Fort Sanders Perinatal Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Fort Sanders Perinatal Center provides quality healthcare, in alignment with Covenant Health's mission to serve the community by improving the quality of life through better health, regardless of the patient's ability to pay.
- Income
- $33.3 million
- Spending
- $34.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- -2.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 94%
- Employees
- 214
- Volunteers
- 19
- Highest pay
- $3.2 million, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 38 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 152% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 20 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $33.4 million spent. Fort Sanders Perinatal Center (the "Center") provides a full range of quality healthcare services to women in East Tennessee. The Center specializes in providing obstetrical care to women with high-risk and complicated pregnancies, as well as routine obstetrical/gynecological services to the area. For the last 25 years, the Center has provided comprehensive high-risk pregnancy services and delivered over 26,000 high-risk babies at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center ("FSRMC"). The main office is located at FSRMC with additional offices in West Knoxville, Morristown and Sevierville, Tennessee, to ensure access to OB/GYN care and high-risk pregnancy services without the need to travel to downtown Knoxville. The Center partners with East Tennessee Children's Hospital ("ETCH") to provide complete care for women and their babies. Through our collaboration with the neonatologists at ETCH, we can provide emergent care and medical services for infants, including a neonatal intensive care unit, neonatologists and a comprehensive newborn nursery.The Center provides care to those in need regardless of method of payment or ability to pay. During 2024, 48% of the Center's patients were covered by TennCare, Tennessee's Medicaid program, under which costs exceed reimbursement. In 2024, the Center had over 118,000 office visits and performed 3,365 deliveries.SERVICEThe Centers' OB/GYN specialists participate with deliveries at FSRMC and receive transports from other hospitals in the area with pregnant patients experiencing a complication requiring a higher level of care.Multiple gestations, advanced maternal age, or pregnancies experiencing problems with the fetus are considered to be high-risk pregnancies. In addition, medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, or other medical or genetic conditions can create complications relating to pregnancy and delivery. The Center physicians use a team approach for all patients that includes a combination of Sonographers, Nurse Practitioners, Genetic Counselors, Diabetes Educators and Perinatologists. Prenatal screening and diagnostic testing are performed to evaluate the health of babies in utero and to check for birth defects. While most babies are born healthy, a small number (1%) are born with major birth defects, and 3 to 4% are born with birth defects that may be caused by genetic, environmental or other factors. Three genetic counselors are available to provide guidance about different screening and diagnostic testing options unique to the mothers' needs. Our genetic counselors have master's degrees in genetic counseling, are licensed by the State of Tennessee Division of Health-Related Boards and are certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling. They have extensive knowledge in human genetics, genetic disease, patterns of inheritance and birth defects. They also are trained in counseling skills to help deal with critical decision-making and the emotional effects of a genetic disease.High-resolution ultrasounds are performed by a team of sonographers have experience ranging from 5 to 30 years in obstetric imaging and are certified by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. This certification is not required for all sonographers, but the team at Fort Sanders Perinatal Center is dedicated to expertise in women's health by maintaining required and elective certifications and staying informed of the latest advances in imaging techniques.In addition, our sonographers have specialized training and certification for early detection of chromosome anomalies and fetal anatomical abnormalities using a procedure known as Fetal Nuchal Translucency/Nasal Bone Assessment. This first-trimester ultrasound is performed at approximately 12 weeks of pregnancy. They also are certified to perform Maternal Cervical Assessment to aid in prevention of early delivery and miscarriage that otherwise may not be detected.Our team was the first obstetrical ultrasound department in Knoxville to be accredited by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine ("AIUM") in 1996. This is important because AIUM develops educational guidelines and protocols in imaging for medical professionals that ensures our sonographers and physicians are performing obstetrical ultrasound techniques above and beyond the standard of care. We are currently one of the largest maternal-fetal medicine imaging labs in East Tennessee.Many women develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy and require diabetes counseling. This occurs when a hormone made by the placenta keeps the body from using the insulin as it should. Blood sugar (glucose) then builds up in the blood instead of being absorbed by the cells in the body. Diabetes educators employed by the Center help with pregnancies complicated by diabetes or nutritional deficiencies. Since 1995, Fort Sanders Perinatal Center's Diabetes Program has been recognized by the American Diabetes Association. We are 1 of 4 programs in Knoxville with this recognition and the only OB program with this designation. COVENANT HEALTHFort Sanders Perinatal Center is a member of Covenant Health. Covenant Health is a community-owned, clinically integrated healthcare enterprise dedicated to being the region's premier healthcare network through service, community, and innovation. Our mission is to improve the quality of life in our region through better health. Covenant Health provides patient-centered care that inspires clinical and service excellence and strives to be the first and best choice for the communities we serve. Established in 1996 by the consolidation of Fort Sanders Health System, Knoxville, Tennessee, and MMC HealthCare System in Oak Ridge, Covenant Health is governed by a voluntary board of directors composed of community leaders and medical professionals. With more than 11,000 employees, affiliated physicians and volunteers, Covenant Health is the Knoxville area's largest employer and has been named a top employer by Fo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2007.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.