JRMC creates $32.8 million impact on local economy

     Jones Regional Medical Center (JRMC) generates 228 jobs that add $32,861,499 to the Jones County economy, according to the latest study by the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA). In addition, JRMC employees by themselves spend $5,785,648 on retail sales and contribute $347,139 in state sales tax revenue.

     “Jones Regional is the third largest employer in Jones County and we’re honored to serve our communities,” stated Eric Briesemeister, Jones Regional CEO. “Our economic impact is a testament to our patient’s belief that we’re the best to receive great care, close to home.”

     The IHA study examined the jobs, income, retail sales, and sales tax produced by hospitals and the rest of the state’s healthcare 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 74,691 people and create another 57,586 jobs outside the hospital sector. As an income source, hospitals provide $4.8 billion in salaries and benefits and generate another $2.3 billion through other jobs that depend on hospitals.

     In all, Iowa’s healthcare sector, which includes offices of physicians, dentists and other health practitioners, nursing home and residential care, other medical and health services and pharmacies, contributes $17 billion to the state economy while directly and indirectly providing 330,308 jobs, or about 20 percent of the state’s total non-farm employment.

     “Hospitals and healthcare are vital to the economy in all parts of the state, both urban and rural,” said IHA President and CEO Kirk Norris. “With more than 330,000 jobs, healthcare is one of Iowa’s largest employers, and hospitals remain, by far, the biggest contributor to that enormous impact.

     “In Iowa cities and counties, hospitals are uniformly among the largest employers. Those jobs bring income to Main Street businesses and support local government services and infrastructure through taxes.”

     As possible cuts to Medicaid and Medicare are contemplated, hospital services and jobs are put at risk – and with them a large swatch of the Iowa economy.

     “These facts need to be front-of-mind among our political leaders in Washington, D.C. and Des Moines,” added Norris. “They need to understand that when legislation and regulations financially impact hospitals and healthcare, they also impact jobs and business in every part of the state.”

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