Honoring the Founder’s Pledge in Today’s World — Equity, Access & Compassion

In 1865, the founders of University Hospitals asserted a simple yet profound belief: “The needy are the most worthy.” We continue to take that to heart, and that principle has shaped more than 160 years of service to Northeast Ohio.

Every day, our caregivers bring this pledge to life, and it guides how we invest and how we respond when our community faces challenges.

Now with upcoming changes in federal Medicaid requirements, including monthly documentation of work, training, volunteering, or service hours, we recognize that these will create real challenges for many families. For people balancing jobs, caregiving responsibilities, or limited access to transportation and technology, the new requirements may put their coverage at risk at a time when consistent, preventive as well as chronic care is essential.

We also know that navigating these systems can be overwhelming. Access to technology, digital literacy, and one‑on‑one guidance will make a vital difference.

That’s why our teams at UH have already begun preparing. They are analyzing work flows, partnering with regional organizations and developing resources to help community residents as well as our caregivers understand what's changing and how to help our neighbors keep their coverage.

While this alone is an important effort, it is just one part of a far broader commitment—one that reaches across neighborhoods and generations, and covers the full spectrum of health and well‑being.

A Legacy of Community Commitment

In 2024, University Hospitals delivered $720 million in community health investment, supporting charity care, unreimbursed Medicaid and Medicare costs, education, research, and community health improvement initiatives throughout Northeast Ohio. These investments bring our founders’ pledge to life every single day, not only in hospitals, clinics and our community wellness centers, but also with our community outreach teams in homes, schools, and public spaces around the region.

Our work focuses on three community investment priority areas: Maternal & Child Health, Well‑Being, and Economic Opportunity. Within each, UH is creating programs to improve access, reduce disparities, and make it possible for individuals and families to thrive.

Maternal & Child Health: Building Strong Beginnings

We know that a healthy community begins with healthy parents, infants, and families, so we have long been a leader in maternal and child health.

Our CenteringPregnancy program, which is now in its 15th year, continues to offer group prenatal care that strengthens education, connection, and support for hundreds of pregnant women each year. They benefit not only from clinical care but from a shared environment; both build confidence and community during pregnancy and beyond.

Programs like the Baby Café extend this into early parenthood, providing a space for breastfeeding guidance and the support of peers. Families who face access barriers to preventive screenings can turn to mobile health teams that bring mammography and education directly into neighborhoods. That means early detection and maternal support are available to everyone, regardless of their insurance status or difficulties with reliable transportation.

UH caregivers also partner with culturally distinct communities, including the Amish population in Geauga County, by providing immunizations, screenings, and help in navigating the healthcare system. This longtime collaboration shows the trust that grows when care is delivered with respect for a community’s specific needs.

Well‑Being: Meeting People Where They Are

Clinical treatment on its own is not sufficient to shape a family’s health. Access to healthy food, a safe environment, social connections, and opportunities to build healthy habits are just as important. The UH Community Wellness Centers in Glenville and Bedford, and a virtual Wellness Center in Richmond Heights, help individuals and families strengthen all aspects of well‑being.

These centers serve as hubs for fitness classes, nutrition programs, mental health resources, financial literacy sessions, and community gatherings. The UH Glenville and UH Bedford Wellness Centers both include teaching kitchens that support hands‑on nutrition education. The UH Food for Life Market® at the Glenville Wellness Center provides eligible patients with healthy foods, including fresh produce, to support chronic disease management.

In 2024, more than 5,500 people received food assistance from our five UH Food for Life Markets®, and it reflects our broader strategy to reduce food insecurity and support disease prevention, closer to home.

That is also why we opened the new UH Diabetes & Metabolic Care Center in Cleveland’s MidTown neighborhood. Comprehensive diabetes care is now delivered within one of the region’s highest‑need communities, where diabetes rates are notoriously high. It is a powerful truth: when healthcare is brought closer to where people live, their health outcomes improve and their trust deepens.

UH’s EMS Institute also strengthens community safety through programs such as lifesaving bleeding‑control training, naloxone distribution, emergency field blood transfusion pilots, and partnerships with fire departments to offer innovative cancer screenings for first responders.

Economic Opportunity: Expanding Pathways to Bright Futures

We know that economic stability is a significant determinant of long‑term health and we are proud that UH is one of the region’s largest employers -- one that has become an engine for economic mobility.

In 2024, more than 250 people found employment through UH’s community‑focused workforce pipeline programs. Youth programs such as Health Scholars, Youth Summit, and Future Nurse Academy introduced hundreds of students to careers in healthcare, opening doors to opportunities they may never have encountered otherwise.

Our workforce development initiatives, tuition support, and apprenticeships help our UH caregivers advance their careers, build financial stability, and grow within the organization. This contributes to a more skilled, diverse workforce while strengthening our region’s economic foundation.

We also know that housing stability is essential to health, so UH has invested $3 million in a new mixed‑income development in Cleveland’s Hough neighborhood. It’s another way we support affordable and safe housing, as well as the revitalization of neighborhoods.

Looking Ahead With Purpose

As we prepare for shifts in Medicaid policy and continue responding to the evolving needs of our region, our founders’ pledge is still our compass. It shapes our strategy, strengthens our partnerships, and fuels our commitment to compassionate, equitable care.

Whether it is through direct medical care and services, community partnerships, wellness programs, or economic opportunity initiatives, UH is still committed to ensuring that access to care is driven by need — not circumstance.

The work ahead is significant. But so is the strength of our mission and the dedication of our caregivers.

Together, we carry forward a promise made more than 160 years ago and we honor it with every patient we support, every barrier we help remove, and every act of compassion that defines who we are.