ADVANCE for Respiratory Care Practitioners | Editorial: "Once upon a time, we could tell the difference between a non-profit and a for-profit hospital. Non-profits sported names like St. Luke's Hospital of the Prairie, Presbyterian Medical Center or Southern University Hospital. On a local level, non-profit community hospitals provided necessary medical services, and taxpayers dipped into the treasury periodically to keep their facility afloat.
In the background, silver-haired volunteers sold raffle tickets for a prize of a hand-made quilt or a sporty automobile, with proceeds earmarked for new hospital X-ray equipment or bassinettes for the NICU. The facilities thrived because local residents worked hard to ensure health care services would be available for all.
In addition to their periodic bail-outs to shore up budget deficits, communities granted property tax exemptions to non-profits and provided free fire and police protection. A top-notch hospital became a source of civic pride, spurring inter-community rivalry to see who could provide the best."
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