Accomplishments 2019 | NGHS

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS

NORTHEAST GEORGIA HEALTH SYSTEM

CHOOSE

Expertise The Future Life-Saving Care Healing Trust Wellness Your Community Choose NGMC

2019

THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A MONUMENTAL ONE FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA HEALTH SYSTEM. FROM THE START OF OUR GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM TO THE OPENING OF OUR FOURTH HOSPITAL CAMPUS TO THE LAUNCH OF OUR EPIC COMMUNITY CONNECT PARTNERSHIP WITH LONGSTREET CLINIC, 2019 HAS BEEN FULL OF HISTORY-MAKING MOMENTS. THE FOLLOWING PAGES HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS OUR PHYSICIANS, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ACHIEVED ACROSS THE SYSTEM. THE WORK IS DIVERSE, BUT THE MISSION IS THE SAME: IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY IN ALL WE DO.

GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM LAUNCHES AT NGMC 2019 brought a historic moment in the life of Northeast Georgia Health System – the launch of our Graduate Medical Education Program (GME). On July 1, 2019, our inaugural class of 20 internal medicine and six general surgery resident physicians began seeing patients at Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s (NGMC) Gainesville and Braselton campuses and in several local physician offices.

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THIS MONUMENTAL DAY HAS BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING, SINCE OUR BOARDS MADE THE DECISION TO EMBARK ON THIS SIGNIFICANT INITIATIVE. THEY RECOGNIZE THE IMPACT IT WILL MAKE ON OUR REGION AND STATE’S PHYSICIAN WORKFORCE AND ON OUR ORGANIZATION’S LEARNING CULTURE AS WE TRAIN AND EMPOWER THE PHYSICIAN LEADERS OF TOMORROW. In February, our Family Medicine Program received Initial Accreditation from the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education. The inaugural class of 12 family medicine resident physicians will join NGMC in July 2020.

In May, we broke ground on Medical Park 2. This three-story, 72,000-square-foot facility is being built adjacent to the existing Medical Park 1 on Jesse Jewell Parkway. The new building will house physician clinics for GME Family Medicine and Internal Medicine, as well as NGPG General Surgery, pulmonology and an outpatient/employee pharmacy.

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HENRY S. JENNINGS LECTURESHIP IN ME

S. JENNINGS ESHIP IN ME In October, our GME program hosted the inaugural Henry S. Jennings, Jr., MD, Visiting Lectureship in Medical Humanities, featuring C. Michael Valentine, MD, a senior cardiologist at the Stroobants Cardiovascular Center of Centra Health in Lynchburg, Virginia. He presented “Physician, Heal Thyself – Finding More Joy and Less Burnout in the Practice of Medicine.” Dr. Valentine, a Gainesville native, has a long history with the American College of Cardiology, serving as

president since 2018. His father, Herb Valentine, MD, was a peer of Dr. Jennings in the early formation of NGMC.

The lectureship was created through a signature gift to the NGHS Foundation by the family of Henry S. Jennings, Jr., MD. Dr. Jennings was truly a local pioneer and founder of the healthcare system we enjoy today in Gainesville and Hall County.

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EXPANDING OUR DIGITAL FRONT DOOR FLU E-VISITS

This year, Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) launched its first online healthcare service, flu E-visits. E-Visits allow patients who suspect they have the flu to connect with an NGPG provider through MyChart without ever leaving home.

Once the E-visit is submitted, a provider will review the E-visit and reply with a treatment plan within 24 hours.

225 E-VISITS COMPLETED

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ONLINE CHECK-IN FOR URGENT CARE

Online check-in launched this year for all seven of our Urgent Care locations.

Patients can check current wait times online, reserve an appointment time and receive a text message when it’s time to check in.

MYCHART UTILIZATION

Many patients are now using MyChart to stay connected with NGHS and access their personalized health information at any time, day or night. Patients can use MyChart to manage appointments, access health records, get test and lab results, manage medications, contact a provider, pay bills and conduct an E-visit. Visit nghs.com/mychart to log in or sign up.

PERCENT OF PATIENTS USING MYCHART OCTOBER 1, 2018

28% 36%

SEPTEMBER 30, 2019

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NGHS RECOGNIZED AMONG MOST WIRED HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS OF 2019

NGHS was recognized as one of the nation’s Most Wired Hospitals and Health Systems of 2019 by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives. This marks the sixth consecutive year NGHS has been recognized, this time as a certified Level 8 health system. Level 8 organizations have deployed technologies and strategies like population health, cost-of-care analytics, Health Information Exchange (HIE) and other integration strategies such as patient portals to help analyze data. Health systems recognized as Most Wired have demonstrated the ability to achieve meaningful clinical and efficiency outcomes. For 2019, only four health systems in Georgia achieved Level 8 rating.

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SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT

Through our Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram accounts, NGHS saw record growth in social media activity in 2019.

Our followers and fans grew from 25,982 to 32,138 – an increase of 24% year over year. In addition, our social media channels saw six times the engagement that other top competitors see on their channels.

TOTAL FY19 IMPRESSIONS, LIKES, SHARES, INTERACTIONS, WHATEVER: (FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, LINKEDIN FOR ALL BRAND ACCOUNTS)

IMPRESSIONS

14M ENGAGEMENT

(REACTIONS, COMMENTS, MESSAGES, SHARES)

150K 140K CLICKS

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ENHANCED COLLABORATION WITH HABERSHAM MEDICAL CENTER

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NGHS TOOK A SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARD A MORE DIRECT COLLABORATION WITH HABERSHAM MEDICAL CENTER (HMC) IN JULY, AS NGMC BEGAN DIRECT SUPPORT OF HMC’S EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND INPATIENT SERVICES THROUGH THE SAME PHYSICIAN GROUPS THAT PROVIDE THESE SERVICES AT NGMC’S OTHER HOSPITAL CAMPUSES. TWO EXISTING EMERGENCY SERVICES NURSING LEADERS ALSO TRANSITIONED THEIR EMPLOYMENT FROM HMC TO NGMC, ALLOWING NGMC TO SEAMLESSLY INTEGRATE BEST PRACTICES WE’VE LEARNED AT OUR OTHER HOSPITALS INTO HMC OPERATIONS.

NGMC LUMPKIN OPENED JULY 16

NGMC LUMPKIN OPENED JULY 16, 2019, MAKING IT THE FOURTH HOSPITAL CAMPUS IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA HEALTH SYSTEM. THE HOSPITAL RE-OPENED IN THE FORMER CHESTATEE REGIONAL HOSPITAL BUILDING, NOW OWNED BY THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM BOARD OF REGENTS BUT LEASED TO NGHS UNTIL WE OPEN OUR NEW FACILITY ON GEORGIA HIGHWAY 400.

NGMC Lumpkin offers an emergency department, inpatient care and supporting imaging, lab and pharmacy services. Complete emergency services are provided 24/7/365 by the same group of physicians who care for emergency patients at other NGMC hospitals. NGMC Lumpkin is connected to other facilities through our electronic health record, Epic, ensuring smooth transitions of care. NGPG Internist Donna Whitfield, MD, who began her career at Chestatee Regional Hospital in 1976, serves as NGMC Lumpkin’s first Chief of Staff.

NGMC Lumpkin’s emergency department volumes are outpacing projections by 50%.

We also completed a successful DNV GL accreditation survey at the end of October.

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EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AND EMPLOYEE SERVICE AWARDS

During our 2019 Service Award celebration, NGHS named Connor English Cooper, an inpatient coordinator for NGPG’s Hospitalist team, its 2019 Employee of the Year.

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THIS YEAR, NGHS RECOGNIZED A TOTAL OF 929 EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR TENURE.

FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE

10-15 YEARS 20-45 YEARS OF SERVICE OF SERVICE

465 315 149

WATCH CHANGE GRANTS PROGRAM

In addition to raising money for health-related needs, WATCH funds employee improvement ideas from across NGHS. Change Grants were launched in 2019 as a way for employees to submit ideas that can improve the patient, visitor or employee experience for anyone at any NGHS facility – from charity care to a Donate Life flagpole, NGHS employees touch lives and make a positive impact!

EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING PROGRAM

GROWING OUR STAFF

MORE THAN

RECRUITING HIRING STATS

In 2019, NGHS partnered with Limeade to launch a new, online employee well-being program. The program is based on the five essential elements of well-being. as defined by Gallup: career, social, financial, physical and community. The site offers tools, educational content and social support to help our employees live their best life, at work and at home.

REGISTERED

8,027 4K 7,885

EMPLOYEES INTO NEW POSITIONS

PARTICIPATED IN WELL-BEING ACTIVITIES

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ADVANCEMENTS IN CANCER TREATMENT

NGMC CANCER SERVICES AMONG THE BEST IN THE NATION

NGMC’s Cancer Services was the only program in Georgia – and one of only 24 programs in the nation – to receive the 2018 Outstanding Achievement Award by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, its highest level of recognition based on standards of care assessed during an accreditation survey.

NGMC JOINS EMORY CANCER NETWORK

In October, NGMC joined the Winship Cancer Network as an affiliate of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. The partnership brings together the top two cancer programs in the region with a mutual goal of providing the best possible care and experience for our patients. Through a cancer affiliation which includes clinical research and education, NGMC and Winship will work together on cancer program development and initiatives, patient care and cancer care coordination. In addition, NGMC patients will have access to Winship’s more than 275 existing therapeutic clinical trials and research projects, led by some of the top clinical investigators in the country. Local physicians and patients also benefit from direct access to Winship’s tumor boards and multidisciplinary cancer team meetings for collaboration in cancer care.

NGMC FIRST TO OFFER NEW LUNG NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR CANCER PATIENTS

NGMC Braselton became the region’s first hospital to offer a new minimally invasive diagnostic technology for patients with pulmonary nodules that are suspicious for lung cancer. Navigational bronchoscopy uses a system made possible by funding through the NGHS Foundation’s Braselton campaign. Through use of this new technology, which allows easier access for sampling of suspicious lung lesions, we hope to further improve both patient outcomes and lung cancer survival rates.

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NGMC TO SHARE IN GEORGIA NCORP FEDERAL FUNDING

$11M

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded its Georgia-based Community Oncology Research Program – known as Georgia NCORP – a six-year, $11 million grant aimed at increasing enrollment and access to important clinical trials for Georgians.

NGMC is one of only five cancer programs – and the only one in northeast Georgia – selected by the NCI to participate in the Georgia NCORP partnership based on its leadership and track record in community-based oncology research. Through this partnership, NGMC will be able to provide cancer patients increased access to many high-profile, NCI-sponsored clinical trials.

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3D MAMMOGRAPHY AVAILABLE AT NGMC BARROW

NGMC Barrow began offering 3D mammography, making it the only place offering this technology in Barrow County. 3D mammograms create images using many layers of the breast, so fine details are more visible and no longer hidden by tissue above or below. This can mean fewer call-backs for repeat exams.

NGMC RECOGNIZED FOR HPV PREVENTION PARTNERSHIP WITH ACS

NGMC is one of only three hospitals in Georgia, and 24 hospital systems in the Southeast – to receive the American Cancer Society’s HPV Cancer Free Partnership Award for 2019. The HPV Cancer Free Partnership Award provides NGMC with funding specifically designated to support evidence-based interventions aimed at preventing HPV-related cancers. By collaborating with Good News Clinics, NGMC used the funding to host HPV prevention and educational programs in the community and reduce barriers for local women in need of cervical cancer screenings, particularly those who have rarely or never been screened.

CHOOSE VICTORY when our patients complete cancer treatment at NGMC, they often announce it by ringing a bell. victory rings loud at NGMC.

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[ ]

CONTINUING TO MAXIMIZE EPIC

OUR ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD

LONGSTREET CLINIC GOES LIVE ON EPIC’S COMMUNITY CONNECT

After 18 months of planning, building and training, Longstreet Clinic went live on Epic on July 1, 2019, in all of its urgent, primary and specialty care clinics. Through this partnership, NGHS extended our current Epic tools to Longstreet Clinic through a program called Community Connect, which allows large healthcare organizations to extend their EHR to community practices. Given the number of patients NGHS and Longstreet Clinic share, these patients benefit tremendously from having one medical record! The Epic partnership between NGHS and Longstreet Clinic not only improves the health of our community, it also creates a foundation for us to continue to work together to provide services that our patients and community need.

EPIC SUCCESS FOR TOCCOA & BARROW

TOCCOA & BARROW AREA LOCATIONS COMPLETED A SUCCESSFUL EPIC GO-LIVE ON OCTOBER 1 AND WORKFLOWS HAVE IMPROVED DAILY.

NGHS RECOGNIZED FOR REVENUE CYCLE EXCELLENCE EPIC RECOGNIZED NGHS AS THE THIRD MOST AUTOMATED AND HIGH PERFORMING HOSPITAL BILLING SYSTEM IN THE EPIC COMMUNITY ACROSS THE NATION!

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NEW MINIMALLY INVASIVE TREATMENT OPTION FOR PATIENTS WITH SKIN CANCER NGMC’s Cancer Services continues to find new ways to improve cancer care for its patients. NGMC now offers cancer patients a non-invasive treatment approach utilizing high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy, which helps physicians treat skin cancer with exact precision and without damaging unnecessary surrounding tissue.

Performed as an outpatient procedure, HDR brachytherapy offers patients an essentially painless alternative to traditional surgical treatment and/or conventional radiation therapy. When used to

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treat skin cancers, HDR brachytherapy can provide greater precision and higher doses of radiation delivered in a shorter amount of time.

“This novel treatment does not involve an incision of any kind and has the potential for fewer radiation treatments, which means less visits to the doctor and, often, an easier recovery,” says Jaymin Jhaveri, MD, MS, a radiation oncologist with Northeast Georgia Physicians Group.

NGMC SUPPORTS RELAY FOR LIFE IN 7 COUNTIES

NGMC was proud to help support Relay for Life events spanning across seven counties in Northeast Georgia. Many employees came out to support the events in their area, including executive director of Oncology Services Jayme Carrico and his family.

WOMEN & CHILDREN’S LEADERSHIP TEAM MAKING INTERNATIONAL IMPACT A group of NGMC’s NICU nurses and leaders presented at the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society Convention in Washington, D.C. – a biennial conference that connects more than 4,000 nurses across 100 countries to help improve patient care. Our staff was recognized for the work NGMC is doing to improve the care infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and their families receive by implementing evidence-based practices, decreasing hospital length of stay and involving Peer Recovery coaches to help support the mothers and babies impacted by Substance Use Disorder in pregnancy. NGMC is the first in the nation to offer this type of support for mothers in or seeking recovery before, during and after delivery.

NGMC RECOGNIZED AT HEALTHCARE AWARDS

The Gwinnett Healthcare Awards recognize leading individuals and organizations making a significant impact in Gwinnett County and metro Atlanta’s healthcare industry. In 2018, the NGHS Opioid Initiative program, led by Deb Bailey, won the Community Wellness category and Henry Edward Braselton was honored posthumously with the Lasting Legacy award.

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NGMC ALIGNS WITH AIR METHODS

In January, NGMC entered into a strategic alignment with Air Methods helicopter patient transport service.

As part of this agreement, NGMC now provides the medical director for Air Methods and the Air Methods helicopter is branded with the NGMC logo. We also worked with Air Methods to relocate their base from Gainesville to Habersham County, placing it more centrally within the Northeast Georgia region.

REGIONAL TRAUMA SYMPOSIUM

In November 2019, the Region 2 Regional Trauma Advisory Committee (RTAC) held its fourth annual RTAC Trauma Symposium at Lanier Technical College. Almost 500 pre-hospital providers, students, nurses, advanced practice providers and physicians heard from local trauma experts and nationally recognized speakers, as well as a local trauma survivor and his family. RTAC Chair and Habersham County EMS Director Chad Black (pictured left with Senator Butch Miller) received the Governor Nathan Deal Award for Trauma Excellence for his lasting impact on trauma care in North Georgia, and particularly Region 2.

NGHS WINS NATIONAL EMERGENCY NURSING AWARD

NGHS was awarded the 2019 National Certification Champion Award in the healthcare system category from the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) for its commitment to nursing excellence.

Winners were chosen for excellence in three areas: pursuing board certification in advanced emergency nursing; designing and implementing innovative practices and programs to encourage emergency nursing specialty certification; and demonstrating the impact of a board-certified emergency nurse workforce on patient, nurse and organizational outcomes.

BARROW COUNTY EMS AMBULANCE SERVICE ESTABLISHED AT NGMC BARROW

On July 1, a Barrow County ambulance unit began service at NGMC Barrow, as part of an agreement between NGMC Barrow and the Barrow County Commission. The NGMC branded ambulance responds to medical emergencies as dispatched by the Barrow emergency communications center, primarily in the Winder area. This initiative has freed up other ambulances in the Barrow County fleet that previously responded from stations throughout the county into the city. Since going live July 1, the NGMC Barrow ambulance has exceeded projections for calls and transports.

ACS TRAUMA VERIFICATION

NGMC Gainesville’s Level II Trauma Center achieved national verification by the American College of Surgeons for its dedication to not only providing top-notch care to trauma patients but also working to continuously improve its level of care. NGMC Gainesville is one of only three Level II verified trauma centers in the state of Georgia.

RN RESIDENCY PROGRAM ACHIEVES NATIONAL ACCREDITATION

NGMC’s RN Residency Program achieved accreditation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). NGMC is one of three programs in the state of Georgia – and one of 117 in the United States – to earn an ANCC Practice Transition Accreditation. Nurses in accredited transition programs, like NGMC, develop experience that promotes knowledge, skills and professional behaviors necessary to deliver safe, high-quality care. NGMC is accredited at three of our campuses – NGMC Gainesville, NGMC Braselton and NGMC Barrow

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HEART FLOW

IN APRIL, NGMC BECAME THE FIRST HOSPITAL IN GEORGIA TO PROVIDE A NEW TEST THAT CAN BETTER PREDICT IF YOU HAVE CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE AND NEED A CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION TO RESTORE BLOOD FLOW TO YOUR HEART. The new test – called HeartFlow Analysis – takes data from a CT scan of a patient’s heart and uses it to create a 3D model of the coronary arteries. It then uses powerful computer algorithms to simulate blood flow and assess the impact of blockages on blood flow to the heart.

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PRACTICE GROWTH

The Heart Center of Northeast Georgia Medical Center welcomed 3 new physicians and 6 advanced practice providers this year.

PHYSICIANS (from top left to right) Falgun Patel, MD, FACC, FSCAI Atul Trivedi, MD, FACC Ryan Whitney, MD, FACC, FSCAI

ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDERS (from top left to right) Amanda Carroll, PA-C Tina Chaphe, AGACNP-BC Elizabeth Illing, FNP-BC Robert Joiner, PA-C Julie Varghese, AGPCNP-BC Starr Weather, AG-ACNP

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ADVANCES IN STROKE CARE ACROSS THE SYSTEM

NGMC GAINESVILLE RECERTIFIED AS A DNV GL PRIMARY STROKE CENTER

NGMC Gainesville was recertified as a DNV GL Primary Stroke Center following an annual survey in April. DNV GL surveyors reviewed actual and potential patient outcomes as well as required treatment processes.

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[ ] CHOOSE HOME

you don’t have to travel far from home, no matter where you live.

NGMC STROKE PROGRAM WELCOMES NEW MEDICAL DIRECTOR DR. MARY ANN FARES JOINED NORTHEAST GEORGIA MEDICAL CENTER IN SEPTEMBER 2018 AS THE STROKE MEDICAL DIRECTOR. DR. FARES IS BOARD CERTIFIED IN VASCULAR NEUROLOGY. NGMC GAINESVILLE RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS STROKE AWARDS

NGMC Gainesville was recognized with two prestigious awards from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association: The Get with The Guidelines Gold Plus Award , the highest award of its kind, recognizes proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines.

®

The Stroke Honor Roll-Elite Plus Award recognizes hospitals that meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-busting drugs approved to treat ischemic stroke. ®

NGMC BRASELTON AND BARROW DESIGNATED AS REMOTE TREATMENT STROKE CENTERS

NGMC Braselton and Barrow were designated as Remote Treatment Stroke Centers by the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Office of EMS and Trauma. The designation recognizes both hospitals’ focus on the full continuum of stroke care – from rapid screening, diagnosis and treatment for patients experiencing an acute stroke to prevention measures such as blood pressure control, smoking cessation and treatment of elevated cholesterol levels.

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NGPG INTERNAL MEDICINE OPENS IN GAINESVILLE

NGPG Internal Medicine in Gainesville opened in January 2019. The office is staffed by three board-certified internists, (from top left to right) Bradley Pierce, MD; Taylor Henson, MD; James Jackson, MD; and their team of nurse practitioners: Michele Shook, FNP-C; Dawn Sosebee, FNP-C; and Juli Dyer, FNP-C.

NGPG CLINICS ACHIEVE PATIENT CENTERED MEDICAL HOME RECOGNITION

Five NGPG clinics achieved preliminary Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition under the latest standards: NGPG Family Medicine in Gainesville, West Jackson, Thompson Bridge, Chestnut Mountain and Internal Medicine in Dahlonega. PCMH designation demonstrates dedication to high quality care delivery using a patient centered approach.

CHOOSE QUALITY our board-certified physicians are always seeking better ways to care for patients every day

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NGPG URGENT CARE LOCATIONS EARN PATIENT-CENTERED-CONNECT-CARE (PCCC) RECOGNITION

All seven NGPG urgent care sites were recognized for meeting National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) national standards in the ability to communicate and connect with primary care settings.

NGHS SIMULATION TEAM HONORED

The NGHS Simulation Team received the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation’s most prestigious honor, the Laufman-Greatback Award, which recognizes an individual or group that makes a unique and significant contribution to the advancement of healthcare technology and systems, service, patient care or patient safety.

NGPG Urgent Care Braselton l Buford l Cleveland l Dacula Dahlonega l Dawsonville l Gainesville

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NGMC HOSPITALS NAMED BEST-IN-CLASS NGMC Braselton was named Best Hospital in Gwinnett

by Gwinnett Magazine for the fifth year in a row.

NGMC Braselton was voted Best Hospital in Jackson County for 2019 by the readers of the Braselton News and the Jackson Herald.

Gainesville Times Best of Hall recipients: NGMC Gainesville named Best Hospital, The Heart Center of NGMC named Best Cardiology Group, and Hospice of NGMC named Best Hospice.

NGMC Barrow was named one of the “Top 20” best small hospitals in Georgia by Georgia Trend magazine, based on a Total Performance Score based on clinical process, patient experience, outcome and efficiency.

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NGMC Barrow was awarded Large Business of the Year by the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce at its 2019 Awards Celebration.

The hospital was recognized for its partnership activities in the community, reputation and contribution to the economic growth, stability and improvement of Barrow County.

NGHS President and CEO Carol Burrell also received the Barrow County Chamber’s Annual Shining Star Award for her leadership and commitment to healthcare in Barrow County and throughout the region and state.

State Sen. Butch Miller received the Legislator of the Year Award from both the Georgia Hospital Association and the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals for serving as a tireless advocate for hospitals and the patients and communities they serve.

State Rep. Matt Dubnik was named the 2019 Family Medicine Legislative Champion of the Year by the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians for his commitment to advocating for physicians and patients.

WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT SEN. MILLER, REP. DUBNIK AND OUR ENTIRE LOCAL DELEGATION ARE COMMITTED TO EDUCATING THEMSELVES ON COMPLEX HEALTHCARE LEGISLATIVE ISSUES AND ADVOCATING FOR PATIENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

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[ ] CHOOSE HEALING

There’s more to healing than just medicine

NGMC_Billboard_36x10o6_ChooseHealing.indd 1

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GREAT STRIDES IN HONORING ORGAN DONATION ACROSS THE SYSTEM In April, a new flagpole was installed on the NGMC Gainesville campus, funded by employees through the NGHS Foundation.

The flagpole flies a Donate Life flag each time one of our patients gives the gift of life by becoming an organ or tissue donor.

We also instituted a new code, Code Honor, called house-wide to notify employees of the opportunity to pay tribute to these self-sacrificing patients and their families.

During Code Honor walks, staff line the hallways as the patient is taken to the operating room, often followed by family members. Each walk is a sacred event that shows respectful compassion for such a significant sacrifice.

LifeLink of Georgia, NGMC’s organ donation partner, presented NGMC with three Workplace Partnership for Life awards this year. The awards are given to workplace partners who conduct awareness and registration campaigns to educate staff, visitors and community members about the critical need for organ, eye and tissue donors and increase the number of potential donors on the registry. LifeLink presented Silver Awards to NGMC Braselton and NGMC Barrow and a Platinum Award, the highest level, to NGMC Gainesville.

In April, we also held a very special celebration and remembrance ceremony to pay tribute to the 24 heroes who became donors at NGMC from October 2017 to September 2018.

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INPATIENT REHAB ACHIEVES CARF ACCREDITATION

The Inpatient Medical Rehabilitation Unit achieved a three-year accreditation by CARF International, considered the highest level of accreditation a facility can achieve. The accreditation recognizes NGMC’s program for our specialization in stroke care.

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NGMC AND ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS CONTINUE PROGRESS IN JOINT REPLACEMENT PROGRAM

NGMC, together with our orthopedic surgeons (Longstreet Clinic, NGPG and Specialty Clinics), made significant progress in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Comprehensive Care Joint Replacement program to reduce cost and improve outcomes.

BRASELTON AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTER CON APPROVED BY THE STATE

A Certificate of Need (CON) application for an ambulatory surgery center in Braselton was approved by the State in March. Although currently under appeal, the CON approval by the Georgia Department of Community Health is a strong indication of the strength of our application versus Northside Hospital’s competing application, which was denied.

MORE THAN

NGMC CONTRIBUTED

$1.8B

TO LOCAL AND STATE ECONOMY

NGMC has now surpassed the $1.8 billion mark in contributions to local and state economies, according to a recent Georgia Hospital Association report. The report also details that NGMC provided more than $56 million in uncompensated care and sustained more than 14,000 full-time jobs throughout the region and state – in addition to the more than 8,000 employees directly employed by NGHS.

‘A’ RATING FROM S&P AND FITCH

S&P and Fitch both affirmed our ‘A’ Rating, and Fitch upgraded our outlook from Stable to Positive.

According to the S&P report, “The ‘A’ rating reflects our view of NGHS’ ability to take advantage of the opportunities in its fast-growing market that have been accretive to its business position in the northeast corner of the state.” The Fitch report went on to highlight, “The Positive Outlook reflects the expectation that NGHS’ strong profitability levels and ongoing strategic capital investments will continue to support a leading market position.”

CHOOSE STRENGTH

our therapists help patients establish goals for recovery so they can get back to their daily lives.

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THREE FROM NGHS RECEIVE HEALTHY HALL AWARDS

Three from NGHS received 2019 Healthy Hall Awards, sponsored by the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce: (left to right) Julie Abernathy, RN - Outstanding Healthcare Professional; John Ferguson, retired NGHS President and CEO - Visionary Leader; and Frank Lake III, MD, NGPG Radiation Oncologist - Physician Specialist of the Year.

RECORD ATTENDANCE AT 11TH ANNUAL STEMI SUMMIT

More than 1,400 medical professionals and first responders attended the 11th Annual Northeast Georgia STEMI Summit hosted by NGMC in March 2019. Each year, the Summit brings together paramedics, emergency medical services staff, nurses, physicians and other caregivers from across the state to discuss the Northeast Georgia Regional STEMI System – a collaborative effort providing critical care and rapid response for people experiencing severe heart attacks, known as ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarctions (STEMI), and patients who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Above: STEMI survivors and medical personnel celebrate at this year’s summit.

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TWO FROM NGHS NAMED HOSPITAL HEROES

Jason Grady, coordinator for the Northeast Georgia Regional STEMI System, and Jeff Thompson, NGHS director of Pastoral Care, were named Hospital Heroes by the Georgia Hospital Association. The GHA honored six Georgia hospital employees who performed a heroic deed and/or have tirelessly given of their time, talent and expertise to improve their organizations and the world around them. This year, two of the six were from NGHS!

CAROL BURRELL RECEIVES NATIONAL AND STATEWIDE RECOGNITION

NGHS President and CEO Carol Burrell was named to Georgia Trend’s list of the 100 Most Influential Georgians for the fifth year in a row, a list of people who are not only “successful in their careers, but they also wield remarkable power and influence and have contributed to making life better for Georgians.”

Additionally, Becker’s Hospital Review named her to its annual list of women hospital and health system leaders to know, a group of recognized leaders who “face the challenges of running healthcare organizations head on. Many wear multiple hats within their health system to promote organization growth and drive innovation.”

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FIELD GUIDE TO

BURDS A Scavenger Hunt FOR THE YOUNG OR

YOUNG AT HEART

GAINESVILLE EDITION

9/11/18 1:19 PM

“Victory Rings” new faces, new focus,

:30 TV/VIDEO REACH:victory has a nice ring to it.

https://bit.ly/2GW9A49 new hospital.

At Northeast Georgia Medical Center, we care for more than 2,000 new cancer patients each year. That means our commun expert doctors, leading clinical trials and a cancer program that is nationally recognized and accredited by the American Coll Commission on Cancer – the highest ranking possible. nghs.com/victory-rings l 770-824-9262

• The direct mail reached more than households across Northeast Georg Cancer treatment for the First Lady.

• Social mediafitseries reached more t in less than 4 months.

• YouTube pre-roll & Comcast digital received 195,449 views.

• TV commercial ran on cable and s their service area more 4,500 time • Print ads ran more than 75 times a newspapers, magazines and newsl

Northeast Georgia Medical Center Barrow

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5/30/18 10:22 AM

As the First Lady of Georgia, Sandra Deal could have gone anywhere for top-quality cancer treatment. Find out why she chose to beat cancer and ring the bell here at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. nghs.com/victory-rings l 770-824-9262

NGMC_RingtheBell_8_875x11_375_Times_Home_DealAd.indd 1

6/14/18 1

RESULTS:

All advertising directed viewers to the victory has a nice ring to it. landing page, which received a total during the campaign.

Of those visits, Find your orthopedic expert today at nghs.com/complete-ortho l 770-637-1030 new sessions.

Caring for more than 2,000 new cancer patients each year means our community has access to experienced physicians and leading clinical trials – so you can focus on beating cancer where you’re most comfortable. Choose a doctor at one of the nation’s leading cancer centers: nghs.com/beat-cancer l 770-824-9262

NGMC_RingtheBell_8_875x11_375_Times_Home_Ad.indd 1

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On this landing page, NGMC created them usin below, which produced a total of 228 NGHS also won 11 National Aster Awards – six gold, four silver and one bronze – for its healthcare marketing efforts, the most honors 1) Call us for any hospital in our category in the nation!

2) Submit a form online 3) Click a link to “Meet Our Doctors” NGHS ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS RECEIVE NATIONAL RECOGNITION

NGMC’s “Victory Rings” oncology advertising campaign won three Golds in the 2018 National Cancer Awareness Advertising Awards for viewers to interact with and was also Judge’s Choice, recognizing the best overall campaign in the nation.

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NGMC GAINESVILLE HOSTS LEADERSHIP GEORGIA CLASS OF 2019

NGMC Gainesville hosted the 2019 Leadership Georgia Class during their visit to Gainesville in April. More than 120 leaders from across the state got hands-on experience with our da Vinci robot, laparoscopic and intubation training equipment in the GME Simulation Lab, and our simulation delivery mom and neonatal resuscitation doll in Labor and Delivery. Participants also traveled to Longstreet Clinic, where they got to place casts on one another and learn compression-only CPR.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT COMPLETED

NGMC partnered with District II Public Health, Stephens County Hospital and Habersham Medical Center to work with IBM Watson to conduct an updated regional Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA).

The CHNA includes data and statistics from public health sources, as well as input from focus groups and stakeholder interviews to determine what community members feel are key health needs. The results guide the development of collaborative community health improvement initiatives targeting priority health needs as well as assist other partnership agencies in developing their programs to meet the health needs of our area.

MEDICAL CENTER OPEN SETS FUND RAISING RECORD

The 2018 Medical Center Open raised a record-breaking $320,000 for the purchase of a new mobile simulation unit. The simulation unit is the first of its kind in Georgia and provides life-saving training to physicians, clinical staff and community partners across our regional service area.

COURTYARD WATERFALL AT NGMC BRASELTON DEDICATED

In May, NGMC Braselton celebrated the dedication of the Courtyard Waterfall, made possible by a signature gift to the NGHS Foundation by NGHS Trustee Jane B. Smoot and her husband, Chris. The beautiful water feature creates a naturally serene place for patients, families and the community.

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LOVE LIGHT

Love Light 2018, chaired by Dr. Anup and Kathy Lahiry, combined with year-round donations to Hospice through the NGHS Foundation, raised a total of $166,565 to benefit Hospice of NGMC patients and families.

MARKETPLACE SETS A NEW RECORD

The 2018 Marketplace, presented by The Medical Center Auxiliary and Premier Sponsor Willis Investment Counsel and chaired by Jenny Floyd, Morgan Wood and Katie Crumley, raised a record total of $200,653 to benefit Safe Kids Gainesville-Hall County.

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THANKFUL FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS

More than 750 volunteers contributed nearly 70,000 hours of service during the past year, which is equivalent to 41 FTEs and a value of over $1.7 million to NGHS. The Medical Center Auxiliary has now contributed two million hours of volunteer service to NGHS – a cumulative value of $50.8 million – and more than $8.5 million in monetary contributions to benefit NGHS. At this year’s volunteer appreciation banquet, we recognized the Lifeline Program of NGMC for 35 years of exceptional emergency response service to the Northeast Georgia community.

Lorena Camp Collins was recognized for a lifetime of loyal volunteer service to NGMC. Lorena began volunteering with Hall County Hospital in 1963 and has donated 56 years and 25,500 hours of service.

During this summer’s Teen Volunteer Program, 123 teens from 36 high schools donated 5,423 hours of service across the system.

UNITED WAY’S REACH OUT CAMPAIGN

NGHS is an active partner in United Way’s One Hall Mental and Behavioral Health outreach initiative, as we work together to build creative strategies to meet the mental and behavioral health needs in our community. This year, we were proud to launch Reach Out Day on Oct. 16, 2019, to create awareness around the importance of mental health, with the message that, as a community, we can end the stigma around mental health and make our community a better place by personally reaching out to support those in need.

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PHILIP A. WILHEIT, SR. CONFERENCE ROOM DEDICATED

In February, we celebrated the dedication of the Philip A. Wilheit, Sr. Conference Room, located within the Graduate Medical Education office space. This naming recognizes the many contributions of our NGHS Board Chair Emeritus across 30+ years of service to NGHS and the healthcare industry in Georgia.

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CHOOSE

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Home Quality Reliability Wellness Heritage Your Neighbors Choose NGMC 42

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