Last year, Lakes Regional Healthcare (LRH) generated 639 jobs that added $106.2 million to Dickinson County’s economy, roughly 9.6% of Dickinson County’s gross domestic product, according to the latest study by the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA).
The study showed LRH provided $2.0 million in community benefits to Dickinson County. That amount, based on 2024 figures, includes $1.36 million in uncompensated care and $422,000 in free or discounted community benefits that LRH specifically implemented to help Dickinson County residents.
Community benefits are activities to improve health status and increase access to health care. With uncompensated care and charity care, community benefits include such services and programs as health screenings, support groups, counseling, immunizations, nutrition services and transportation programs.
“The programs and services accounted for in the survey are implemented in direct response to the needs of Dickinson County residents,” said LRH President and CEO Jason Harrington. “Many of these programs and services would not exist without hospital support.”
The study was compiled from hospital-submitted data to the American Hospital Association’s annual survey of hospitals. The study found that Iowa hospitals employed 141,708 people in 2024. As an income source, hospitals provide over $9.6 billion in wages. Hospital expenses accounted for over $22.9 billion of the state’s gross domestic product.
“These benefits aren’t just numbers,” said Chris Mitchell, IHA President and CEO. “They represent real programs and services that improve lives across Iowa. Many of these initiatives wouldn’t exist without the leadership and commitment of our hospitals and health systems.”
