Community Benefit Practices and Their Relationships to Organizational Survival

Abstract

Community and corporatization are institutionalized values within the hospital field. Taking as its starting point research on community engagement, this study explores how practices associated with institutionalized values affect organizational viability. Examining data from the American Hospital Association’s Annual Survey for the 2004-2010 period, this study assesses the relationship between hospital closure and organizational practices, with a focus on community benefit planning, community benefit activities, and business-like practices. Findings indicate that a high level of participation in community benefit planning practices may lead to greater organizational survival.