At Baptist Health Care...

our Mission takes us beyond traditional hospital walls. As a community-owned, not-for-profit organization, we focus on improving community health through preventive care, education and support. This focus extends Baptist’s Mission of providing superior service based on Christian values to improve quality of life for people and communities served. We help ensure that all citizens are afforded access to health care by investing in community health, and by participating in and leading collaborative, community-wide partnerships. Our 5,500 employees are highly dedicated to community engagement through volunteerism and charitable support.

Improving Quality of Life through Investments in Community Health

Patient welfare is Baptist Health Care’s No. 1 priority. We are proud to provide quality medical care to all people who need immediate treatment regardless of their ability to pay. Charity medical care is defined as free care and discounted care given to persons deemed unable to pay.

When assessing a patient’s ability to pay, Baptist Health Care uses the most recently published federal poverty guidelines, but we also strive to work with patients when charges are significant compared to their income.

In 2007, Baptist provided more than $24 million in charity care. In addition, Baptist Health Care social workers assisted patients with medication, transportation and other discharge needs equal to $104,433 in services. Baptist Health Care utilizes charity care reporting guidelines that do not represent unpaid cost of Medicaid. An additional net community benefit of more than $10.5 million was provided as unpaid Medicaid costs.

Web Translation Service

Baptist Health Care's award-winning web site, eBaptistHealthCare.org has gone international thanks to language conversion software that translates from English to any of five languages, including Spanish. This capability is the latest enhancement to the site, which spotlights the largest healthcare organization in Northwest Florida.

Since its launch seven year ago, eBaptistHealthCare.org has added many innovations including a mechanism for sending flowers, gifts and greetings to Baptist Hospital patients, and an online nursery featuring photos of newborns.