Health First Shared Services Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
WE EXIST TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.
- Income
- $82.2 million
- Spending
- $94.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 79%
- Employees
- 12,163
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $1.3 million, former exec vp cfo/coo end 7/24
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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 76% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 14 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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $86.0 million spent. THE PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE OF HEALTH FIRST SHARED SERVICES, INC. (HFSS) IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND SERVICES THAT ENABLE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL PATIENT CARE AT HEALTH FIRST'S CAPE CANAVERAL HOSPITAL, HEALTH FIRST'S HOLMES REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, HEALTH FIRST'S PALM BAY HOSPITAL, HEALTH FIRST'S VIERA HOSPITAL AND HOSPICE OF HEALTH FIRST, INC. THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY HFSS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: STRATEGIC PLANNING, MANAGEMENT, ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES, AND INTEGRAL SERVICES IN IT AND FINANCE.MORE SPECIFICALLY, HFSS SUPPORTS ITS AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS WITH:1. COORDINATION OF PATIENT CARE SERVICES TO REDUCE THE DUPLICATION OF RESOURCES AND INCREASE THE COST-EFFICIENCY OF PATIENT CARE OFFERED AT ANY HEALTH FIRST ENTITY;2. PROVISION OF ENHANCED CLINICAL, MARKETING, PLANNING, FINANCIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL SERVICES AND EXPERTISE, AND;3. SERVICE AREA COMMUNITY HEALTH PLANNING TO ENSURE THAT COLLECTIVELY ALL HEALTH FIRST ENTITIES PROVIDE THE HEALTHCARE SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS WHO RESIDE IN BREVARD COUNTY.SOME EXAMPLES OF ENHANCED CLINICAL CARE INCLUDE VIRTUAL VISITS, ATHENAHEALTH, EPIC, AND KYRUUS. THESE ADVANCEMENTS ENSURE THERE IS ACCESS TO CARE WITH EASE AND CONVENIENCE. VIRTUAL VISITS ARE A WAY FOR PHYSICIANS TO OFFER HEALTHCARE TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM THE COMFORT OF THEIR OWN HOMES. HEALTH FIRST HAS INVESTED DEEPLY IN THIS TECHNOLOGY TO HELP KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.THE VIRTUAL VISIT TOOLS WE EFFECTIVELY AND IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENTED DURING THE FIRST WAVE OF COVID-19 MADE A HUGE IMPACT AS HEALTH FIRST CONTINUED TO PROVIDE QUALITY CARE TO OUR PATIENTS.WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE FUTURE OF VIRTUAL VISITS WAS NO LONGER A "NICE TO HAVE" BUT INSTEAD, A "MUST HAVE," BASED ON THE RESPONSE HEALTH FIRST EXPERIENCED FROM PATIENTS.THE HEALTH FIRST NETWORK HAS EXPANDED THESE SERVICES TO INCLUDE WELL CARE VISITS, CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT, ACUTE VISITS, AND SPECIALIST CARE. IN 2024, THERE WERE 10,323 VIRTUAL VISIT PATIENTS THAT WERE SEEN BY HEALTH FIRST PROVIDERS.HEALTH FIRST PARTNERED WITH ATHENAHEALTH TO MODERNIZE OUR PATIENT INTAKE PROCESS.ATHENAHEALTH'S ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD (EMR) SYSTEM ENHANCES THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE WITH A STREAMLINED, USER-FRIENDLY PORTAL. PATIENTS CAN CONVENIENTLY CHECK IN ONLINE BEFORE THEIR APPOINTMENT OR USE SELF-SERVICE TOOLS IN THE OFFICE FOR FASTER REGISTRATION. THE SYSTEM ALLOWS SECURE ONLINE PAYMENTS, REAL-TIME UPDATES, AND MESSAGING, SO PATIENTS CAN STAY INFORMED AND WAIT IN THEIR VEHICLES UNTIL THEY ARE NOTIFIED. WITH INTEGRATED TOOLS FOR ACCURATE RECORDKEEPING, ATHENA IMPROVES COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PATIENTS AND THEIR CARE TEAMS. HEALTH FIRST HAS ANNOUNCED THE INVESTMENT OF MORE THAN $160 MILLION AS PART OF A TWO-YEAR TRANSFORMATIVE PLAN TO MODERNIZE AND TRANSFORM BREVARD COUNTY'S HEALTHCARE EXPERIENCE FOR PATIENTS, HEALTH PLANS MEMBERS, PROVIDERS, AND CARE TEAMS.HEALTH FIRST IS PARTNERING WITH HEALTHCARE SOFTWARE VENDOR EPIC TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. EPIC'S ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD (EHR) SYSTEM PROVIDES A MODERN, INTUITIVE PLATFORM TO ENHANCE THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE. WITH EPIC'S MYCHART, PATIENTS CAN EASILY CHECK IN ONLINE BEFORE THEIR APPOINTMENT OR USE CONVENIENT SELF-SERVICE OPTIONS IN THE OFFICE FOR FASTER REGISTRATION. THE SYSTEM OFFERS SECURE ONLINE BILL PAYMENTS, REAL-TIME APPOINTMENT UPDATES, AND MESSAGING, ALLOWING PATIENTS TO WAIT IN THEIR VEHICLES UNTIL NOTIFIED IT'S TIME TO ENTER. EPIC'S COMPREHENSIVE TOOLS STREAMLINE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PATIENTS AND THEIR CARE TEAMS, ENSURING ACCURATE RECORDS AND SEAMLESS CARE COORDINATION.HEALTH FIRST OFFERS AN ENTERPRISE-WIDE PLATFORM FOR OUR ONLINE PROVIDER DIRECTORY NAMED KYRUUS. THE ENHANCED DIRECTORY STREAMLINES OUR ONLINE MEDICAL STAFF PROVIDER DIRECTORY. THE IMPROVEMENT WILL INCORPORATE SEARCH FILTER CRITERIA, MOBILE OPTIMIZATION AND MORE. THIS NOT ONLY INCREASED EASE OF ACCESS TO OUR NETWORK BUT ALSO BOOSTED THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE. WITH THE HEALTH FIRST DIRECTORY, CUSTOMERS CAN SEARCH USING KEY WORDS AND ACRONYMS, SUCH AS "PCP" INSTEAD OF "PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER, AND EVEN ABBREVIATIONS, SUCH AS "AFIB" INSTEAD OF "ATRIAL FIBRILLATION." THE SEARCH WILL ALSO INCORPORATE FILTERS SO CUSTOMERS CAN MATCH THEMSELVES WITH THE MOST APPROPRIATE PROVIDER FOR THEIR NEEDS.AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT HEALTHCARE NETWORK, HEALTH FIRST IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING SERVICES REGARDLESS OF A PERSON'S ABILITY TO PAY. HEALTH FIRST'S DEDICATION TO HIGH-QUALITY, PATIENT-CENTERED HEALTHCARE IS REFLECTED IN OUR MISSION-DRIVEN COMMUNITY BENEFITS, WHICH IN 2024 TOTALED OVER $30.9 MILLION. THIS INCLUDED OVER $15 MILLION IN CHARITY CARE, PROVIDED AS A "SAFETY NET" FOR THOSE WHO WERE UNINSURED OR UNABLE TO PAY FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND WEREN'T ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC/ GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS. EVERY THREE YEARS, HEALTH FIRST CONDUCTS A COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT. BASED ON THE MOST RECENT REPORT IN 2024, RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE BY HEALTH FIRST LEADERSHIP AND APPROVED BY THE HEALTH FIRST BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING HEALTH DISPARITIES IN BREVARD COUNTY: 1- NUTRITION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND WEIGHT 2- ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE FOR A COPY OF OUR HEALTH FIRST SHARED SERVICES, INC. COMMUNITY BENEFIT REPORT, VISIT: HTTPS://HF.ORG/GIVING-BACK
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 October 13, 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 January 2020.
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 October 21, 2026.
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