By Ansley Franco

For many patients, there is a disparity between their physical well-being when discharged from a hospital and their financial well-being. Baptist Health Foundation aims to close the gap and extend quality care beyond hospital walls.

Baptist Health System’s affiliated hospitals provide charity care for indigent patients in need of medical assistance. Alison Scott, Executive Director of the Baptist Health Foundation, says the foundation provides a bridge for these patients when they are discharged. “We make sure that we’re continuing to provide these patients with that extra support and help they need as they recover,” Scott said. “Care doesn’t stop at the end of their hospital stay.”

The hospital absorbs all the costs for indigent patients, and social workers, doctors and nurses collaborate to determine what else these patients need when they are discharged. For patients who are transitioning to a homeless shelter, an addiction recovery program or some another step towards recovery, the foundation covers medication costs, transportation to these facilities and intake fees.

While there are social services in Birmingham that assist indigent patients with medications or transportation, it takes around 30 days to get into their system. “We (Baptist Health Foundation) often operate at that bridge between the time they leave the hospital until they get into their support system so that they don’t back slide when they’re trying to get better,” Scott said. “The Foundation follows a healing ministry of Christ, and strives to do for others as Christ has loved them. Building on this principle, we also offers pastoral care. This is not something that is required by law in a medical facility, but it is something the founders felt strongly about.”

In all five Baptist Health hospitals, there is always a chaplain, along with chapels to pray in and daily prayers are offered. “Baptist Health hospitals do a lot of work with our chaplains to make sure that not only our patients and families are supported when they want that kind of care, but we also make sure that it's available for our staff,” Scott said. “We’ve seen an uptick in staff seeking spiritual since COVID.

“We always knew pastoral care was important, but Covid is probably what made it vital, because there was a point in time when no one else at the hospital could come in, and people inside the hospital couldn't go out. The only kind of bridge between those two were our chaplains. Basically, they became a lifeline to the outside world.”

To provide additional support to their staff, Baptist Health Foundation has established the Employee Benevolence Fund, which is sustained through donations from both employees and outside individuals who wish to contribute to what is an emergency fund for the hospital staff.

“When one of our employees has a crisis: maybe a death in the family, a house fire, an eviction, or they fall behind on their bills, the Employee Benevolence Fund is there to provide a helping hand,” Scott said. “Once again, it's kind of like our patient assistance fund. It’s there to be a bridge for them. To get them back on their feet.”

Baptist Health Foundation not only supports behavioral health units within their hospitals but also aids other organizations within the central Alabama area by providing an annual grant. Last year, they distributed 32 grants to mental health organizations and healthcare-related nonprofits to ensure those ancillary services remain accessible.

“Mental health needs do not stop,” Scott said. “If you are in a mental health crisis, and you're admitted to the hospital, the providers will get you to a certain point and get you well enough to be discharged. But often your needs are going to go on for months, years, and possibly your lifetime afterwards. It's going to take all of our community’s joint efforts to wrap our hands around the mental health crisis.”

This year, the foundation has had 46 applications and have allotted $350,000 among the chosen recipients. Decisions are made by a small committee of volunteers who determine the best way to address as many needs as possible. Through all their programs, the Baptist Health Foundation has provided $2.1 to $2.2 million annually, both in the hospital and in Alabama communities.

To learn more about the Baptist Health Foundation, which has been operating since 1967, visit https://baptisthealthfoundation.com.