2022 Accomplishments | NGHS

Last fall, we were optimistic that our 2022 fiscal year would bring some relief from COVID-19. While we did care for a fifth wave of COVID-positive patients in January 2022, we eventually settled into a less overwhelming new “normal” – and we’re starting to apply lessons from how we adapted and overcame the challenges of the last few years.

We’ve recommitted to our Quest for Excellence so we can continually improve and be better prepared to care for our community. Standout examples from the past year include:

• Opening our Care Traffic Control Center to ensure our patients receive the right care at the right time

• Developing new clinical pipelines through partnerships with UNG and Lanier Tech to help alleviate labor shortages

• Starting our Northeast Georgia Health Ventures office to accelerate creative solutions to operational challenges

• Expanding our Digital Health options to increase online scheduling, expand telehealth visits and launch provider ratings

• Onboarding residents in two new residency programs – Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine

• Continuing to grow to meet the needs of our communities, including our new patient tower in Gainesville, our future NGMC Lumpkin campus, new medical buildings in Jefferson and Buford and expansion in Braselton

As you flip through the pages of this book, you’ll get a glimpse of just some of the ways our NGHS team worked together this year. Because of your hard work, we’re ready to focus on innovation and exploration – and, with the help of our boards, to project farther into the future than we have historically. Here’s to shooting for the moon so we may land among the stars!

H. Burrell

Carol

PEOPLE IN MANY DIFFERENT CULTURES HAVE RELIED ON THE STARS TO NAVIGATE AND TO EVEN FORETELL WHAT THE FUTURE MIGHT HOLD. THE DUOTONE ILLUSTRATION REPRESENTS THE FAMILIAR – WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE’VE BEEN. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL ARE THE STARS, REPRESENTING THE FUTURE, WHERE IMAGINATION LEADS THE WAY TO INNOVATION AND EXPLORATION.

WITH OUR LADDER IN PLACE, WE ARE READY TO STEP UP INTO OUR FUTURE AND THE FUTURE OF THOSE WE SERVE.

WORKDAY GO-LIVE

After more than a year of planning, testing and training, Workday is now live. With a level of preparation similar to our Epic installation, this is our new system for Human Resources, Finance and Supply Chain functions.

ONLINE SCHEDULING SUCCESS

NGHS saw continued growth of Online Scheduling through our websites,

DIGITAL HEALTH & INNOVATION

PROVIDER RATINGS & REVIEWS

This year, Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) and Georgia Heart Institute launched Provider Ratings & Reviews. Utilizing Press Ganey provider-specific patient satisfaction survey questions, answers are converted to a 5-star rating that appears directly on provider website profiles. A positive reputation (4+ stars) is the #1 deciding factor in choosing one provider over another, according to a survey conducted by Press Ganey. The Overall Star Rating for all NGHS providers is 4.8.

BOOKED APPOINTMENTS IN FY-22 – A 19% INCREASE IN VOLUME FROM FY-21.

70%

WITH A TOTAL OF OF THE ONLINE APPOINTMENTS BOOKED, WERE NEW PATIENTS TO NGHS, WITH THE HIGHEST USE OF ONLINE SCHEDULING OCCURRING IN OUR SOUTHERN MARKET AND 400 CORRIDOR.

HERNIA CENTER OF NGMC PERFORMS FIRST INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CASE VIRTUALLY

The Hernia Center of NGMC has become a teaching hub for surgeons across the country – and now, the world – to learn best practices for robotic hernia surgery. In June, Dr. Ankit Singh Rathore joined virtually from India as Dr. Chad Copper performed hernia surgery, answered questions and talked him through the procedure in live time. We are excited to expand the teaching of NGMC’s Hernia Center to surgeons worldwide!

PATIENT INFORMATION COLLECTION IMPROVEMENT

NGHS launched an Online Forms and Questionnaires initiative to decrease redundant requests for patient information, provide an enhanced patient experience and reduce paper forms to less than 5% across the system. Primary Care and Pediatric specialties have been completed, and work continues on other specialties.

NGHS IS FIRST IN NATION TO LAUNCH VIRTUAL REALITY SIMULATOR TRAINING TO IMPROVE SAFETY

MYCHART CARE COMPANION LAUNCH

NGHS launched MyChart Care Companion, an interactive care pathway that offers patient education, reminders and tasks to help patients manage their hip and knee replacements.

NGHS is the first health system in the nation to provide the highest level of safety by training its security team with the Apex Virtual Reality Simulator. Apex Officer is a virtual reality simulator worn on the head – just like gaming devices – during training. It provides realistic and immersive de-escalation and crisis intervention training through randomized scenarios that are much like real-life situations. Each has different results and outcomes to every action – all so NGHS security officers can respond more effectively.

NEW VENTURES OFFICE TO ACCELERATE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO HEALTHCARE CHALLENGES

NGHS launched Northeast Georgia Health Ventures, a partnership between NGHS and Prinnovo, LLC, a company that specializes in working with independent, mid-sized health systems to establish, staff and manage their own health venture office. The goal is to solve the problems our patients, caregivers and support staff face today by creating a real-world path to innovation.

Mark Rainosek Managing Director Jay Brennan Managing Director

Peter Quarterman Ventures Director

Stuart Bracken Ventures Principal

VACCINE DAY

In October 2021, NGHS partnered with Longstreet Clinic and Georgia Department of Public Health’s Region 2 staff to host a COVID Vaccine Day for the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce. Nearly 300 COVID vaccines and boosters were given during the event, in addition to 300 flu shots.

OMICRON VARIANT CAUSES FIFTH COVID SURGE

As the Omicron variant spread through our community in January 2022, NGHS continued to see a high volume of COVID-positive patients hovering between 320-340 – very close to our all-time peak of 355 (in January 2021). While many of the COVID-positive

patients came to the hospital for another issue and happened to test positive for COVID, this still created an extraordinary burden on the system, as the same resources were needed to treat and isolate any COVID-positive patients.

JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE

Because of the high spread across the state, NGHS’ medical leaders joined forces with colleagues from Emory Healthcare, CHOA, Grady, Piedmont and Wellstar for a joint press conference in March about the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Dr. Supriya Mannepalli, medical director of Infectious Disease, represented

NGHS, and the event was mentioned in 112 pieces of news coverage across the nation and state within the first 24 hours, reaching a total readership/viewership of 1.4 billion views. Metro Atlanta hospitals had already begun seeing a downturn in positive patients, and thankfully, NGHS wasn’t far behind.

NO MASKS FOR THE VACCINATED

Finally, NGHS relaxed the mask mandate for our facilities in September 2022 in accordance with the CDC’s updated masking recommendations for healthcare facilities. Employees, patients and visitors who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to wear a mask in NGHS facilities, with the exception of Long-Term Care.

WHILE THIS TREND DIDN’T LAST LONG, WE WERE THANKFUL TO BE AT THIS POINT AFTER THE LAST

ZERO TWO EXTREMELY DIFFICULT YEARS.

RECORD LOWS

ANONYMOUS DONATION TO HONOR FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS

A local donor commissioned a painting by French artist Alexis Le Borgne reflecting the trauma, loss, compassion and hope of our front-line workers during the pandemic. The original work titled “Plus Que Les Mots” (More Than Words) now hangs on the main floor of NGMC Gainesville’s North Patient Tower near the Bright Spot, and prints of the original are also hanging at the Barrow, Braselton and Lumpkin campuses.

AWARDS

RECOGNITION

NGMC HONORED FOR EARLY COVID-19 CARE

Healthgrades named Northeast Georgia Medical Center as one of 24 hospitals across the country that provided exceptional COVID care early in the pandemic.

NGHS FEATURED FOR EMPLOYEE SUPPORT EFFORTS

NGHS was featured in the Fall 2021 issue of the Georgia Hospital Association’s twentyfourseven magazine. The article acknowledged hospitals in Georgia that recognized the need for mental health support and highlighted many tangible ways NGHS is supporting employees, providers and GME residents. Featured on the cover was Gili, our in-house Employee Assistance Program therapy dog.

NGHS SUPPLY CHAIN WINS NATIONAL AWARD

NGHS was the only health system in Georgia to receive national recognition for adhering to supply chain best practices to manage the system’s supply levels – a remarkable feat given the challenges presented during the pandemic. ECRI, a nonprofit that helps healthcare organizations across the country increase stewardship and enhance patient outcomes, announced the winners of its Healthcare Supply Chain Achievement Award, naming just 12 of its 3,000 members as outstanding in their achievements.

NGHS LIBRARY RECEIVES TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT AWARD GRANT

The Office of Medical Education and the Health Science Library team received the Technology Improvement Award Grant from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine. The library team proposed a longitudinal diversity simulation curriculum incorporating virtual reality for the project.

NGMC NAMED MOST WIRED FOR EIGHTH TIME

Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) received one of the highest levels of recognition for using technology to improve healthcare quality and cost for the eighth year. The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives included NGMC on its annual list of Healthcare’s Most Wired for 2021. NGMC received Level 9 certification for the second year alongside healthcare leaders like Johns Hopkins and UCLA Health.

DEB BAILEY HONORED AS GACH INAUGURAL RECIPIENT OF OUTSTANDING WOMEN IN HEALTHCARE AWARD

Deb Bailey, NGHS’ executive director of Government Affairs, was recently recognized by the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals with their first-ever “Outstanding Women in Healthcare” award. Over her 43 years, Deb has done it all. She first served as a nurse, including as vice president of Nursing at NGHS, but more recently, she’s worked at the State Capitol assisting with the creation of legislation that has improved health care across the state.

IT TEAM RECOGNIZED AS INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

NGHS’ IT team was recognized by Juniper Networks, one of the largest network system companies in the world, for its innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI). NGHS is using internally developed AI to improve the service quality and reliability of our clinicians’ mobile communication. At a very high level, NGMC nurses and physicians are using iPhones to do things they’ve previously had to do on a desktop, such as receiving alerts, scanning barcodes and documenting in the patient’s medical record. We’re one of the few health systems in the nation that has been able to accomplish this innovative workflow.

GEORGIA HEART INSTITUTE FEATURED IN EP LAB DIGEST

The Georgia Heart Institute electrophysiology (EP) team was featured in EP Lab Digest, a prestigious publication serving as an educational resource for the EP professional.

NGMC FAMILY MEDICINE PHYSICIANS WIN TOP STATE AWARDS

Dr. Monica Newton and Dr. Samuel Le Church were honored with two of the highest honors given by the Medical Association of Georgia at their annual House of Delegates meeting in Savannah.

Dr. Newton received the Lamartine Hardman Cup, an award named for Georgia’s governor from 1927 to 1931 who was a successful physician, entrepreneur and farmer from Jackson County. The association cited Dr. Newton’s commitment to “improving the health of the community” through public health initiatives and educating future generations of physician leaders to solve community problems.

Dr. Newton, the program director of NGMC’s Family Medicine Residency program, was the first family medicine physician and first osteopathic physician to receive this honor and one of a handful of female physicians.

Dr. Samuel Le Church, NGMC Family Medicine Residency faculty and practicing family physician from Hiawassee, received the Physician Award for Community Service. His significant work in medical coding, his pioneering COVID vaccine clinics and lifelong service to the northeast Georgia region were highlighted.

NGMC NURSE NAMED 2022 AJC

CELEBRATING NURSES HONOREE

NGHS’ own Julie Singleton, RN, a Labor & Delivery nurse, was selected as one of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Celebrating Nurses Honorees for 2022. Julie was one of only 10 honorees chosen from hundreds of nominees.

NGHS BOARD LEADERS RECEIVE CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS AWARDS

During a virtual celebration on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, NGMC Board Chair Phillippa Lewis Moss and NGHS Advisory Council Vice Chair Andrew Davenport were recognized by the Newtown Florist Club for their dedication to civil and human rights. Phillippa received a Drum Major for Justice Award, and Andrew received a Community Service Award.

NGHS RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AS “BEST EMPLOYER” BY FORBES MAGAZINE

Because of NGHS’ commitment to staff and the surrounding region, NGHS was named to Forbes magazine’s list of America’s Best Employers. The list ranked 1,382 employers across the nation and ranked NGHS among the top 15 organizations in Georgia.

NGMC TRAUMA PROGRAM DIRECTOR EARNS NATIONAL NURSING LEADERSHIP AWARD

Jesse Gibson, Trauma Services Director at NGMC, was recognized by the 2022 Society of Trauma Nurses (STN) at their national conference with their Leadership Award. The STN Leadership Award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in trauma at the local, state and national level.

UNION COUNTY CELEBRATES DR. JAMES VARNELL DAY

In honor of Dr. Varnell, a non-invasive cardiologist with Georgia Heart Institute, November 18, 2021, was officially proclaimed to be Dr. James Varnell Day in Union County, Ga., in recognition of all he has done to serve and care for the North Georgia region throughout the last several decades.

CAROL BURRELL RECOGNIZED ACROSS THE STATE

NGHS President and CEO Carol Burrell was selected for Georgia Trend magazine’s annual list of the 100 Most Influential Georgians for an extraordinary eighth year in a row! She was also recognized with the Greater Good Moxie Award from the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and named an honorary inductee into the UNG Tri-Alpha Honor Society.

GREATER HALL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S 2022 HEALTHY HALL AWARDS

The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce’s Healthy Hall Awards spotlight those in the healthcare industry in Gainesville-Hall County making a significant impact on our quality of life through excellence in health and wellness. Among the list of winners were NGHS’ own:

Lifetime Achievement: Frank Lake, MD, who served as medical director of Radiation Oncology at NGMC since 1975 and retired in December 2021

Visionary Leader: RK Whitehead, Former Chair, NGHS Board of Directors

Community Impact: Chuck & Diane Stephens, who pledged $5 million dollars to the NGHS Foundation for a dedicated hospice house in our community

Outstanding Achievement in Behavioral Health: NGHS Behavioral Health Services

Healthcare Worker of the Year: Jesse Gibson, RN, NGMC Director of Trauma Services

ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE HEALTHIEST WORKPLACES AWARD

NGHS was recognized by Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of the state’s Healthiest Workplaces, an award honoring organizations that take proactive measures to better the lives of their employees through innovative programs, leadership commitment and program ROI.

NGHS BEST OF HALL AWARDS

NGHS was voted the “Best of Hall” Reader’s Choice Award winner in multiple categories, including best hospital!

Hormone Replacement Therapy: Dr. Amber French Hospice: NGMC Hospice Hospital: NGMC Gainesville Imaging: NGHS Imaging Services Immediate/Urgent Care: NGPG Urgent Care Weight Loss Clinic/Counseling: NGPG Bariatric & Metabolic Institute Gainesville

UGA COLLEGE OF PHARMACY PRECEPTOR OF THE YEAR

Amy Knauss, PharmD, BCPS serves as the clinical coordinator for the inpatient pharmacy at NGMC and was recognized by the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy as 2021-22 Preceptor of the Year for the North Georgia area, which includes a large group of talented preceptors from northeast Georgia and all of Atlanta. NGMC and NGPG pharmacy teams precept up to four second-year pharmacy students and up to 20 fourth-year pharmacy students each year.

MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Dr. Swati Gaur, medical director for New Horizons Long-Term Care Services, was named the 2022 Medical Director of the Year by the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. This national award is presented to only one medical director each year for setting an outstanding example through knowledge, experience, passion and teamwork – as well as the ability to multi-task, stay on top of clinical and quality improvement innovations and lead facilities in providing quality care.

TRAUMA EXCELLENCE AWARD

Dr. Mohak Davé, medical director of Emergency Services, was given the Governor Nathan Deal Award for Trauma Excellence at the Region 2 Trauma Advisory Committee’s Northeast Georgia Trauma Symposium. A champion of the NGMC trauma program long before its inception in 2013, Dr. Davé has worked tirelessly with NGHS leaders to see NGMC Gainesville become a Level II Trauma Center, something that didn’t yet exist in northeast Georgia — and is now working to help NGMC Gainesville become certified as a Level 1 Trauma Center.

2022 ASTER AWARD WINNERS

NGMC BRASELTON NAMED “BEST OF” FOR EIGHTH YEAR

NGMC Braselton received “Best of Gwinnett” recognition as “Best Hospital” by Gwinnett Magazine readers for the eighth year and “Best of Jackson” recognition as “Best Hospital” by Mainstreet Newspapers readers.

The Public Relations and Marketing team took home 16 national Aster Awards recognizing excellence in healthcare advertising, including the coveted “Best in Show” award for our Heart & Vascular Services “A Lot to Love” campaign. The team also won three gold, 10 silver and two bronze awards.

GEORGIA TREND MAGAZINE TOP DOCTORS

Numerous NGHS physiciains were named to this year’s Georgia Trend Top Doctors list. The list, created in partnership with DataJoe Research, follows specific methodology that includes peer voting and other requirements.

INAUGURAL PHYSICIAN AWARDS BANQUET

NGHS leadership and NGMC Medical Staff members gathered on December 9, 2021, for the inaugural Physician Awards Banquet. Medical staff leaders were recognized for their contributions, and the following awards were presented: ’

Barrow Nurses’ Choice Award: Physician of the Year – Alison Ruch, MD

Braselton Nurses’ Choice Award: Physician of the Year – Sri Radhakrishnan, MD Gainesville Nurses’ Choice Award: Physician of the Year – Jocelyn Tadros, MD

Lumpkin Nurses’ Choice Award: Physician of the Year – Nagaraju Choragudi, MD

Academic Excellence Award – Priscilla Strom, MD

Community Service Award – Antonio Rios, MD

Innovation Award – Jack Cheng, MD

Chairman’s Award – Supriya Mannepalli, MD

NGHS NURSES OF THE YEAR

NGMC BRASELTON EARNS DUAL CENTER OF EXCELLENCE ACCREDITATIONS

NGMC Braselton earned its first accreditations as a Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology and Robotic Surgery from the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), an internationally recognized patient safety organization. In addition to the dual Center of Excellence designations, two NGMC nurses were recognized as Care Specialists for their expertise: Claire Nichols, RN, in Minimally Invasive Gynecology, and Leslie Evan, RN, in Robotic Surgery.

NGMC Gainesville is recognized as a Center of Excellence in five areas: Robotic Surgery, Hernia Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery and Minimally Invasive Gynecology.

OUTPATIENT INFUSION TEAM RECOGNIZED FOR FOOD INSECURITY PROJECT

Kim Meeks and her Outpatient Infusion team were recognized by the Oncology Nursing Society for their work to address food insecurity among infusion patients – through which nearly 1,000 patients have received boxes of food items.

NGMC RECEIVES NATIONAL ACCREDITATION AS A COMPREHENSIVE CENTER FOR OBESITY MEDICINE

The Bariatric Weight Loss Center at NGMC achieved national accreditation in Obesity Medicine for providing high-quality care to our medical weight-loss patients.

DNV RECOGNIZES NGMC GAINESVILLE WITH HIGHEST STROKE CERTIFICATION

NGMC Gainesville received Comprehensive Stroke Center certification from DNV, the highest certification awarded to hospitals for their treatment of serious stroke events. NGMC Gainesville is the only hospital north of Metro Atlanta to receive this certification. Additionally, NGMC Braselton and NGMC Barrow were recertified as Primary Stroke Centers.

During Nurses Week, the following were recognized as Nurse of the Year:

NGMC Gainesville Nancy Cubera, RN NICU NGMC Lumpkin Chelsea Swan, RN Emergency Department

NGMC Barrow Erica Boland, RN Emergency Department

NGMC Braselton Katie Holdredge, RN ICU/CCU

MEDICAL PLAZA OPENS IN JEFFERSON

NGHS’ Medical Plaza opened in Jefferson in July. The single-story, 11,000-square-foot building is home to urgent care and multiple physician specialties, including family medicine, sports medicine, orthopedic surgery, general surgery and cardiology services.

NEW MEDICAL PLAZA IN BUFORD OPENS

NGHS expanded its operations for patients in the Buford area with the opening of Medical Plaza Buford. The new 90,000-squarefoot building offers an Urgent Care, Imaging Center, Healthlink Lab and medical specialties including cardiology, family medicine, behavioral health, orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, general surgery, neurology and urology.

NGMC LUMPKIN GROUNDBREAKING

NGHS broke ground on a new hospital in Lumpkin County, scheduled to open in Spring 2024.

NGMC GAINESVILLE GROUNDBREAKING

NGMC officially broke ground to build a new patient tower on our Gainesville campus, scheduled to open in early 2025.

MEDICAL PLAZA 2 AND BRASELTON SURGERY CENTER GROUNDBREAKING

NGHS broke ground on a new multispecialty medical office building that will house the new Braselton Surgery Center on the NGMC Braselton campus. Located on the first floor, the new surgery center will include four operating rooms and two procedure rooms, and two additional floors above will be home to physician offices. The targeted opening for Medical Plaza 2 is spring 2023.

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

NGHS honored long-time nurse Mary Bess, RN, as its 2022 Employee of the Year. Bess has been with NGHS for 16 years, beginning as a patient care tech in the medical/surgical and critical care areas. She became an intensive care unit (ICU) nurse in 2008 and worked her way up to a leadership position. In 2020, joined Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) Pulmonology. When Hall County emerged as a COVID hotspot early in the pandemic, Mary graciously volunteered to temporarily leave the pulmonology practice and come back to support our Gainesville campus’ critical care units. Her unique – and desperately needed – skill set was a blessing to our very sick patient population.

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION WEEK

NGHS celebrated our volunteers during National Volunteer Appreciation Week in April and again in September during the annual NGHS Volunteer Appreciation and Auxiliary Membership Luncheon, finally back in person for the first time in three years. 376 volunteers were recognized for more than 333,000 hours of service. Even more significant, since 2019, more than 1,000 volunteers have served almost 150,000 hours, bringing a value of close to $8.4 million to NGHS. We are so grateful for our volunteers!

S&P AND FITCH A RATINGS AFFIRMED

S&P and Fitch Ratings affirmed NGHS’ “A” rating with a stable outlook. They acknowledged NGHS’ dominant market share, strong operational and financial positions, and despite continuing labor and clinical challenges associated with the pandemic, NGHS demonstrates sound resiliency.

COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT COMPLETED

Using input gathered through community focus groups, interviews and an online survey, NGHS completed a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) in 2022 in partnership with District 2 Public Health, Stephens County Hospital, Habersham Medical Center and Good News Clinics. The assessment focused mainly on the needs of the community’s most vulnerable populations, particularly those with low incomes who are uninsured. Conducted every three years, the CHNA culminated in the identification of the following three health priorities that fit hand-in-glove with the organization’s strategic direction:

1. Behavioral and Mental Health 2. Access to Care 3. Healthy Behaviors

NEW LEADERSHIP PROGRAM GRADUATES FIRST COHORT

NGHS celebrated the graduation of its first Signature Leadership Program (SLP) cohort and saw the launch of the second class for high-potential individuals who demonstrate the characteristics of our Core Values. 61 leaders graduated in the first class and 71 are currently enrolled in the second.

ANNUAL RESEARCH WEEK

In December 2021, NGHS  showcased the outstanding scholarly activities, evidence-based practice and quality improvement work underway at NGHS.

NGMC CREDITED WITH CONTRIBUTING TO LOCAL AND STATE ECONOMY

NGMC continues to have a positive financial impact on the local community and state, according to an annual study conducted by the Georgia Hospital Association. For 2020, NGMC contributed:

MORE THAN MORE THAN MORE

$

ECONOMIC IMPACT ON LOCAL AND STATE ECONOMIES

3.5B 22,500 9K

$ 70M $12M

IN TOTAL ESTIMATED CHARITY CARE PROVIDED IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH

NGMC OPENS CARE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER

Similar to an airport’s air traffic control, NGHS’ Care Traffic Control Center opened in July, bringing together several departments in one space with a singular focus of managing patient flow. The new control center keeps patients steadily progressing through the stages of care at all four NGHS hospitals, ensuring patients get the right care at the right time – and get back home as soon as it’s medically safe.

HEALTH PARTNERS NETWORK PARTICIPATING IN NEW MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN

Health Partners Network partnered with Essence Healthcare to offer a new Medicare Advantage product in our community. Essence Healthcare is an established, Medicare-approved private organization that has offered affordable, highly rated Medicare Advantage plans in other markets for more than a decade.

PHARMACY PROVIDES $4 MILLION IN MEDICATIONS TO PATIENTS IN NEED

Ryan Collier and Lisa Hunsbusher, both front-line pharmacy staff members, helped provide more than $4 million in medications to uninsured and underinsured low-income patients, through drug assistance programs. The majority of these medications were for more costly oncology infusion therapies.

EXPANSION OF PEER RECOVERY PROGRAM

The only program of its kind in the nation, Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) Peer Recovery Program was launched in 2021 thanks to a $1.5 million per year SAMSA grant. In addition to providing peer coaching services to all AUD peers who present in the NGHS hospital system in Gainesville, Braselton and Winder, the program also provides medication assisted treatment with wrap-around services to a limited number of peers each year.

NGHS’ Emergency Department (ED) PEER Coach program was renewed and remains the only program of its kind in Georgia. NGHS’ Neonatal Intensive Care Peer Coaches Grant was renewed as well, and a fourth grant was written to provide Peer Coach services for the Lumpkin ED, peer support for Hall County Depapartment of Family and Children’s Services (DFCS), Family Treatment Court and three trainings for Hall County DFCS Staff.

NGMC BEGINS OFFERING EMPLOYEE AUTHORED BREASTFEEDING BOOK

Moms who deliver at NGMC are now gifted “The Breastfeeding Mom’s Survival Guide,” which gives new moms the tools they need to successfully breastfeed. The book was written by NGMC’s own Suzanne Nunnally – a registered nurse and internationally board-certified lactation consultant.

FULL-TIME JOBS SUSTAINED THROUGHOUT THE REGION AND STATE – IN ADDITION TO MORE THAN PEOPLE DIRECTLY EMPLOYEED BY NGHS

NGMC BRASELTON DELIVERS FIRST SET OF TRIPLETS

The first set of triplets was born at NGMC Braselton on April 18, 2022. Maria Vega Solis delivered babies Maria Jose Juarez Vega, Samuel Z. Juarez Vega and Leah R. Juarez Vega while in the care of Jeff Ward, MD, an obstetrician with NGPG.

NGMC GAINESVILLE STICU REDUCED CAUTIS

NGMC’s Infection Prevention and Control team began a targeted Catheter Acquired Urinary Tract Infections Prevention Project during FY22 in the Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit.

ON

NGMC BARROW EXPANDS SURGICAL SERVICES

NGMC Barrow nearly doubled the number of surgeons and types of surgeries it offers, expanding surgical specialties to include general surgery, podiatry, orthopedics, urology, endoscopy, ophthalmology and pediatric dentistry – all with greater frequency and availability.

DONATE LIFE MONTH

A Donate Life Ceremony was held at NGMC Braselton to raise awareness for organ and tissue donation. Staff also decorated Donate Life Rocks to place around the flagpoles as flags were raised at each campus in honor of our donors and families.

PATHWAY TO MEDICAL SCHOOL COHORT GRADUATES

NGMC continued to help address the shortage of primary care providers across the state with the Pathway to Med School Program, a four-week, residential program for undergraduate pre-medical students who attend Georgia institutions and intend on staying in the state to practice primary care. This year, eight young students graduated from the program, which consisted of 180 hours of clinical shadowing across the region, community-based research and instructional sessions. A total of 64 students have graduated from the program since it started in 2015 – and, among those who applied to medical school, 97% were accepted.

THE CAUTIs

THAT UNIT DECREASED FROM TO ONLY 11 FY21 IN 3 FY22 IN

ACCELERATED BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING PROGRAM

LAUNCHES AT UNG

NGHS and UNG have partnered to create an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree to add 280 nurses to the workforce over the next five years beyond the nurses UNG already trains. The 15-month program is for students who already have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in another field and want to transition to a career in nursing. The program launched this year, and the first cohort will begin in January 2023.

PHYSICIANS AND APPs

JOINED NGPG

NEW MEMBERS JOINED NGMC MEDICAL STAFF

HENRY S. JENNINGS, JR., MD, VISITING LECTURESHIP IN MEDICAL HUMANITIES

The second annual Jennings Lectureship,“Finding Structure in Chaos: Protecting the Healthcare Workforce in COVID-19 and Beyond”, was held virtually in December 2021.

FIRST CLASS OF GME RESIDENTS GRADUATES PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GROW AND EXPAND

In July, NGMC celebrated the graduation of our inaugural class of internal medicine residents and the launch of the first-ever residents from our GME program into the community to practice. We also welcomed 56 new residents during our fourth annual White Coat Ceremony. This fourth class of residents spans five specialties, including the inaugural classes of our newest programs: Emergency Medicine and Psychiatry. Six General Surgery, 20 Internal Medicine, 12 Family Medicine, 12 Emergency Medicine and six Psychiatry residents started with NGMC on July 1, 2022. Interest in our program continues to grow, as we received more than 9,100 applications and interviewed approximately 830 potential residents. This new class brings the total to 139 residents caring for patients and furthering their training to be the physician leaders of tomorrow.

That same month, six new physicians also joined NGMC as the inaugural class of the hospital’s cardiovascular disease fellowship program. These physicians work with both NGMC and Georgia Heart Institute physicians to help care for cardiology patients.

NORTHEAST GEORGIA PHYSICIANS GROUP ADDS FOUR NEW SPECIALTIES

Daniel Sarmiento, MD Colon and Rectal Surgery

Margaret Grifa, MD Concierge Medicine

Randall Hanson, Jr., MD Podiatry Nelson Royall, MD Hepato-PancreatoBiiary Surgery

2022 INAUGURAL GEORGIA HEART & VASCULAR SYMPOSIUM

The Inaugural Georgia Heart & Vascular Symposium was held at Chateau Elan in Braselton, with over 430 physicians and medical professionals participating from around the globe. The event featured lectures by more than 50 renowned experts and two heart procedures live-streamed from NGMC Gainesville.

NEW INPATIENT CARDIOLOGY MEDICAL DIRECTOR WELCOMED TO GEORGIA HEART INSTITUTE

Gregory Giugliano, MD, is our new medical director for Inpatient Cardiology. He will help coordinate all inpatient activities across Georgia Heart Institute facilities, focusing on standardization of practice, communication across services and improvement in efficiencies and outcomes for patients. In addition to his leadership role, Dr. Giugliano practices at Georgia Heart Institute in Gainesville.

GEORGIA HEART INSTITUTE WELCOMES RENOWNED ROBOTIC HEART SURGEON

This year, Georgia Heart Institute and Northeast Georgia Physicians Group Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery welcomed Sloane Guy, MD, to the heart and vascular team. Dr. Guy is renowned for his robotic mitral valve surgery techniques, which he’s able to perform with the smallest surgical incisions in the U.S. Before relocating to Gainesville, Dr. Guy cared for patients at Thomas Jefferson University Health in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

YALE MEDICINE CARDIOLOGIST JOINS GEORGIA HEART INSTITUTE

Glen Henry, MD, interventional cardiologist, joined Georgia Heart Institute this year as the medical director of the Cardiac Catheterization Labs and leader of the Interventional Cardiology Program. Before joining Georgia Heart Institute, Dr. Henry practiced interventional cardiology at Yale Medicine for 30 years. He specializes in complex coronary interventions, chronic total occlusions and refractory coronary disease.

INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY PROGRAM CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERARY

NGHS celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Interventional Cardiology Program. Since then, we’ve performed over 50,000 lifesaving interventional cardiology procedures, such as angioplasty and stent placements.

RECRUITED

Center for Cardiovascular Prevention, Metabolism & Lipids led by Jaime Burkle, MD

NEW PROVIDERS FOR GEORGIA HEART INSTITUTE

Structural Heart Center led by Ronnie Ramadan, MD

Women’s Heart Center led by Laura Divoky, MD Heart Failure Center led by Ugochukwu Egolum, MD

FOUR SPECIALIZED HEART CARE CENTERS LAUNCHED

NGHS SPONSORED TAR WARS PROGRAM PRODUCES STATE

WINNERS AT ANNUAL COMPETITION

The three finalists who won the state competition are all students at Barrow County School System:

1st Place: Melody Chavous, 5th grade Kennedy Elementary School

2nd Place: Jayden Babilonia Hernandez, 5th grade Auburn Elementary School

3rd Place: Asare Opoku, 4th grade Yargo Elementary School

Tar Wars is a tobacco-free education program developed by the American Academy of Family Physicians and sponsored in Barrow County by NGHS. As part of the program, fourth and fifth-grade students across the state designed a poster to discourage tobacco use.

MEDICAL CENTER OPEN AND MARKETPLACE 2021

Despite canceling Marketplace and the Medical Center Open in 2021, NGHS was still able to raise a total of $83,500 for Safe Kids Northeast Georgia, with a presenting sponsorship on behalf of Willis Investment Counsel, and more than $200,000 for the Gainesville Police Department’s co-responder program through the dedication of our amazing sponsors.

75TH ANNIVERSARY FOR NGPG PRACTICE

NGPG Family Health Associates marked its 75th anniversary of serving the community this year.

The practice, led by Drs. Garey Huff, Sr., Garey Huff, Jr., and Audrey Huff, continues to offer family medicine services to the growing Winder community.

$10 MILLION RAISED FOR HOSPICE HOUSE

Thanks to the lead gift from Chuck and Diane Stephens and the generosity of other donors, NGHS has reached its goal of raising $10 million to build a free-standing Hospice House. Transformational donors like Don and Dot Pirkle, and the Starlet Rhodes Jones Foundation – who honored Drs. Frank Lake, III, and Andre Kallab with their gift – joined this effort, helping us raise the funds in less than a year.

CHANGE GRANTS IMPLEMENTED

Jessica Smith, a physical therapist at the Rehabilitation Institute of NGMC, submitted the request to fund a Therapy Mobility Garden. The completed garden offers Gainesville rehab patients multiple terrains for improving navigation as well as raised garden beds intended to hone their daily life and hobby skills.

The Serenity Garden is a lovely outdoor space recently completed at our NGMC Barrow campus. It’s the perfect place for staff and visitors alike to enjoy some peaceful time outside.

INAUGURAL LAUREL CLASSIC

After three years of planning, The Laurel Classic golf tournament was finally played this year. Cochaired by Mike and Caryn McGarity for the NGHS Foundation and presented in partnership with Jackson EMC, the tournament raised more than $275,000 for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Braselton. More than 40 sponsors, 10 volunteers and 50 teams participated.

PET PARK REOPENS

The Christian David Pet Park reopened to welcome visitors, patients, and most importantly, their pets during their time on our Gainesville Campus.

PATIENT CARE TECHNICIAN ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM LAUNCHED

A crucial tactic to encourage current employees aspiring to move up within the system and recruit new talent from outside the system, NGHS’  Patient Care Technician (PCT) advancement cohorts kicked off in 2022. Funded by our Foundation, these students are completing an eight-week nurse aide program at Lanier Tech. In addition to classes, they work eight hours per week as PCT Assistants in our NGMC hospitals. Following their completion of the course and National Nurse Aide exam, these individuals work full-time within our system as PCTs for two years.

BELOVED PEDIATRICIAN HONORED BY NGHS

NGHS announced that a dedicated pediatric emergency space in NGMC Gainesville’s new patient tower will be named in recognition of William T. “Buddy” Langston, MD. Dr. Langston devoted over 30 years of compassionate care to children and families across North Georgia. A fundraising goal has been set at $1.5 million to support the construction and naming opportunity.

NELL WIEGAND LEGACY SOCIETY

An advocate for the Health System, a founding member of the Auxiliary and board chair of the Foundation, Nell Wiegand impacted the health system’s growth over the years, and to honor her legacy, the Nell Wiegand Legacy Society was created. This special society is exclusively for those that have graciously included NGHS in their estate plans.

FOUNDATION RECEIVES $1 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT

In September 2022, the NGHS Foundation received a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration for one million dollars – the largest grant received to date – to improve care and reduce high maternal mortality rates. As one of only nine recipients of the grant awarded to support State-led Maternal Health Innovation, NGHS’ Women and Children’s Services and Georgia Heart Institute will use the funding to study and prevent cardiac disease among pregnant and postpartum women. The grant is renewable for up to five years — for a possible total of $5 million.

PHILANTHROPY HELPS BUILD MODEL PROGRAM

RURAL TAX CREDIT PROGRAM BENEFITS NGMC LUMPKIN

NGMC Lumpkin joined the state program designed to help rural and critical access hospitals increase funding through tax credits. This is an exciting opportunity for people and businesses to get a break on their taxes, while also supporting their local hospital and/or health system.

This was the first year NGMC Lumpkin participated in the program, and nearly $615,000 in state-funded Rural Tax Credit Program applications were submitted. Dollars directed to NGMC Lumpkin will go directly to support services and enhancements at the hospital.

Bereavement and Family Support Coordinator Mandy Reichert and Mary Lou Wilson, Women’s Service Line Administrator, presented at Sigma Theta Tau’s Conference, Creating Healthy Work Environments, in Washington D.C. Their presentation, titled “Tuning into a Healthy Workforce One Conversation at a Time,” shared why the Bereavement and Family Support Coordinator program serves as a compassionate resource for staff working with mothers and families in difficult situations. This program is the first of its kind and is completely funded by donations to the NGHS Foundation.

Non-Profit Orgnization

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Gainesville, Ga. Permit 6

Northeast Georgia Medical Center

743 Spring Street

Gainesville, GA 30501-3899