In Our Communities: What is a Not-For-Profit?

Unlike investor-owned health care systems, the Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) is a not-for-profit organization. This means we reinvest any money left over after employees and bills have been paid into enhancing patient care, improving facilities and equipment, providing health education and medical research, and funding community benefit programs, including charity care.

We believe this community-based, not-for-profit approach to health care best serves our patients and our communities. For one thing, it's better for patients. We offer a full spectrum of services that communities need but are seldom profitable - such as medical research, care for the chronically ill, and services for the poor and uninsured.

In 2008, PAMF provided $26.6 million in support of services to the poor and underserved and benefits to the broader community. We also have a financial assistance program to help qualified low-income patients receive free or discounted health care services.

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