Importance of Being Nonprofit

What's the difference between nonprofit and for-profit systems?

In large part, it's about accountability. For-profit health systems must give their shareholders a return on their investment. Nonprofit health systems, while not accountable to shareholders, have an obligation to their stakeholders — the communities in which they are located. They have an opportunity and an obligation to use any excess money they make to help their patients and improve the health of their communities.

Intermountain's organization as a nonprofit allows it to make decisions differently from the way for-profits make decisions. As a nonprofit, we can offer services that benefit the community, even though those services might not generate high margins.

The benefits of being nonprofit include:

• Charity care
• Lower charges
• Supporting medical education research
• Supporting community health