A photo of Jim Harris
Jim Harris Quality Care Provider Fund
Our Need
Healthcare remains an integral component of a vibrant and growing community. Primary care physicians are the underpinning foundation of our local healthcare system. Our clinic based providers are often the first contact patients have with Washington County Hospital and Clinics (WCHC). They identify and treat common illnesses and spot minor health problems before they become serious. They offer preventative services such as flu shots, cancer screenings, and counseling on healthy lifestyles, and play an important role in helping to manage the care of patients with chronic health conditions.
Recent years have presented challenges for rural healthcare systems. There is an increasing shortage of primary care physicians especially in rural areas. While there are about 50 million people in the United States, about 20% of our population live in rural areas with only 9% of the nation's physicians practicing in rural communities. Although currently, WCHC employs a group of outstanding providers, the average age of this group is 55. To ensure quality healthcare that puts people first for generations to come, we must be proactive, innovative, and aggressive now in recruiting the next generation of WCHC providers.
Our task is straightforward - to increase WCHC's capacity to recruit and retain primary care providers while honoring the legacy of Dr. Jim Harris. The Jim Harris Quality Care Provider Campaign seeks to secure resources for recruiting, developing, and retaining physicians essential to WCHC's future. This fund will allow WCHC to:
• Offer competitive salary and benefit packages to new physicians
• Enable new providers to kick-start their salary while growing their practice and patient base
• Provide necessary time, training, and support to new providers
The Jim Harris Quality Care Provider Fund will be invested with the Washington County Hospital Foundation with 4% of the fund balance to be distributed and used annually in recruitment and retention efforts. The balance of the fund will provide for perpetual support and steady growth to ensure a long-lasting recruitment program for WCHC.
The Legacy of Dr. Jim Harris
Dr. Jim Harris served the Washington community as a dentist for more than 38 years. His leadership and work as a healthcare provider extended far past the wall of his dental practice, Harris and Harris Dental. As an active member of the community, Dr. Harris touched the lives of many and gave of his time and talent to make Washington a community to be proud of. He served not only as a volunteer but also as an advocate for many organizations including:
• Washington County Hospital and Clinics
• St. James Church and School
• Washington YMCA
• Washington Chamber of Commerce
• Noon Kiwanis
• Y's Men's Club
During his 18 year tenure as a WCHC Trustee, Dr. Harris served to ensure our local healthcare system was the provider of choice, had state of the art facilities, and had a stable base of providers for patients to see. Dr. Harris was involved with the vision to build a $22 million facility to include 60,000 square feet of new space and 28,000 square feet of renovated space. He was also an integral voice to secure primary care services for our community. As a Trustee he helped to acquire the Medical Clinic in 2007 and the Family Medicine Clinic in 2014. These acquisitions secured the primary care base for the Washington area.
To honor his legacy and continue to have excellent primary care providers for our community, the Jim Harris Quality Care Provider Fund will be utilized to recruit, develop, and retain physicians essential to healthcare in our community.
How You Can Help
We can achieve great things by working together. Your financial support to th Jim Harris Quality Care Provider Fund will ensure that Washington County Hospital and Clinics maintains quality healthcare and a secure primary care base in our community for generations to come.
The WCH Foundation will recognize all gifts on the current donor wall located inside the
South Lobby Entrance of the WCHC South Lobby by lifetime cumulative amount donated to the organization. A Jim Harris Quality Care Provider Plaque will recognize donors by giving level.
Giving and Recognition Levels
• Transformational - $50,000 and up
• Leader - $25,000 - $49,999
• Champion - $10,000 - $24,999
• Partner - $5,000 - $9,999
• Supporter - $1,000 - $4,999
• Friend - $100 - $999
Matching Funds
The WCH Foundation will match dollar for dollar each donation up to the amount of $250,000.
Types of Gifts
Marketable Securities: These are often individual stocks, but may be bonds or share of mutual funds. Outright gifts of securities can be made quickly and easily as well as enabling donors to do more with your gift because of tax benefits.
Matching Gifts: Stretch your gift with a matching gift program. Some employers and member organizations may increase the value of your gift with a matching donation. Please refer to your employer's Human Resources Department to determine if your organization has a matching gift program.
Legacy Gifts A legacy, or planned gift, provides future support of the WCH Foundation and allows donors flexibility to accomplish their financial and charitable goals. A few common ways to make a planned gift include:
• Charitable Bequest
• Charitable Remainder Trust
• Beneficiary benefits from life insurance
or retirement accounts
To navigate and understand all options for legacy gifts, we recommend donors consult with your financial advisor or attorney.
Multi-Year Pledges
Spread your gift over multiple years with the flexibility to pay your gift in installments. Determine what is most convenient for you and choose to pay monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually.
