Being Not for Profit

Sharp HealthCare is a health care organization designed not for profit, but for people

As a San Diego community-based not-for-profit organization, Sharp HealthCare places great value on the health of our community. Our not-for-profit approach means that after our bills and employees have been paid, any remaining money is reinvested back into providing health care — unlike for-profit organizations that must pay back investors.

Our commitment to the community includes providing much-needed services to the underinsured and uninsured, even if it means we won’t get reimbursed. Our community commitment also includes investing in new medical technology and facilities so we can deliver the most advanced care to our patients.

Each day at Sharp, in everything we do, it is our mission to improve the health and well-being of those we serve. To help fulfill this mission, we have embraced an initiative called The Sharp Experience to transform the health care experience for patients and their families. With The Sharp Experience, we strive to become the best place to work, the best place to practice medicine and the best place to receive care. 

 For-Profit vs. Not-for-Profit Health Care Organizations
For-Profit Hospitals Sharp HealthCare as a Not-for-Profit
Quality of Care According to independent rankings of the nation’s best health care providers, for-profit hospitals are largely outranked by not-for-profit organizations for their quality care.
 Sharp HealthCare has been recognized for its commitment to clinical excellence and high-quality patient care by numerous local and national organizations, including the California Council for Excellence.

Financial Objectives

Investors of for-profit institutions fund hospital improvements, and therefore, expect return on their investments. For-profits also have a financial incentive to avoid providing care that is typically not profitable, such as trauma and care for the underinsured.

 

Sharp’s “stockholders” are our community members, and with their support and generous donations, we’re able to expand our services, introduce new programs and enhance our medical technology.

Additionally, our 25-person board team consists entirely of members from the local community, so our members have a vested interest in making decisions that best serve the community’s health care needs.
Charity Care In recent studies performed by the US Government Accountability Office, not-for-profit hospitals generally devoted larger shares of their patient operating expenses to uncompensated care than did for-profit hospitals.

In fiscal year 2012, Sharp provided more than $305 million in community benefits, including charity, uncompensated and under-compensated care.