Alone it adds $15,524,579 and 391 jobs to local economy
Greene County Medical Center generates 591 jobs that add $24,151,791 to the Greene County area’s economy, according to the latest study by the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA). In addition, the medical center’s employees by themselves spend $2,425,583 on retail sales and contribute $147,155 in state sales tax revenue.
CEO Carl Behne said, “The importance of hospitals in counties like ours is becoming more and more critical. Of course, the patient care provided close to home is most important, but the positive economic impact is important as well. Our employees are loyal to those we serve, as well as to the communities in which they serve.”
The IHA study examined the jobs, income, retail sales and sales tax produced by hospitals and the rest of the state’s health care sector. The study was compiled from hospital-submitted data on the American Hospital Association’s Annual Survey of Hospitals and with software that other industries have used to determine their economic impact.
The study found that Iowa hospitals directly employ 71,348 people and create another 44,935 jobs outside the hospital sector. As an income source, hospitals provide $4.3 billion in salaries and benefits and generate another $1.8 billion through other jobs that depend on hospitals.
In all, the Iowa health care sector, which includes offices of physicians, dentists and other health practitioners; nursing home and residential care; other medical and health services; and pharmacies, contributes $15.5 billion to Iowa’s economy while directly and indirectly providing 312,821 jobs, or about one-fifth of the state’s total non-farm employment.
“With more than 300,000 jobs, health care is one of Iowa’s largest employers, and hospitals are by far the biggest contributor to that number,” said Kirk Norris, IHA president/CEO. “That impact carries through to local communities, where hospitals are often among the largest employers in Iowa cities and counties.”
The Iowa Hospital Association is a voluntary membership organization representing hospital and health system interests to business, government and consumer audiences. All of Iowa’s 118 community hospitals are IHA members.
