FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
The Department of Church and Community Relations seeks to provide financial assistance through three different means - namely , Baptist Benevolent Fund, Church and Community Relations Fund and Discretionary Fund. A brief outline of the work of each of these funds is outlined below:
Baptist Benevolent Fund
This is funded through Mother's Day Offering gifts from North Carolina Baptist churches and from individual donations, every dollar of which is used to pay on hospital bills of patients who have no other means of meeting this financial burden. The department works closely with the Benevolent Care Committee (composed of ministers, laymen and hospital personnel) in helping to ensure that these receipts are used each year in the wisest and most proficient way possible to help ay the hospital bills of those who otherwise could not pay .
The hospital's business office screens every case before presenting to the committee. The committee meets quarterly and very carefully and prayerfully determines who should receive financial assistance. Assistance may vary from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars depending on each individual situation. Pertinent information is presented case by case, i.e., why the need, efforts made to collect and response to these efforts; also, information if assistance has been requested by family, minister, physician, etc. The cases are discussed carefully and a decision is made by a motion to approve or deny the appropriation. The patients are then notified by letter, which is either mailed or hand delivered, to those approved for assistance. You may find out further information about this ministry by contacting the department either by mail or telephone.
Church and Community Relations Fund
This fund is set up and funded by The North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Inc. as a way of reaching out to those who need medical attention, but do not have the monies needed to see a physician here for the first time. These funds help to pay for a first-time only clinic visit or perhaps a needed mammogram through the Breast Clinic. Financial information and other pertinent medical history is requested to determine if there is a definite need and one that can be channeled through this fund. You may find out further information by contacting the Department of Church and Community Relations either by mail or telephone.
Discretionary Fund
This fund is funded through monetary gifts from individuals, churches, groups, employee parking fines and also as a budgeted item through the Department of Church and Community Relations. It was established to provide temporary financial assistance to patients and family members fro prescriptions, meals, lodging, transportation, parking, etc. It helps with monetary assistance in small, but much needed, ways. Various departments and individuals within the hospital refer patients and their families to us when they know of a need relating to one of the above or similar circumstances. Then when a need is definitely determined, the department immediately seeks to fulfill that need through monetary assistance. For further information you may write or call the department.
Our phone number is (336) 716-3027. Our mailing address is:
Paul Mullen, Director |
Church and Community Relations |
The N.C. Baptist Hospitals, Inc. |
Medical Center Boulevard |
Winston-Salem, N.C. 27157 |