Thank you for your tremendous support of our mission to provide access to affordable, high quality medical and dental care. For 38 years, Crusader has quietly and respectfully provided “Care Within Reach” to our community. Crusader is a locally managed organization that is led by a great Board of Directors that is comprised of 51% patients and a well-trained and dedicated staff of 287. Only 18% of our budget is federally assisted funding. That money is used to offset the cost of providing a sliding discount scale.
During 2009, more than 30% of our patients were uninsured (13,168 individuals), an increase of 16%. Last year we cared for 43,164 patients, an increase of 3,084 patients. What Crusader does best is to take care of our neighbors who need a helping hand, as evidenced by the staggering 177,353 patient encounters, an increase in one year of 9,890 visits. Quite worrisome, the number of individuals with an income at or below the poverty level increased by 44%, including 1,711 homeless patients (many of whom are children).
The Community Health Center model has tremendous bipartisan support because “it just plain works.” It has received the government’s highest rating of effectiveness, with a fiscal return of investment of $1.80 for every $1 invested. Crusader has a “Best Practice” system featuring an assigned medical home (personal provider), an electronic medical and dental record to document and improve care, an emphasis on both chronic disease management and preventive care (3,753 pap smears in 2009), and a successfully re-vamped Call Center. All along, we have accepted all “prior conditions,” all insurance sources (or lack of) and proactively expanded – all with a smile, hug and handshake.
During these difficult times, Crusader is working hard to meet the community needs. Managing growth and expenses is a Major Challenge. Construction begins this summer on our new 13,660 sq. ft. facility in Loves Park. It will open during the summer of 2011. To more efficiently care for the 17,944 children in our system, a new Pediatric Center will be finished in early 2011 at our West State facility, as children comprise 41% of our patients (and complement our exceptional Women’s Health Services that delivered 1,000 babies last year!).
We are making improvements to better serve your needs!
Gordon Eggers, Jr., President & CEO
Crusader Community Health
