The Carle Foundation Hospital

What it reported doing in 2024

Research and education initiatives: research carle health invests in clinical research to seek innovative solutions for difficult clinical challenges and ensure our patients have access to the most effective and innovative approaches to healthcare. The stephens family clinical research institute (sfcri) at carle health provides the scientific leadership and research infrastructure to advance research ideas and ensure the safe and compliant conduct of research in the clinical setting. Carle's clinicians and researchers conduct studies that receive recognition and support from national federal agencies, major foundations, and research institutions throughout the united states. In 2024, clinicians, researchers, and students worked on over 425 clinical trials and research studies across the health system. More than 3,000 patients participated in clinical research, including more than 1,400 new participants at locations in champaign-urbana, mattoon, danville, bloomington-normal and peoria. Researchers working at carle produced over 220 research publications in 2024, including important research in tbi care and stroke recovery. Research at carle health happens across the continuum of medical care. Nevertheless, certain fields stand out due to the exceptional expertise and collaboration among researchers and clinicians, leading to national acknowledgement of the programs created here. Cancer research at carle health's urbana cancer center has received support from the national cancer institute starting in 1985. The national cancer institute community oncology research program ("ncorp") grant supports community access to innovative clinical trials and best practice in care delivery. Carle cancer center is one of only thirty-two community sites in the nation, bringing cancer clinical trials to individuals in their own communities. Carle's cancer research program has received multiple nci awards for its high-quality, impactful work, leading to increased funding and wider clinical partnerships. The carle ncorp network now has 26 affiliate sites in areas of Illinois and western Indiana that do not have access to cancer clinical trials and emerging treatments, carle cancer institute received numerous awards in 2024 recognizing their outstanding accomplishments in bringing clinical trials to patients in our region, ranking as one of the top 10 programs in the country for nci clinical trial success alongside institutions like the mayo clinic and johns hopkins. Carle continues to be a top recruiting site in the nation for an important study evaluating the effectiveness of 2d versus 3d mammography. Georgina cheng, md, phd, a carle physician researcher and gynecological oncologist, has received the distinguished warren and clare cole award to advance her research on digital pathology tools. Designed for use during surgeries in the operating room, the tools will help improve diagnostic accuracy in the operating room and help surgeons make clearer decisions regarding immediate approaches for surgery and treatment of diseases. Dr. Claudius conrad, hepatobiliary surgical oncologist, joined carle in 2024 and was awarded a research grant from fuji film to develop the use of advanced imaging tools in the or to help surgeon visualize important structures in the liver, pancreas and bile duct, which improves surgical outcomes for patients. The carle clinical imaging research center is leading the use of the siemens 7 t mri system, the only 7 t system in the state of Illinois approved for clinical use. Carle health and the university of Illinois urbana champaign beckman imaging center, partnered to acquire the siemens 7t mri system 2020 and work closely to develop a unique coupling of advanced scientific development with clinical innovation. Our goal is to improve visualization of challenging clinical conditions to develop better detection and treatment of complex disease. Primary areas of interest are in traumatic brain injury, stroke recovery, epilepsy,

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 75.8%; rating input score 76
• Program expense ratio: 97.7%; rating input score 98
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.9%; rating input score 93; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 97.7%; rating input score 98; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 50%; rating input score 50; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 78
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 22.2%; rating input score 89; 89th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.55; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.26; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0.3%; rating input score 89; 89th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 8.7% per year; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 8.5% per year; rating input score 100; 70th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 6.1% per year; rating input score 100; 45th percentile among comparable filings