Giving Back to Our Community

Meriter is committed to making the community better, healthier, safer, and stronger for all of its residents through established partnerships, programs and outreach geared towards this goal. Examples include the county's only inpatient substance abuse program, the only Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program, SEAL DANE, which provides dental sealants to children without dental insurance, and donations of food, supplies and expertise.

It is an honor to give back to our community through these programs, because we know the impact that they have on the lives of area families. These community benefit efforts, translated to a dollar amount, totaled a commitment of more than $36,854,000 from Meriter in 2011. But the real benefit is so much more than a dollar figure. As you'll see in the examples below and on the Community Giving Stories page, the real benefit is that we're finding real ways to give back to our community.

"You don't realize how sick you were until you're well."

For three years, Sandy suffered with diverticulitis.  Diverticulitis occurs when the inner lining of the intestine becomes inflamed or infected.  More severe cases can lead to significant health problems.  While only six percent of patients with diverticulitis have disease severe enough require surgery, for those patients there are no other options.   

During these three years, Sandy managed her disease with antibiotics and lifestyle changes.  However, her attacks were becoming more severe and she feared that she would spend the rest of her life stuck in a cycle of illness.

Sandy consulted with surgeons in Meriter’s Digestive Health Center and it was determined that her disease was severe enough that it required surgery.  After surgery, Sandy felt great.  “You don’t realize how sick you were until you’re well,” she explains, “I don’t know how to say thank you enough.”

Although Sandy was feeling better physically, the financial burden weighed heavy on her mind. She had recently lost her job and was terrified the medical bills would push her into bankruptcy. “I had no idea how I would ever pay this,” Sandy recalls.  She felt like she traded the health burden for a financial burden.  “My illness prevented me from moving forward, and now I was afraid this bill would do the same.  When I was offered Financial Assistance to forgive my bill, it was a miracle to me.”   

A Second Chance at Life