CENTER FOR BUSINESS
AS AN AGENT OF WORLD BENEFIT

One specialty group of medical providers has largely shielded itself from the rising cost of medical-malpractice insurance. Over the past two decades, anesthesiologists have advocated the use of devices that alert doctors to potentially fatal problems in the operating room. Their innovative practices have resulted in lower fatalities and low malpractice premiums.

CoxHealth is a large not-for-profit, integrated health care organization providing healthcare in a twenty-one county area in Southwest Missouri. The organization celebrates its 100th year of providing healthcare in 2006. Currently the system is the largest employer in the region with over 9,000 employees among its three hospitals, long-term care, home health, physician clinics, rural health clinics, full service behavioral health, and multiple other healthcare offerings. The mission of the organization is to “Improve the health of the communities we serve through quality health care, education, and research.” The core values guide and shape the way business is done through compassion, respect, and integrity at CoxHealth. CoxHealth has initiated a program titled Business Associated Student Education (BASE). This program offers a unique learning opportunity for appropriate special education students at risk, yet with untapped potential. The most significant opportunity is to create an easy transition to the real world for these students. They can gain basic life skills to be as independent as possible, to negotiate the world and care for themselves, be employed, and create a productive life for themselves. At the present time there are around seventy students divided among seven jobsites participating in this program. Three of the jobsites are at CoxHealth facilities. Cox was the original business to step out and begin this partnership.

Housing Works, a non-profit which provides vital services to homeless New Yorkers living with HIV and AIDS, has transformed from crisis and near extinction to profitability and independence. Housing Works was founded in June 1990 as an outgrowth of the Housing Committee of the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP), to address the burgeoning crises of homelessness and AIDS, and to restore the fundamental human rights of homeless people with AIDS and HIV through innovative advocacy and direct service programs. A switch from cost-reimbursement Medicaid contracts to fee for service contracts and the development of four highly profitable businesss took Housing Works from being totally dependent upon external funding and financial aid to being almost totally self-sustaining today.

King’s Medical Group is a US for-profit, faith-based company that is guided by the fundamental philosophy that everyone should have access to state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging services. Health care needs of small communities throughout the country are often overlooked by large hospitals and other imaging corporations due to the high costs and risks associated with the investment. Through financially flexible solutions, KMG has developed a unique business model that makes small community imaging centers a successful business venture. The company’s efforts brought about eight imaging centers to the underserved regions of five states, and executed many consulting projects for health care facilities throughout the US.

OneWorld Health is the first nonprofit pharmaceutical company in the United States. It advances global health by developing effective and affordable new medicines for infectious diseases that disproportionately affect people in the developing world. At the core of the company’s operations is an innovative business model. OneWorld Health receives donations from for-profit pharmaceutical companies in a form of drug leads that have little commercialization potential in the West, develops leads into safe and effective medicines, and then partners with scientists and manufacturers of the developing world to bring the medicine to the consumers at the affordable price. A win-win for all involved and a cure for the neglected diseases that affect millions worldwide.

By building upon a non-invasive, non-drug therapy for correcting ADD, ADHD, dyslexia and other learning disorders Open Pathways To Learning has found true benefits of innovation; developing people in the course of developing a sound business model. The therapy is based on ‘Brain Integration Technique’ that utilizes principles of applied kinesiology and acupressure to help children and adults overcome their learning difficulties.

PartsSource is the leader in managing the inventory of high quality medical equipment and parts consigned by charitable organizations and healthcare providers. It accepts medical equipment on consignment, or purchases it, and then donates the equipment to a charity, allowing for a fair market tax deduction. Once equipment is received by PartsSource it is carefully reviewed and, if applicable, separated to the parts assembly level. These parts are then made available at a substantial savings to end users who are currently utilizing the exact same piece of equipment. A portion of the revenue generated by the equipment transfer is returned to the consigning organization or a charity. This creates a profit from the (originally) discarded equipment. PartsSource delivers tangible benefits to those in need while improving cash-flow for an organization. By donating through PartsSource the medical equipment provider can rest assured that the necessary medical equipment will end up in the hands of a legitimate charity that supports worldwide healthcare. This indirectly allows them the opportunity to provide relief to those in need.

The proverbial ‘war for talent’ is an omnipresent phenomenon in business, irrespective of the industry. It’s the organization that finds a creative answer to the problem that finally is able to prosper by leveraging the potential of the best in the work force. SSM Healthcare is an inspiring example of a solution that nurtures a pool of talented manpower. The fact that this solution stems from a belief in making a positive change in the lives of people ensures that this model is sustainable.