St. John's charity care program, called Christian Care, covers 100 percent of hospital charges for individuals and families who earn less than 250 percent of the federal poverty level.

"Our Franciscan mission calls us to care for all who are sick and injured, regardless of their ability to pay," said Bob Ritz, St. John's president and CEO. "In these challenging economic times, St. John's is committed to ensuring those who are struggling financially are offered all the assistance they need to cover the cost of their medical care."

Throughout the year St. John's partners with local organizations to provide health screenings and education outreach, the report said. The hospital's community benefit partnerships include:

• The "Safe at Home" program in cooperation with the Springfield Sliders. "Safe at Home" offered Sliders fans thousands of free giveaways designed to improve safety in and around the home. Fitted bike helmets, smoke detectors, safety lights and oven mitts were given away to families attending special promotional games.

• The genH (Generation Healthy) coalition and health fairs for CATCH (Community Access to Child Health) schools. As an anchor partner in the coalition, St. John's provides education, resources and health screenings at participating schools.

• During the past two summers, St. John's has partnered with the Sangamon County Department of Public Health and area farmers to offer WIC (Women, Infants and Children) clients access to bags of free produce. St. John's also is a main sponsor of the Old Capitol Farmers' Market, which runs from May-October.

To view the complete Community Benefit report, along with St. John's 2010 Annual Report, visit www.st-johns.org. To learn more about St. John's Charity Care programs, visit http://www.st-johns.org/patient_info/christian_care.aspx.