal ACA.

      • Of the tax-exempt hospital’s overall operating expenses, amount reported as bad debt
        as % of operating expenses
        $ 549,923
        11.84 %
        Is the tax-exempt hospital considered a "sole community hospital" under the Medicare program?NO
    • Information about the tax-exempt hospital's Financial Assistance Policy and Debt Collection Policy

      The Financial Assistance Policy section of Schedule H has changed over the years. The questions listed below reflect the questions on the 2009-2011 Schedule H forms and the answers tax-exempt hospitals provided for those years. The Financial Assistance Policy requirements were changed under the ACA. In the future, as the Community Benefit Insight web site is populated with 2022 data and subsequent years, the web tool will also be updated to reflect the new wording and requirements. In the meantime, if you have any questions about this section, we encourage you to contact your tax-exempt hospital directly.

      • Does the organization have a written financial assistance (charity care) policy?YES
        Did the tax-exempt hospital rely upon Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) to determine when to provide free or discounted care for patients?YES
        Amount of the tax-exempt hospital’s bad debt (at cost) attributed to patients eligible under the organization’s financial assistance (charity care) policy
        as % of operating expenses
        $ 91,837
        16.70 %
    • Did the tax-exempt hospital, or an authorized third party, take any of the following collection activities before determining whether the patient was eligible for financial assistance:
      • Reported to credit agencyNot available
    • Under the ACA, states have the choice to expand Medicaid eligibility for their residents up to 138% of the federal poverty guidelines. The Medicaid expansion provision of the ACA did not go into effect until January 2014, so data in this web tool will not reflect each state's current Medicaid eligibility threshold. For up to date information, please visit the Terms and Glossary under the Resources tab.

      • After enactment of the ACA, has the state in which this tax-exempt hospital is located expanded Medicaid?NO
    • The federal poverty guidelines (FPG) are set by the government and used to determine eligibility for many federal financial assistance programs. Tax-exempt hospitals often use FPG guidelines in their Financial Assistance policies to determine which patients will qualify for free or discounted care.

      • If not, is the state's Medicaid threshold for working parents at or below 76% of the federal poverty guidelines?YES
    • In addition to the federal requirements, some states have laws stipulating community benefit requirements as a result of tax-exemption. The laws vary from state to state and may require the tax-exempt hospitals to submit community benefit reports. Data on this web tool captures whether or not a state had a mandatory community benefit reporting law as of 2011. For more information, please see Community Benefit State Law Profiles Comparison at The Hilltop Institute.

      • Does the state in which the tax-exempt hospital is located have a mandatory community benefit reporting statute?NO

    Community Health Needs Assessment Activities: 2021

    • The ACA requires all 501(c)(3) tax-exempt hospitals to conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) every three years, starting with the hospital's tax year beginning after March 23, 2012. The 2011 Schedule H included an optional section of questions on the CHNA process. This web tool includes responses for those hospitals voluntary reporting this information. The web tool will be updated to reflect changes in these questions on the 2012 and subsequent Schedule H forms.

      • Did the tax-exempt hospital report that they had conducted a CHNA?YES
        Did the CHNA define the community served by the tax-exempt hospital?YES
        Did the CHNA consider input from individuals that represent the broad interests of the community served by the tax-exempt hospital?YES
        Did the tax-exempt hospital make the CHNA widely available (i.e. post online)?YES
        Did the tax-exempt hospital adopt an implementation strategy to address the community needs identified by the CHNA?YES

    Supplemental Information: 2021

    This section presents qualitative information submitted by the hospital, verbatim from the 990H record.
    • Statement of Program Service Accomplishments
      Description of the organization's program service accomplishments for each of its three largest program services, as measured by expenses. Section 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations are required to report the amount of grants and allocations to others, the total expenses, and revenue, if any, for each program service reported.
    • 4A (Expenses $ 3975297 including grants of $ 600) (Revenue $ 4270438)
      EUREKA COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES AVERA OPERATES A 4-BED ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL, A 10-UNIT ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY AND A CLINIC ALL LOCATED IN EUREKA SOUTH DAKOTA. IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2022 THE RURAL HEALTH CLINIC HAD TOTAL PATIENT VISITS OF 3,829. THE FACILITY HAD 178 ACUTE CARE DAYS, 155 SWING BED DAYS, AND 3,537 ASSISTED LIVING DAYS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2022 WE STARTED DOING MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY INFUSIONS FOR COVID AND THE PAXLOVID ORAL TREATMENT FOR COVID. WE ARE WORKING TO EXPAND OUR E-CONSULT/TELEMEDICINE PROGRAM SO THAT PATIENTS CAN SEE A SPECIALIST CLOSE TO HOME. IN JUNE OF 2022 WE ADDED CRNA SERVICES TO OUR COLONOSCOPY SERVICES.
      Facility Information
      Schedule H (Form 990) Section C. Supplemental Information for Part V, Section B.
      EUREKA COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES
      PART V, SECTION B, LINE 5: THE CHNA PROCESS BEGAN IN THE FALL OF 2021 TO GATHER INFORMATION. QUALITATIVE DATA WAS ALSO COLLECTED FROM FOCUS GROUPS. FIVE FOCUS GROUPS WERE CONDUCTED IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER. ONE FOCUS GROUP INCLUDED RETIRED COMMUNITY LEADERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND FARMERS/RANCHERS. THE SECOND FOCUS GROUP CONSISTED OF THREE LOCAL CLERGY. THE THIRD FOCUS GROUP CONSISTED OF MEDICAL PROVIDERS INCLUDING MD AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS. THE FOURTH GROUP CONSISTED OF NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATOR/CEO OF MEDICAL FACILITY AND THE HOSPITAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES. THE FIFTH AND LARGEST FOCUS GROUP CONSISTED OF 14 VOLUNTEER EMT'S THAT ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY AND WITH OUR ORGANIZATION. THIS FOCUS GROUP INCLUDED THE AMBULANCE SQUAD PRESIDENT, THE COUNTY CORONER, TEACHERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, FARMERS AND MEDICAL PERSONNEL.IN ADDITION TO THE FOCUS GROUPS SEVERAL KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWS WERE ALSO CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE PRESSING COMMUNITY ISSUES. THE INTERVIEWS INCLUDED THE COUNTY SHERIFF, THE CITY FINANCE OFFICER AND THE DIRECTOR OF NURSING AT EUREKA COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES.THE ECHS HOME HEALTH/DSS HOMEMAKING DIRECTOR AND THE MCPHERSON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE WERE ALSO INTERVIEWED TO GATHER INPUT ON THE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY AND THE UNDERSERVED IN OUR COMMUNITY. BOTH OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF THE MOST VULNERABLE AND THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY HEALTH DISPARITIES.SECONDARY DATA COLLECTION INCLUDED RESEARCH OF MCPHERSON COUNTY DEMOGRAPHICS AND HEALTH RELATED STATISTICS AND OBTAINING RELIABLE DATA THROUGH INTERNET RESEARCH. SOURCES OF THIS DATA INCLUDE US CENSUS BUREAU, COUNTY HEALTH RANKINGS & ROADMAPS, US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
      EUREKA COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES
      PART V, SECTION B, LINE 7D: THE COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY ARE AVAILABLE AT HTTPS://WWW.AVERA.ORG/ABOUT/COMMUNITY-HEALTH-NEEDS-ASSESSMENTS/#EUREKA
      EUREKA COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES
      PART V, SECTION B, LINE 11: IN THE MOST RECENT CHNA THE FOLLOWING WERE IDENTIFIED AS THE TOP PRIORITIES:1. RECRUITMENT OF PROVIDERS2. TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENTS/EXPAND E-CONSULT SERVICES3. EDUCATION ON HEALTH CARE SERVICES WE CONTINUE TO RECRUIT FOR AN MD, BUT IT IS PROVING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO RECRUIT AN MD TO A RURAL HOSPITAL. WE ALSO ARE RECRUITING TO ADD ANOTHER MID-LEVEL TO OUR STAFF. WE HAVE BEEN EDUCATING OUR PHYSICIAN AND MID-LEVELS ON THE E CONSULT SERVICES PROVIDED SO THAT PATIENTS DO NOT HAVE TO TRAVEL FAR DISTANCES TO SEE A SPECIALTY PROVIDER. WE HAVE BEEN PROMOTING OUR HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN THE NEWSPAPER, RADIO SHOW, AND FACEBOOK. NO OTHER SIGNIFICANT NEEDS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
      EUREKA COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES
      PART V, SECTION B, LINE 13H: PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY MAY BE USED AS A LAST RESORT.
      EUREKA COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES
      PART V, SECTION B, LINE 24: THE HOSPITAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY DOES NOT COVER ELECTIVE PROCEDURES. THE HOSPITAL MAY HAVE CHARGED FAP ELIGIBLE PATIENTS GROSS CHARGES FOR SERVICES THAT ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY.
      PART V, SECTION B, LINES 16A-C
      THE FAP, FAP APPLICATION, AND FAP SUMMARY ARE AVAILABLE AT:HTTPS://WWW.AVERA.ORG/LOCATIONS/PROFILE/EUREKA-COMMUNITY-HEALTH-SERVICES-AVERA/
      Supplemental Information
      Schedule H (Form 990) Part VI
      PART I, LINE 3C:
      IN ADDITION TO THE USE OF FPG TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR FREE OR DISCOUNTED CARE, ECHS ALSO LOOKS AT THE PATIENT'S INCOME LEVEL, MEDICAL INDIGENCY, INSURANCE AND UNDERINSURANCE STATUS AND ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDICARE/MEDICAID. PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY IS UTILIZED AS A LAST RESORT.
      PART I, LINE 7:
      LINE 7A WAS CALCULATED UTILIZING IRS WORKSHEET 2. LINE 7E WAS OBTAINED UTILIZING THE ACTUAL GENERAL LEDGER SYSTEM. UNREIMBURSED MEDICAID ON LINE 7B WAS CALCULATED USING THE COSTING METHODS TO PREPARE THE COST REPORTS. LINE 7G WAS OBTAINED FROM THE MEDICARE COST REPORT.
      PART I, LINE 7G:
      THE AMOUNT ON LINE 7G INCLUDES RURAL HEALTH CLINIC REVENUE OF $743,432 AND COST OF $891,244 FOR A NET LOSS OF $147,812.
      PART III, LINE 2:
      THE AMOUNT ON LINE 2 REPRESENTS IMPLICIT PRICE CONCESSIONS. THE ORGANIZATION DETERMINES ITS ESTIMATE OF IMPLICIT PRICE CONCESSION BASED ON ITS HISTORICAL COLLECTION EXPERIENCE WITH THIS CLASS OF PATIENTS.
      PART III, LINE 3:
      THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S IMPLICIT PRICE CONCESSIONS ATTRIBUTABLE TO PATIENTS ELIGIBLE UNDER THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITY CARE POLICY IS CALCULATED BASED ON THE PERCENTAGE OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL IN 2021. THEREFORE 16.7% OF IMPLICIT PRICE CONCESSIONS CAN REASONABLY BE CONSIDERED A COMMUNITY BENEFIT AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN OFF TO CHARITY CARE.
      PART III, LINE 4:
      THE FOOTNOTE THAT DESCRIBES IMPLICIT PRICE CONCESSIONS IS FOUND ON PAGE ELEVEN OF THE ATTACHED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
      PART III, LINE 8:
      MEDICARE ALLOWABLE COST OF CARE WAS CALCULATED FROM THE MEDICARE COST REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING 6/30/22. MEDICAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO PATIENTS WITH MEDICARE COVERAGE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT A SURPLUS OR DEFICIT IS REALIZED. PROVIDING MEDICARE SERVICES PROMOTES ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES WHICH ARE VITALLY NEEDED BY OUR COMMUNITY. THE MEDICARE COST REPORT IS COMPLETED BASED ON THE RULES AND REGULATIONS SET FORTH BY THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES.
      PART III, LINE 9B:
      ALL POST DISCHARGE STATEMENTS CONTAIN INFORMATION THAT A CHARITY CARE POLICY IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO QUALIFY AND A PHONE NUMBER TO CONTACT FOR INFORMATION AND AN APPLICATION IS PROVIDED. ALL PATIENTS ARE ALLOWED 120 DAYS FROM THE FIRST POST DISCHARGE STATEMENT TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BEFORE INITIATING ANY EXTRAORDINARY COLLECTION ACTIVITIES. ALL PATIENTS ARE ALLOWED 240 DAYS FROM THE FIRST POST DISCHARGE BILLING STATEMENT TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.IF AN ACCOUNT HAS BEEN TURNED OVER TO COLLECTIONS AFTER 120 DAYS AND A PATIENT APPLIES FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DURING THE 240 DAY TIME FRAME AND IS ELIGIBLE FOR CHARITY CARE OR ANY OTHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THE COLLECTION AGENCY WILL BE NOTIFIED TO STOP ANY COLLECTION EFFORTS ON THE ACCOUNT AND THE ACCOUNT WILL BE GIVEN BACK TO THE HOSPITAL.
      PART VI, LINE 2:
      EUREKA COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES CONDUCTS PATIENT SATISFACTION SURVEYS WHICH CAN LEAD TO INFORMATION REGARDING NEEDED SERVICES. IN ADDITION, INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS ARE ASKED ABOUT SERVICES AND ANY FEEDBACK IS THEN REPORTED BACK TO THE OFFICERS AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ECHS CONDUCTED A CHNA DURING FISCAL YEAR END 6/30/22.
      PART VI, LINE 3:
      ECHS HAS SIGNS POSTED THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY REGARDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. A SUMMARY SHEET EXPLAINING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS GIVEN TO DISCHARGED PATIENTS IN THEIR DISCHARGE PACKET AND IT IS ALSO MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE FACILITY. ECHS ALSO POSTS THE AVAILABILITY OF THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY ON ALL STATEMENTS THAT GO OUT TO PATIENTS AND IT IS ALSO POSTED IN THE NEWSPAPER.
      PART VI, LINE 4:
      ECHS IS A FOUR BED CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL LOCATED IN THE TOWN OF EUREKA, IN NORTH CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA, IN MCPHERSON COUNTY. ACCORDING TO THE US CENSUS BUREAU, IN 2021 MCPHERSON COUNTY HAD 27.9% OF PEOPLE 65 YEARS OF AGE AND OVER. ECHS DEFINES ITS PRIMARY SERVICE AREA AS MCPHERSON COUNTY IN WHICH THE SERVICE AREA INCLUDES THE TOWNS OF EUREKA, LEOLA, AND LONG LAKE. THE HOSPITAL ALSO SERVES A PORTION OF CAMPBELL COUNTY IN WHICH THE COMMUNITY OF HERREID RESIDES.ACCORDING TO THE US CENSUS BUREAU OF 2021, THERE WERE 2,420 PEOPLE AND 872 HOUSEHOLDS RESIDING IN THE COUNTY. ECHS SERVES PEOPLE OF ALL RACES. THE US CENSUS BUREAU REPORTED IN 2021 THERE WAS 97.1% WHITE, 0.7% BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN, 0.5% AMERICAN INDIAN & ALASKA NATIVE, 0.3% ASIAN, 0.1% NATIVE HAWAIIAN, 1.3% TWO OR MORE RACES, 1.7% HISPANIC OR LATINO. THE US CENSUS BUREAU IN 2021 REPORTED THAT THE MEDIAN INCOME FOR A HOUSEHOLD IN THE COUNTY WAS $54,324 AND ABOUT 16.7% OF THE POPULATION WAS AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. THE CENSUS IN 2021 ALSO SHOWED THAT WE HAD 163 VETERANS RESIDING IN THE COUNTY. IT WAS ALSO NOTED IN THE REPORT THAT 9.4% OF THE POPULATION IN THE COUNTY UNDER THE AGE OF 65 HAD NO HEALTH INSURANCE.
      PART VI, LINE 5:
      THE FACILITY IS GOVERNED BY A SEVEN MEMBER VOLUNTARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES COMPRISED OF PEOPLE LIVING WITHIN THE SERVICE AREA. THESE MEMBERS HAVE NO BUSINESS OR FAMILY TIES TO THE ORGANIZATION. ECHS EXTENDS MEDICAL STAFF PRIVILEGES TO QUALIFIED PHYSICIANS IN THE SERVICE AREA AND CURRENTLY HAS ONE PHYSICIAN, TWO EMPLOYED PA'S, AND ONE CONTRACTED PA ON STAFF. ALL FUNDS GENERATED BY THE FACILITY ARE REINVESTED INTO THE FACILITY THROUGH THE CONTINUED PROVISION OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES. ECHS IS A CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL WITH 24HR EMERGENCY ROOM SERVICES AND IS OPEN TO ALL PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY. ECHS PROVIDES EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN CPR TO TEACHERS AT THE LOCAL SCHOOL, ALL PERSONNEL EMPLOYED AT THE LOCAL NURSING HOME, AND ALL AMBULANCE PERSONNEL. ECHS ALSO PARTICIPATES IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO LOW INCOME PEOPLE. THE HOSPITAL IS A SOLE COMMUNITY PROVIDER.
      PART VI, LINE 6:
      "ECHS IS A MANAGED FACILITY OF AVERA HEALTH. AVERA HEALTH AND ECHS WORK COOPERATIVELY TO ENHANCE HEALTHCARE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY SERVED BY THE HOSPITAL. ECHS ALSO HAS ACCESS TO ""BACK OFFICE"" SUPPORT SERVICES, SUCH AS LEGAL CONSULTATION, QUALITY BENCHMARKING, CODING, COMPUTER SERVICES, CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, ADMINISTRATIVE CONSULTATION, GROUP PURCHASING, HUMAN RESOURCE ASSISTANCE AND MANY OTHER SERVICES. AVERA HEALTH IS ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES TO ECHS AT A COST BELOW THAT WHICH THE HOSPITAL COULD OTHERWISE ACHIEVE. LOCAL CAREGIVERS ARE ABLE TO DEVOTE MORE RESOURCES TO PATIENT AND RESIDENT CARE AS A RESULT. AVERA HEALTH AND ECHS DEDICATE RESOURCES TO ENDEAVORS THAT MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY, CONTRIBUTIONS TO NONPROFIT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, NONPROFIT EVENT SPONSORSHIPS, DONATED MEDICAL SUPPLIES, COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION AND SUPPORT GROUPS, HEALTH SCREENINGS, FLU SHOT CLINICS, COVID CLINICS, COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND VARIOUS OTHER ACTIVITIES."