A not-for-profit, community-based hospital is under local control focuses on local concerns has no private gain provides access to care gives its attention to community needs As a not-for-profit, community-based hospital, Southwest Washington Medical Center holds itself accountable to the people we serve - you.

Not-for-profit/ Community-minded Investor-owned  Our assets stay in the community. Their assets belong to investors/owners. Our Board of Trustees is local and serves without pay. They balance financial decisions with community concerns.  Individuals outside the community most often make the major decisions, with emphasis on creating profits for the stockholders.  There is no "private" profit - no individual or corporation makes any profit.  While some stockholders might be physicians who practice at the hospital, community members are generally not allowed to purchase stock.  All income above expenses is used to improve the health of the community.   Profits often leave the community.  We provide a full spectrum of care - education, prevention, and treatment - that benefits all members of our community.  Provide a full range of care that benefits the community they serve, but they must serve their investors first.

The facts about not-for-profit hospitals and taxes The federal tax exempt status for not-for-profit community-based healthcare hospitals does not apply to some taxes. In the State of Washington, under a very complex system of sales tax exemptions, Southwest pays hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales tax each year.   Southwest also pays a Business and Occupation state tax amounting to more than $4 million annually. As a tax-exempt institution, Southwest does not pay federal income tax. Instead, we accept federal and state payments for patients at substantially reduced rates. We also demonstrate our benefit to the community  through charity care, outreach, education, and research programs.