(Spirit Lake)– A study recently released by the Iowa Hospital Association shows the impact healthcare facilities have on the local economy.
The study examined jobs, income, retail sales and sales tax produced by hospitals and the rest of the state’s health care sector.
Rich Kielman, President and CEO of Lakes Regional Healthcare of Spirit Lake, says the economic impact healthcare facilities has on local communities is something many people take for granted. Kielman says hospitals tend to be large employers in their communities, and Lakes Regional Healthcare is no exception. For example, Kielman says LRH employs 250 people. He says the employment of that level typically creates employment for another 250, meaning it involves 500 jobs in Dickinson county. Kielman says LRH provides about 9.5 million dolalrs in salaries and 14.7 million in total income, which impacts local retail sales.
The study also found LRH directly adds about 6.5 million dollars in taxable retail sales in Dickinson county.
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