Dome: A publication for the Johns Hopkins Medicine family

A publication for the Johns Hopkins Medicine Family

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Volume 60
Number 10
December 2009

Without Charge
Hopkins gives away millions in charity care. Patients just need to apply.

The indigent sick of this city and its environs Without regard to sex, age, or color, who may require surgical or medical treatment… shall be received into the hospital, without charge.

—Johns Hopkins, 1873

Reporting the amount of free care that hospitals give to patients has been optional for health systems—until 2010. That’s when disclosing that total will become mandatory if a hospital expects to keep its tax-exempt status. It’s just one of several issues that is putting charity care in the national spotlight.

Of course, “Hopkins was founded for care of the indigent. I don’t know if people realize that,” says Nelson Haller, one of four directors of patient financial services for Johns Hopkins Medicine. “So, financial assistance isn’t new to us. In the 40 years I’ve been here in billing, we’ve done it every year.”

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BRIEFCASE

WHAT'S nEWS

MLK Festivities
Every January, an institution-wide event celebrates the late Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy. The 28th annual commemoration will take place on Jan. 15 on the East Baltimore campus, Turner Auditorium, beginning at noon. As always, Unified Voices will open the program with their trademark gospel selections. Guest speaker is actor Lou Gossett Jr., whose film and television career include groundbreaking roles in the 1961 movie A Raisin in the Sun, and the 1977 mini-series Roots, for which he won an Emmy. Gossett also won an Academy Award for best supporting actor in An Officer and a Gentleman.

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Dome is an award-winning monthly tabloid for employees, patients, visitors and friends of Johns Hopkins Medicine.

HEADLINERS

Bilingual Dinosaurs
A Hopkins surgeon publishes an award-winning English/Spanish children's book.

Stress Busters
Tips on managing holiday demands, courtesy of the Office of Work, Life and Engagement.

A Plea For Platelets
Hopkins Hospital's Blood Donor Center volunteers save lives.

Magical Presents
Employees share their favorite gift memories.

PICTURE THIS | PICTURE THAT

Disability Mentoring Day
For the second straight year, as part of its mission to support diversity in employee recruitment, Hopkins Hospital and several affiliates recently played host to job seekers with disabilities. In East Baltimore, six people with disabilities were matched with mentors from various departments to introduce them to their line of work.