2013 Community Benefit Report South Georgia Medical Center
Investments in Technology Charitable Care Community Building South Georgia Medical Center and its Smith Northview Campus (collectively referred to as SGMC throughout this report) exist to serve people, improve healthcare delivery systems, work with others to improve the health of the people in the communities served and participate in making the community a better place in which to live. In keeping with that mission, SGMC continues to grow with the patient in mind, caring for more than 300,000 patients last year. Organizational growth was supported by the biggest capital expansion project in the hospital’s 58 year history, investments in new technologies to communicate better with physicians and patients, and recognition for quality achievements across service lines. The organization, under the governance of the Hospital Authority of Valdosta Lowndes County, GA, provides numerous outreach initiatives and educational programs to strategically address community health needs. Not only do these activities directly benefit program participants, they foster collaboration and assist the strategies of community partners who come together to accomplish remarkable objectives. SGMC could not continue these valuable services without the continued support of its affiliated physicians, clinical and ancillary staff, volunteers and dedicated community partners. Throughout the growing SGMC enterprise, our focus is to remain the Region’s Premier Health System and Destination for Health Care by offering excellence and services you have come to know and trust. As you review the following pages, you will see highlights of SGMC’s commitment to quality care and contributions to the community in Fiscal Year 2013. Sincerely, Randy Sauls, CEO
Indigent/Charity Care/Unpaid Cost of Medicaid/Unpaid Cost of Medicare/Bad Debt $52,812,981 As a not-for-profit community hospital, SGMC provides free and reduced-cost services to individuals who qualify. Helping to partially fund the cost of those services is the State of Georgia’s Indigent Care Trust Fund, established with federal and state matching dollars. Individuals benefiting from this fund can be working but uninsured or underinsured, unemployed, homeless, have experienced a catastrophic illness or the cost of care exceeds their ability to pay. Indigent/Charity Care Unpaid cost of Medicaid
$11,341,124 $9,952,796
Unpaid cost of Medicare $16,160,697 $15,358,364 Bad debt
Community Building & Health Improvement
$770,040
SGMC is a leader in providing community health benefits, partnering with dozens of organizations to support and assist initiatives that improve the health, well-being and lives of our community members, employees and those truly in need. t $BODFS 4DSFFOJOHT SGMC Pearlman Cancer Center physicians and staff provide multiple cancer screenings annually. In 2013, approximately 750 people benefited from these free services. Not only do screenings provide early detection, they raise awareness about prevention. Visit www.sgmc.org/ calendar to view a calendar of events. t $PNNVOJUZ 1BSUOFST JO &EVDBUJPO SGMC worked with city and county schools to help foster healthy eating habits and exercise in early childhood. SGMC provides mentors, school supplies, reading program incentives and healthy snacks throughout the year. t %FNFOUJB &EVDBUJPO. SGMC Dogwood Senior Health Center’s Dr. Joe Morgan held two seminars to educate more than 150 caregivers and seniors about the signs and symptoms of dementia. t )FBSU )FBMUI SGMC expanded its cardiac program with the opening of the new Dasher Memorial Heart Center in 2013. The new facility consolidates cardiology services in to one patientfriendly, convenient location.
In February, SGMC, in collaboration with the South Health District, conducted its annual Heart Health Expo. Approximately 100 participants received free EKGs, cholesterol and blood glucose screenings, blood pressure checks, and training on Compressions-Only CPR. t .FEJDBUJPO 4BGFUZ During the first week of April, (Medication Safety Week), SGMC pharmacists along with Chancy Drugs spoke to nearly 50 people about medication safety. Attendees were asked to bring their medicines and participate in a medication “brown bag� safety check. t 4BGF,JET SGMC and the Kohl’s Connecting Kids program partnered with Safe Kids Lowndes County to promote health and safety in infants and toddlers with a Baby Safe event. Participants learned basic CPR for infants and toddlers, water safety, hearing safety, the importance of breastfeeding, dental health and good nutrition. Additionally, a Bike Safety Rodeo was held to teach young cyclists how to stay safe when crossing the street and riding their bike in their neighborhoods.
Investments in Technology and Facilities $59,693,000 SGMC has taken advantage of lower interest rates and construction costs to improve infrastructure. In FY 2013, SGMC completed construction of the Dasher Memorial Heart Center and Patient Tower, a modern state-ofthe art five-story 130,000 square foot facility, adding over 96 private patient rooms, three digital cath labs, a cardiac intensive care unit, cardiac progressive unit, and an orthopedic and neurosurgical specialty care unit. Construction projects also included build out of a new power plant, which provides emergency back-up power for the new tower, and upgrades to the elevators in the main hospital.
Located at the Smith Northview Campus, a full-field American of College Radiology accredited digital mammography machine was added to provide patients with shorter exam times, earlier detection, faster results, better visibility and overall superior care. SGMC continued to focus on technology including electronic medical records and the patient portal, MyHealthSGMC.org. This portal allows safe online retrieval of your medical records and lab results. Other renovation and upgrade projects included telephone switch/integration across all campuses to account for the new patient rooms and continued expansion of the health system.
t 4NPLJOH $FTTBUJPO To help tobacco users quit the habit and stay tobacco free, South Georgia Medical Center and its Smith Northview campus provide free smoking cessation classes monthly. SGMC partnered with the Valdosta Mall and American Cancer Society to hold the Great American Smokeout event. Pulmonary techs and nurses completed pulmonary function tests and blood pressure checks for 57 participants.
t 7BMEPTUB -PXOEFT $PVOUZ 1BSLT BOE 3FDSFBUJPO "VUIPSJUZ SGMC along with Parks and Rec in observance of National Senior Health and Fitness Day, conducted the annual Seniors’ Walk where more than 125 seniors learned the importance of exercise. Attendees had their blood pressure checked by SGMC nurses and VSU Health Sciences interns. Participants joined in a medication “brown bag� review by SGMC pharmacists.
t 4USPLF 4ZNQPTJVN SGMC’s Neurohospitalist Dr. Brian Dawson spoke regularly at community events and helped host the annual Stroke Symposium seminar for stroke survivors. Dr. Shannon Smith also presented at this halfday event coordinated by SGMC’s Rehabilitation and Physical Theraphy Department. The symposium provided resources and educational material for those dealing with the effects of a stroke. Designated as the only Stroke Center South of Macon, SGMC consistently meets quality measures and has earned numerous Get with the Guidelines Awards from the American Heart & Stroke Association.
t 7BMEPTUB BOE -PXOEFT $PVOUZ $IBNCFS PG $PNNFSDF SGMC continued to be a member of the ValdostaLowndes County Chamber and in 2013 became an inaugural Chairman’s Circle member. Chairman’s Circle is the highest membership level and it provides an investment in the local community and supports initiatives to better Valdosta and Lowndes County.
t 4PVUIXFTU (FPSHJB "SFB )FBMUI &EVDBUJPO $FOUFS SGMC donated personal hygiene products to patients seen during the annual Farmworkers Clinic conducted by SOWEGA-AHEC and medical students from Mercer University’s School of Medicine. This week-long clinic provides free basic healthcare to more than 2,500 migrant and seasonal farmworkers in rural South Georgia.
t :.$" PG 7BMEPTUB BOE -PXOEFT $PVOUZ SGMC supported the YMCA throughout the year by funding healthy snacks for the after school programs; by partnering to conduct Safe SitterÂŽ Babysitting Courses; and by providing on-site health education classes including Diabetes Awareness and Know Your Medications. SGMC also provides nurses and techs to monitor a Phase 3 Cardiac Rehabilitation program at the Valdosta YMCA. The supervised program of exercise helps restore cardiac health in patients with cardiovascular disease.
SGMC Community Benefit Report 2013
$770,040
community building & health improvement
$805,509
health professions education and recruitment
$200,112
financial and in-kind contributions
total $1,775,663
Health Professions Education and Recruitment $805,509 SGMC made significant commitments of time and resources to ensure future healthcare workers receive necessary education and training. To accomplish this in 2013, SGMC supported scholarships, internships, clinical rotations, and preceptorships for 527 students across 15 schools and 24 programs of study. SGMC made a five-year financial pledge investing in the establishment of the Valdosta State University Health Sciences and Business Administration facility. The initial contribution provided seed money for the capital expansion.
$11,341,124 indigent/charity care
$9,952,796
unpaid cost of medicaid
$16,160,697
unpaid cost of medicare
$15,358,364 bad debt
total $52,812,981
$59,693,000
investments in technology and facilities
Financial and In-kind Contributions $200,112 SGMC sponsored various organizations such as American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Alzheimer’s Association, and March of Dimes. One significant project in 2013 was the Cancer Prevention Study, CPS3 with the American Cancer Society which collected prevention data from 255 community members. SGMC is also instrumental in supporting the Partnership Health Center, a free clinic for the community’s working uninsured, by contributing funds annually, leasing the building for $1 per year and providing hundreds of free diagnostic tests for the Partnership Health Center patients. Partnership Health Center had 4,376 patient visits in FY2013.
www.sgmc.org/communityoutreach 229.433.1000