Watertown Regional Medical Center Publishes 2021 Community Benefit Report

The 2021 Community Benefit Report outlines the continued impact on the health and well-being of Watertown and the surrounding communities.

(Watertown, WI) – Watertown Regional Medical Center published its community benefit report for the 2021 calendar year today. This yearly report outlines specific ways the hospital is positively contributing to Watertown and the surrounding communities and spotlights the various ways it is working to support the health and well-being of the community it calls home – an investment which has become increasingly essential in recent years.

“Our hospital is proud of its role as a community leader in Watertown and the surrounding communities as an essential healthcare provider, large employer and active community partner, and we take the responsibility that comes with that role very seriously,” said Richard Keddington, Chief Executive Officer of Watertown Regional Medical Center. “Through the hospital’s partnership with the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation, the hospital distributes 20% its earnings to the community. The recently released community benefit report, discusses contributions beyond that 20% distribution.”

The Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation was created out of the September 2015 joint venture transaction between Watertown Regional Medical Center (WRMC) and LifePoint Health and continues with the newly formed relationship with ScionHealth. The funds received from WRMC are used to fund programs including ‘Every Child Thrives’ and ‘Talk, Read, Play’ which help to build strong families and improve kindergarten readiness, school success, social emotional well-being, and healthy eating and active living. In the recent past, the GWCHF has donated funds to help renovate the library in Watertown, build the splash pad located in the Town Square, and over $1 million in Pandemic Response Grants to over 40 organizations working to improve the lives of children and families in Watertown and the surrounding communities. 

Watertown Regional Medical Center’s 2021 community benefit report highlights its continued efforts to meet the growing healthcare needs of its community through welcoming new providers, adding and expanding service lines and continually investing in its facilities and healthcare technology. For example, in 2021, Watertown Regional Medical Center added 36 providers in emergency medicine, family medicine, optometry, pain management, and many additional specialties; and made more than $4 million in capital improvements, including adding robotic-assisted surgery and building a new Center for Orthopedics and Rehabilitation.

Additionally, Watertown Regional Medical Center made a donation of more than $8 million in health services to those in need, demonstrating its continuous commitment to ensuring everyone has access to care, regardless of their ability to pay.

Watertown Regional Medical Center is also devoted to creating environments where providers want to practice and employees want to work. In 2021, the hospital distributed more than $53 million in salaries, wages and benefits for its approximately 700 employees, and contributed more than $200,000 in professional development and tuition assistance so all its employees can have the opportunity to learn, grow and improve the care they provide their patients.

This year’s annual report also showcases several examples of how Watertown Regional Medical Center is continually seeking ways to make a positive impact in the communities it serves, extending far beyond the physical walls of its facilities. Last year, the organization paid nearly $165,000 in local and state taxes and nearly $750,000 in property and other taxes, displaying its commitment to fiscal responsibility in an effort to boost Watertown and the surrounding community’s economic well-being. The hospital is also honored to continue its support of local activities and organizations that contribute to making the community healthier, including the Watertown Area Cares Clinic, Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce, Watertown Area YMCA, Waterloo Fire Department, and Watertown Food Pantry.

“We are proud to call Watertown and the surrounding communities our home and feel truly privileged to contribute to its well-being,” said Keddington. “We are also incredibly grateful for and inspired by the support our communities have shown us in recent years. As we consider the future of Watertown Regional Medical Center, we are so excited to continue improving the way we serve our neighbors and communities.”

Watertown Regional Medical Center’s complete 2021 community benefit report is available by visiting www.watertownregional.com/community-impact.

About Watertown Regional Medical Center

Watertown Regional Medical Center (WRMC) has been providing the residents of Dodge and Jefferson counties with excellent healthcare for over 115 years. By placing patients’ needs first, WRMC’s services have grown to include Emergency Care, Primary Care, Women’s Health, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Heart and Vascular, Neurology, Pulmonology, Ophthalmology, and many other services. For more information and to see a complete list of the services offered, visit www.watertownregional.com.