An independent report for Harris Health System reveals the public healthcare provider adds some US $4.8 billion annually to the economy of Harris County and another US $900 to the economy of the wider State of Texas.
Harris Health retained independent consulting firm, Tripp Umbach, to assess its economic and social impact to the community.
Key takeaways from the report:
President and CEO, Esmaeil Porsa, MD, comments:
“This report allows us to provide our peers, community leaders and general public with specific details and verified data that illustrate the productive role Harris Health plays in the overall economic landscape of this county and the state.
“Such a positive economic impact is extraordinary, especially when considering the challenges facing our hospitals and clinics over the past three years during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’ve always measured the health interventions we’ve provided members of our community, but this is the first time we’ve looked at what our system means to the economic health of our community.”
“Hospitals act as economic engines and generate huge financial impacts for the communities they serve,” says Patrick Jankowski, chief economist, Greater Houston Partnership. “In this instance, they are one of the largest employers in our community, and the report clearly shows the substantial financial benefit to the community that Harris Health’s hospitals and clinics provide.”
“These numbers show our hospitals and clinics do much more than just provide quality medical care.
The employment and income generated and the ripple effect in other businesses throughout the economy are tremendous, providing a more than 5-to-1 return on local tax investment.
The study clearly demonstrates that Harris Health is a major player in economic health of Harris County and Texas.”
Entitled, “The Economic Impact of the Harris Health System on Harris County and the State of Texas,” the 30-page report is available at https://harrishealth.org.
Methodology
The study assessed Harris Health’s direct and indirect impact in the following categories:
