Community Health

Building Strong Communities

In 1872, Mother Mary Odilia Berger and her companions arrived in St. Louis, Missouri, answering a call to serve God’s people. Finding themselves in the midst of a devastating smallpox epidemic, they visited the sick in their homes, bringing food, medicine and supplies to ease the suffering they encountered.

Generations later, the stories of these women of faith continue to inspire us at SSM Health. We continue the ministry they began by seeking to better understand the needs of the communities we serve and using our resources and expertise to cultivate communities where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible.

In 2024, SSM Health's community benefit ministry totaled $406 million across the four states we serve. This investment helps ensure access to health care for patients who are uninsured or underinsured, train the next generation of health professionals to care for those in need, and fund programs to address the most pressing health needs of our communities.

In addition to this financial community benefit investment, we consistently engage in a wide variety of initiatives to advance community health. We also operate safety-net hospitals and are the largest provider of Medicaid and behavioral health services in nearly every community we serve.

We have integrated screenings for social determinants of health – such as food insecurity, access to safe housing, and transportation – into standard patient care in order to identify and meet critical needs to support positive health outcomes.

Understanding that a healthy environment is essential to overall well-being, we are committed to comprehensive environmental sustainability initiatives. These efforts include minimizing medical waste and energy usage, planting trees to reverse urban deforestation, and adopting green building practices.

SSM Health is also a member of the national Healthcare Anchor Network and the St. Louis Anchor Action Network, which focus on improving community health and well-being.

Communities We Serve

Guided by our Mission - Through our exceptional health care services, we reveal the healing presence of God - we cherish the sacredness and dignity of each person as demonstrated through our values of compassion, respect, excellence, stewardship and community. Find out more by reading our current or historical Community Health Needs Assessment reports.

Learn more about the work being done to improve community health in each of the communities we serve:

System Community Benefit Overview

Each year, SSM Health reinvests in our communities through charity care, medical education and research, as well as contributions to community health improvement services.

Based on findings from Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs) conducted in each of our communities, we work together with government agencies, charitable foundations, and other local organizations to provide a safety net, helping people access preventative care, investing in critical services, and bringing hope to individuals in difficult times.

2024 System Community Benefit

In 2024, SSM Health invested $406 million in programs and services that have improved the health of our communities.