System of Care Louise Francesconi, chair of TMC Health Board of Trustees, announced in October that Judy Rich, R.N., moved into an expanded role as system president and chief executive officer. “We are pleased to have Judy’s experience and leadership to now focus on continued growth of the system,” said Francesconi. “This change results in a powerful commitment to high-quality accessible health care and allows Judy to lead us into the future.” Under Rich’s leadership since 2007, TMC Health has grown into a leading regional health system with three hospitals, a robust outpatient division, a primary and specialty medical group, and numerous partnerships with local physician groups. Because of the growing complexity of the TMC Health system, the board tapped Mimi Coomler, R.N., to serve as chief executive officer of Tucson Medical Center. Coomler has been TMC’s chief operating officer since 2017 and before that was the hospital’s chief nursing officer. Coomler’s previous work experience includes serving as CEO at Children’s Clinics for Rehabilitative Services and director of nursing for TMC Women’s and Children’s Services.
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To the communities we serve... In 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic continued to dominate our focus – from vaccination clinics to the intensive care units. In addition, our communities started to see us emerge as a new type of health system – focused on getting closer to our patients and serving more in our communities. Within the last year, we shortened our name from TMC HealthCare to TMC Health, symbolizing that the system anchored by Tucson Medical Center is and is becoming so much more. In 2021, Northern Cochise Community Hospital joined Tucson Medical Center and Benson Hospital in the TMC Health system. TMCOne continued to grow and work began to develop the Rincon Neighborhood Hospital in Southeast Tucson. While continuing to face unprecedented challenges, Southern Arizona’s nonprofit, locally governed health system is strong and focused on expanding our horizons to be closer to the patients and communities who rely on us. From birth to the end of life, from Ajo to Bowie, TMC Health is focused on creating a system of care that puts our communities and patients first. Within the pages of this report, you will read about how we are working to improve the health of our communities from Tucson to the New Mexico border. • Tucson Medical Center was named best hospital (page 3) and partnered with Mayo Clinic Care Network to bring Mayo Clinic’s Clinical Genomics Outpatient Virtual Care Services to Southern Arizona patients (page 4). • Rural hospital medical leadership benefited from regular calls with TMC experts about the latest developments in the pandemic, from changing guidelines around PPE and masking to evolving clinical treatments. • TMCOne expanded its footprint into Oro Valley and began offering integrated behavioral health services to its patients (page 7). While much is changing, so much stays the same. We are local and a part of our communities in a meaningful way. We believe you will see that focus, commitment and dedication to mission within the pages of this report and every time you interact with TMC Health.
Judy Rich, R.N.
President and Chief Executive Officer
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TMC: Exceptional health care with compassion Walking through the long halls, healing courtyards and beautiful campus of Tucson Medical Center, it is easy to find a quiet place to sit for a moment and take in the luscious landscaping, fine artwork, and kind faces of hardworking staff and volunteers. The welcoming and friendly appeal of the hospital is as notable as the state-of-the-art, nationally recognized health care delivered every day within its walls. In 2021, U.S. News & World Report named TMC the best hospital in the city. The publication also recognized TMC as the best maternity hospital
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in Tucson and one of the 10 best hospitals in the state. TMC is also recognized for best-in-class orthopaedics, neuroscience, cardiovascular and more. “While clearly focused on the daily work of the pandemic in 2021, we worked every day to improve the quality of care delivered and the experiences we create for our patients,” said Mimi Coomler, chief executive officer of Tucson Medical Center. “Our staff kept our mission of delivering exceptional health care with compassion at the forefront.”
“During all of the challenges of COVID with limitations on visitors leaving patients feeling isolated and families feeling disconnected, we took those extra steps to make sure patients were treated with respect and like family,” Coomler said. TMC started a communications center to answer questions from worried families, facilitated window visits and digital connections, and so much more. “We took the most difficult of situations and did what we do best – provide exceptional health care with compassion.”
Mayo Clinic Care Network Tucson Medical Center has been a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network since 2015. MCCN is a national network of organizations committed to better serving patients and their families through collaboration. Members of the network have access to Mayo Clinic knowledge and expertise to give their patients additional peace of mind when making health care decisions, while continuing to offer the highest quality and value of care close to home. In 2021, TMC and Mayo paired up to start a new Clinical Genomics Outpatient Virtual Care Service available to TMC patients through the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine. Patients needing genetic counseling services are referred to Mayo Clinic Arizona from Tucson Medical Center. Referred patients have an option to connect virtually while in their home setting with a Mayo Clinic Arizona genetic counselor. This service developed a collaborative partnership between Mayo Clinic Arizona and TMC providing patients with a state-of-the-art, evidence-based service to assist in making the most informed decisions regarding tailored treatment plans. This program is supported by the TMC Foundation. The genetic counseling adds to TMC’s growing oncology program, which continues to expand already robust cancer service offerings. TMC also recently purchased the lone robot that is state-of-the-art technology for early stage diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.
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Rural health A system of care that starts close to home Residents of rural Southern Arizona counties have long turned to Tucson Medical Center when they need a level of care that exceeds that of their local hospital. In fact, about 23% of TMC’s admissions come from communities outside of Pima County. In 2015, TMC Health joined with hospitals in Willcox, Benson, Bisbee and Safford to form the Southern Arizona Hospital Alliance to create closer ties to better serve our communities and allow for greater efficiencies in purchasing, access to education and training, and so much more. “SAHA has been a tremendous resource for all participating hospitals to achieve the common goal of maintaining access to high-quality patient care in our rural communities,” said Judy Rich, president and chief executive officer of TMC Health. In 2018, Benson Hospital took a step closer and became an affiliate of TMC Health, said Rich, noting that in 2021, the San Pedro Valley critical 5
access hospital became a full subsidiary of TMC Health. In 2021, Northern Cochise Community Hospital (in Willcox, AZ) also became a subsidiary of TMC Health, said Rich. “The boards of each of these critical access hospitals approached TMC and asked about a closer alignment to face increasingly tough challenges on the horizon,” said Rich. “Recognizing the importance of keeping health care close to home–whether home is in a city or in a small rural community–is important and so we took steps to make them part of our system of care.” Northern Cochise Community Hospital Northern Cochise Community Hospital, which serves Willcox, Bowie, Pearce, Sunizona, Dragoon, San Simon and Sunsites, is a critical access hospital with two rural health clinics, said Mo Sheldon, chief executive officer of NCCH. “Hospitals like Northern Cochise Community Hospital are essential in small communities for the
care provided, but also for the role we play as an employer and investor in the local economy,” said Sheldon. “We saw how important the hospital is to the community with the resounding approval of local programs to support the hospital, such as the support to continue Northern Cochise Hospital District.” Throughout the pandemic, the staff and providers worked to keep sicker patients closer to home by investing in new technology and training for staff. To do this, the hospital invested in technology to expand cardiac monitoring, added generator power to ensure the full hospital had back-up power and expanded the oxygen storage capacity vital to caring for COVID patients. The Northern Cochise Community Hospital Board of Directors voted for the rural health system to become a subsidiary of TMC Health. “Living in a rural area, access to health care can often be a challenge. Northern Cochise Community Hospital has been a trusted health care provider since its inception and the importance of having accessible
health care close to home has become even more evident during the COVID pandemic,” said Steve Metts, chairman of the NCCH Board of Directors. “The decision to align more closely with TMC Health was made to ensure the communities we serve continue to have access to health care for many years to come.” As NCCH looks ahead, Sheldon said they are looking to offer more robust services for patients, including outpatient geropsychatric care, telebehavioral health, and more primary and specialty care services.
chief executive officer of Benson Hospital. “We provide personalized, community-based care throughout our hospital, ancillary services and rural health care clinics,” Strange said. “When a patient’s need exceeds our abilities, we rely on our partners at TMC to extend our continuum of care.” In 2021, Benson Hospital invested in equipment upgrades in its laboratory and respiratory care departments, as well as facility improvements such as new flooring in the Emergency Department, renovation of the inpatient rooms and a new imaging center which opened in early 2022. Benson also opened a new rural health clinic in Vail in 2021.
Benson Hospital “Benson Hospital has served the community for more than 50 years and continues to invest in the San Pedro Valley every day,” said Julia Strange,
Benson Hospital collaborated with Concert Health to deliver collaborative behavioral health care, a model proven to improve depression and anxiety
outcomes in comparison to traditional treatment methods. With measurement-based tools and same-day support, Benson Hospital primary care practitioners can identify and diagnose behavioral health conditions within the primary care setting and make warm handoffs to Concert Health’s remote behavioral care managers for evidencebased interventions. In addition to expanding and investing in its hospital-based and primary care programs, Benson Hospital has expanded its reach into the community through collaborations with Southern Arizona Diaper Bank, Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, Benson Community Resource Council, Benson Unified School District, and others.
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The challenges of life after stroke Many patients experience additional health complications after stroke that result in readmission to the hospital, such as infections, sepsis, pneumonia, falls, cardiovascular and neurological issues. The TMC-Stroke Resource Center Transition of Care Program (TOC), a telephone-based program, provides follow-up phone calls to patients discharged from the hospital with a stroke or TIA diagnosis at 30 days from discharge. Additional calls are made at 90 days from discharge for patients who received reperfusion treatment for acute stroke.
TMCOne continues to grow, adding services and convenience Last year, TMC’s primary and specialty care practice, TMCOne, focused on growth and providing convenient, accessible health care to patients throughout Tucson. Growth in Oro Valley: In October, TMCOne opened a new primary care office at 10390 N. La Cañada Drive in Oro Valley. With a focus on family medicine and a walk-in lab, the new clinic makes primary care conveniently accessible to families in the area. Starting out with three providers, the clinic has grown to five practitioners. It will soon add pediatricians to the mix, so the entire family can get care in the same office. Behavioral Health: TMCOne formed a partnership with Concert Health to offer integrated behavioral health services to patients. Concert Health is a referral service for mental health care via telemedicine for all ages, focusing on anxiety and depression. This service is a wonderful addition to the continuum of care TMCOne strives to offer. Convenience: TMCOne reached its goal to make convenient automated check-in available to patients. “We have been focused on technological automation to make the patient experience as modern and as easy as possible,” said Jonathan Leicht, TMCOne director of operations. Contactless check-in kiosks allow patients to scan insurance cards, pay outstanding bills and sign registration forms. 7
The TOC nurse gathers information on how the patient and their caregivers are managing their lives as they transition from the hospital to living after stroke. The nurse also provides support to patients, addresses unmet needs and helps coordinate care. The nurse not only gathers information about things such as medication management, follow-up appointments and physical and emotional health, but also provides information on community resources to stroke families. In 2021 the community stroke nurse called nearly 600 patients after they were discharged from TMC. The TMC-Stroke Resource Center Stroke Transition of Care Program was created in 2018 through a collaboration with our community partner Stroke Resource Center of Southern Arizona and is made possible by a grant from the TMC Foundation.
TMC advancing cardiovascular care – education, training and research Cardiovascular services offered at TMC are a point of pride. Knowledgeable staff, exceptional physicians and state-of-the-art equipment allow TMC to serve patients in all stages of cardiac disease. TMC’s commitment to cardiovascular care goes beyond equipment and staffing, though.
their complications. Most recently, the symposium features an add-on event – an interactive vascularultrasound imaging course. The symposium and imaging course are funded through registration fees, and support from the TMC Foundation, local cardiovascular physicians and vendors.
TMC continues to advance cardiovascular care through education, training, and research. Known as a place for complex cardiovascular care with excellent outcomes, and a patient- and familycentric focus, TMC is the leading multistate referral center in the Southwest.
Training
Education For the past 13 years, the TMC Health CardioVascular Symposium has brought more than 200 providers together to learn the latest developments in cardiovascular care. The symposium updates medical professionals on state-of-the-art techniques in cardiovascular care and improvements to patient care. Community experts and internationally recognized speakers provide practical information regarding diagnosis and management of cardiovascular diseases and
Last year, more than 6,500 cardiac patients underwent procedures at TMC, including complex coronary interventions, Watchman, TAVR, Mitraclip, pace makers/defribulators, arrythmia ablasions, cardiac surgery and non-invasive cardiac imaging. When it comes to complex cardiac procedures, last year TMC was nationally ranked in the top 2% of Watchman procedures , No. 2 for Mitraclip surgeries, and in the top 10 for TAVR procedures. Surgeons from all around the world train with our highly accomplished physicians, many of whom also serve as faculty for national and international conferences, and provide professional development for their peers.
Research Physicians affiliated with TMC and Pima Heart and Vascular are principal investigators in leading international clinical trials with patient-centric care at its focus. Last year, 10 clinical studies were ongoing for cardiovascular devices. With support from the TMC Foundation, the hospital is able to offer two fellowships, including a post-doctoral cardiovascular research fellowship and a structural heart disease fellowship. The cardiovascular research fellowship helps prepare a post-doctorate fellow with the proficiencies required to undertake clinical cardiovascular research. The goal of the structural heart disease fellowship is to understand the effectiveness and limitations of catheter-based structural heart interventional procedures and to select patients and procedure types appropriately as well as achieve the appropriate cognitive knowledge and technical skills needed to perform interventional cardiovascular procedures.
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COVID survivor: “We could have left our kids” When Sophie Mason’s doctor was preparing to intubate her, she had one thought – “I have to make it home to care for my babies.” It is one of many moments she will never forget after she and her husband, Tim, were both admitted to Tucson Medical Center with severe illness from COVID-19. The couple had not been vaccinated for COVID-19 when they got sick in early August. “I am not an anti-vaxer,” Sophie said. “To be honest, I was just so confused. It’s so hard when you have a whirlwind of information being thrown at you.” Both Sophie and Tim ended up needing support from ventilators to survive.
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‘I had no idea my body would respond that way’
‘Get home to the kids’
After being so sick, the couple now understand how this virus works and the effects it can have on the body.
Sophie was discharged Aug. 19, after being hospitalized over two weeks – eight of those days on a ventilator. A heart went up on the “Hearts of Hope” wall outside of the TMC intensive care unit. The wall is covered with cutout hearts representing patients who survived COVID-19. Sophie couldn’t wait until Tim’s heart could join hers.
“It hits everybody differently,” Sophie said. “I don’t have pre-existing conditions and it hit me hard. It hit Tim even harder. When I got out of the hospital he was still intubated. I had no idea my body would respond that way to the virus, but now that I know, I’m definitely getting the vaccine. Not everybody has the luxury of retrospect.” Sophie has since gotten vaccinated, and encourages others to do the same. Tim says he will get the vaccine as soon as he is cleared by his medical team to do so.
Until then, Sophie would go home to care for her four children, something she was anxious to do. “My continuous thought through all of it was ‘get home to the kids,’” she recalled. “Even during moments of delirium, it really stuck out as my biggest priority. Thankfully, they were well taken care of. My parents, sister and church family really stepped up to help.”
‘I could have lost him’
‘It’s taking care of my children’
A week after Sophie was discharged, she got a call from the hospital. Tim had coded twice. She signed a DNR (do not resuscitate) for him, another moment she will never forget.
Looking back, Sophie is left with a chilling thought – “We could have left our kids.”
“I had just coded her husband twice and he was now in severe shock with many organ systems failing,” said Dr. Aaron Pulsipher, TMC ICU. “I did not think he would survive more than a few more days. Then it was honestly like a light switch flipped a couple days later. His shock resolved and his oxygen needs improved.” “It was this crazy period of time where I could have lost him” Sophie said. A heart on the wall, and a long road ahead On Sept. 16, Sophie’s prayers were answered and Tim was discharged. His heart went on the wall next to hers, another moment she will never forget. Though he was out of the hospital with no acute medical issues, Tim was admitted to a rehabilitation facility so he could rebuild his strength. He lost 100 pounds; he had a tracheotomy; he had to learn how to breathe on his own and regain lost muscle tone. He still struggles doing basic things such as walking on his own. “I’m so grateful he’s alive,” Sophie said. “But it definitely took a toll on his body.” Sophie was left with some side effects – hair loss, easily runs out of breath and a raspy voice – but is otherwise feeling good.
“As a mom, my biggest thing is taking care of my kids,” she said. “For me the vaccine isn’t just taking care of me, it’s taking care of my children so I can provide for them, so they don’t end up without parents. For me, it would be irresponsible at this point to not get it.”
Intensive Care Unit Refresh In June 2021, TMC unveiled a renovated and upgraded ICU, giving it a new feel and advanced technology. Upgrades include: • New floors and bright, healing colors
A great team of people
• Hemodialysis hookups in each room
One thing remained a constant for Sophie during this experience – the communication and care she and her husband received at TMC.
• 10 reverse airflow isolation rooms
“Dr. Pulsipher was honestly like the stabilizing factor for both of us,” she said. “It was a lot easier to go through because we had such great communication. I was blessed by a great team of people. Doctors, nurses, and respiratory therapists in the ICU at TMC are heroes and we are just so grateful. They did us good. They took care of us and got us home to our babies.”
• Respiratory care workstations
Though some of it is a blur, surviving COVID-19 is an experience neither Sophie or Tim will forget. “It is one of those sucky situations, but I’m so grateful and now I’m like ‘what can I do to help others so they don’t go through that.’”
• 3 TB/airborne isolation rooms
• 2 additional equipment closets • Upgraded air-handling systems • Advance data ports in all rooms • New computer workstations in each room • New and mobile stock carts in all rooms • Blinds built into windows to help with infection prevention • Monitors with state-of-the-art technology that can be manipulated and rotated for a better view
“Him pulling through this was highly improbable,” Dr. Pulsipher said. “And the fact that they both survived – nothing short of miraculous.” Tim was discharged from the rehabilitation facility Oct. 13, and is now home with his family.
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TMC Health, leading the charge when it comes to women in leadership While it might be uncommon to see women leading most American hospitals, that is not the case for TMC Health. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 20% of health system and hospital chief executive officers are women. TMC Health, which includes Tucson Medical Center, Benson Hospital and Northern Cochise Community Hospital, is proud to be the exception - the system and hospital CEOs are all women. There’s more: the chair of the TMC Health Board of Trustees is a woman, as are several executives. In fact, the chiefs of staff at the three facilities are women, too. Not to mention, all but one nurse manager at TMC are female.
‘Different is good’
An inspiring and motivating team
“It’s amazing and wonderful,” said Judy Rich, President and CEO of TMC Health. “The crazy thing about it is that it’s not something that I set out to do. It’s something that organically happened because women are great leaders. We are good listeners, we are good at completing tasks, we are able to focus on what’s important amidst chaos, and we have an incredible ability to love and care as women, and not to apologize for that.”
As CEO of Benson Hospital, Julia Strange said having women leading the charge has kept her motivated and inspired.
That’s not to say men are not great leaders, but having a variety of voices at the table makes a difference says Mimi Coomler, CEO of TMC.
Mo Sheldon, CEO of Northern Cochise Community Hospital, echoes those sentiments.
“Different is good,” Coomler said. “Harnessing the wisdom of the collective, the solution sets become richer when there are different voices at the table.”
President & CEO, TMC Health
Judith F. Rich TMC Health
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“I have always been encouraged to take risks, be my best self and do what it takes to make a difference,” Strange said. “TMC has a culture that we can all make a difference with this motivation and inspiration.”
“I am so proud to be part of TMC Health, and to be part of this amazing team of women leaders,” Sheldon said. “We are a strong group of women with the same goal of providing exceptional health care with compassion for Southern Arizona.”
Chiefs of Staff
Barbara Hartley, M.D. Benson Hospital
Dawn Walker, D.O. NCCH
Gayle Dean, M.D. TMC
‘You don’t have to stop somewhere’ Coomler said having female role models at TMC helped her realize she could have a path forward after being a bedside nurse and chief operations officer — a path she didn’t always see. “I remember interviewing a long time ago, way before TMC, at a hospital in South Carolina and every member of the executive team was a man who had been there 15-25 years, and it felt like there was no path there,” Coomler recalled. “So women leaders have made the space for the perception that a nurse can be a CEO and women can run an organization. There is a message in that. It says you don’t have to stop somewhere.”
at the time. The health system CEO put his hand on my shoulder and tapped me, and said ‘that’s never going to happen, honey.’ He pictured me as a nurse and a COO, but he couldn’t picture me as a CEO. … I think the historical perception is that men are stronger and better leaders and that a leader needs to be strong, which is equated with being male. Thankfully, that perception has changed dramatically in the last generation.” Part of the change After that experience at a prior system, Rich became even more determined to move into leadership so she could help change and improve the health care system, eventually becoming CEO of TMC and then TMC Health.
a part of changing the health care system. That desire led me to taking opportunities when they came up, and eventually getting into leadership.” Rich and Coomler both feel their experiences as nurses help them in their decision-making as leaders. “I’m a nurse first,” Coomler said. “As a nurse, I learned that if you are struggling with what the right thing to do is and you can say ‘what is the best thing for the patient,’ you will come to the right answer. It’s foundational.”
Rich had a similar experience. “I had a job before Tucson in the South and my CEO left, so I went to the system CEO and said I want to apply for his job,” Rich recalled. “I was COO
“I became a nurse because I wanted to take care of people and as I got into the health care system, I realized I was frustrated by things that did not work,” she said. “So I decided that I wanted to be
Chief Executive Officers
Julia Strange
Benson Hospital
Mo Sheldon NCCH
Mimi Coomler TMC
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Nursing Officer
Julie Ward
Joy Upshaw
TMC
TMC
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The momentum of hope, education and community In the PICU, diabetes educator Kallie [Siderewicz] gave us a crash course in Type 1 diabetes, but it was in the months that followed when we began to truly appreciate the importance of ongoing care needed with a chronic condition. It isn’t just about how many carbs my son is eating and how much insulin he needs, it’s also about recognizing how stress and exercise play a role. We draw upon the expertise, the community and the hope that the clinic provides. —Wendy Scheder, mother to a patient with diabetes The TMCOne Pediatric Endocrinology clinic serves a growing number of children and their families who live with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. More than a diagnosis and a simple treatment, living well with diabetes requires constant monitoring and support. Families return again and again to the clinic to receive ongoing needed care and education. In 2021 the clinic not only addressed families’ needs in the hospital and as outpatients, but also as part of a larger community with the first Hopechella Music Festival in November. The Pless Foundation funded the four-hour event at Himmel Park. With the assistance of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tucson, the pediatric endocrinology clinic provided an opportunity for families to connect, learn, participate in research and have fun at Hopechella. Around 100 participants attended. Recognizing that a diabetes diagnosis follows children from the hospital to home and then to school, the “Keeping Kids with Diabetes Safe at School” is a virtual conference for school-based health professionals. Funded by TMC Foundation and the Gordon Foundation, the third annual conference was in November. The conference serves those caring for students with diabetes and educates them on the pathophysiology of diabetes, insulin dosing, emergency treatment and troubleshooting pump issues. School health care professionals representing more than 100 schools participated in the virtual conference.
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Child Life, making magic happen When COVID-19 locked down activities, Tucson Medical Center’s Child Life team responded with innovation and creativity so pediatric patients could keep doing what they do best – play. “It is important to keep fun, creative play going at the hospital,” said Jamie Antrim, child life assistant. “Play is what children are supposed to be doing and it is such a big part of the healing process.” Things may be different during the pandemic, but Child Life makes sure the magic still happens. Instead of large groups of children playing in the playroom, families make appointments to go, one at a time, providing a personalized play experience. During the holiday season, Antrim arranged for a staff member to don a Santa suit to wish patients happy holidays from the doorways of their rooms while she and the child life specialists handed out gifts. At Halloween, TMC staff dressed up and paraded through the hallways. Last, but not least, Child Life and Volunteer Services worked together to bring pet therapy dogs in for a special visit. Having the right tools Thanks to our Children’s Miracle Network partners, TMC’s child life specialists have the tools they need to provide play opportunities and events for pediatric patients, even during isolation: • Without a full contingent of volunteers to help switch out games and DVDs from patient rooms whenever requested, CMN funding allowed TMC for Children to subscribe to Swank Patient Entertainment, offering three channels of age-appropriate movies 24/7, including a Spanish channel.
Can’t stop us – Safe Kids & Desert Kids An ongoing pandemic did not stop babies being born, kids riding bikes, families going on car trips or kids splashing in the pool, and it did not stop Safe Kids and TMC Desert Kids from protecting children. Last year, through classes and events Safe Kids and TMC Desert Kids:
• CMN funded 12 fully loaded Xbox game stations. Patients no longer need to ask someone to change out a disc. • New iPads loaded with the KidSpeak app and videos helped prepare patients for their procedures. “The new iPads help get through the videos seamlessly because they have more memory,” said Laurel Brantley, child life specialist. “At the end of preparation, we ask what movies or music they like and let them use the iPad to help normalize their environment.” Live events have been on hold with COVID-19, so Antrim coordinated countless virtual visits with Reid Park Zoo and Mr. Nature. She and the child life specialists go from room to room holding the iPad so patients can interact with the featured guest – singing along with Mr. Nature and asking questions about animals with zoo staff.
• • • • • • • •
20 virtual car seat classes 8 in-person care seat classes 826 car seats distributed 6 car seat check events 307 booster seats distributed 2,694 bike helmets 702 swim lessons 1,125 hours of pediatric outreach
In total, Safe Kids and TMC Desert Kids impacted 35,382 members of our community in 2021.
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Looking Good, Baby! Tucson Medical Center is one of the busiest birthing centers in the state, celebrating more than 5,000 joyful birth days each year! Because we know that each baby who leaves our hospital is the cutest thing ever, we invited families to share their bundles of joy with the community. Our ‘Lookin’ Good, Baby’ campaign invited 20 local families to be part of our fall advertising campaign. A hilarious and giggly photo shoot ensued, leading to pictures of new families with smiling and laughing babies dotting area billboards, surely bringing joy and laughter to local commuters. While we consider ourselves experts in the business of happy families (and giggly babies), we were overwhelmed hearing from these families about the trust they put in TMC for one of their most important days, their birth day.
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Giving back by investing in TMC workforce Tucson Medical Center may be a long way from Tipperary, Ireland, but investing in its staff is close to one donor’s heart. Addressing the current staff and nursing shortage, the 91 year-old donor, gifted the TMC Foundation $500,000 to create a scholarship program for advanced traning and educational opportunities for TMC’s clinical staff.
TC-3 Petsmart Grant Timothy, a local veteran, lives alone with his beloved cat Blue Eyes. After falling in his home, Timothy required care at a skilled nursing facility. His worry for Blue Eyes’ welfare grew, leading him to leave the facility early. Timothy continued to experience falls in his home and became a frequent caller to the 911 system. He was referred to Tucson Collaborative Community Care, TC-3, a collaboration between Tucson Medical Center and Tucson Fire Department that connects people with the resources they need so they do not need to rely on the emergency system for all of their health needs. During community interactions with people like Timothy, TC-3 found that many ignore their own health needs in order to care for their animals. TC-3 realized that by helping these clients with pet care, it could help them achieve better health. Now, thanks to a grant from PetSmart Charities, TC-3 is able to do just that. This funding, combined with community partnerships, TC-3 can arrange boarding and care for its client’s pets, enabling the client to get the medical care they need for themselves. TC-3 contacted Timothy and arranged boarding for Blue Eyes at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, so Timothy could finish his medical care without having to worry about his furry friend. A veterinarian determined that Blue Eyes suffered from severe dental disease, extracted five teeth and put him on a special diet.
“It is an investment, not only in an individual’s future, but in the future of our community’s health,” he said. This isn’t the first time, he has invested in the local workforce. Originally from Tipperary, Ireland, the donor made his way to Tucson in the 1970s, where he sarted and grew successful RV parks. He had many long-time employees at the RV parks that he helped grow in their roles. He also supported scholarships for those beginning careers in the recreational vehicle industry. “I wanted to give back to the community that has given me to much,” the donor said. In order to supprot TMC’s educational needs well into the future, the TMC Foundation will match this gift dollar for dollar with quasi-endowment funds, creating a $1 million acocunt for scholarships, which will be in perpetuity. Any growth generated by this endowment beyond the amount used to support scholarships will be reinvested in the principal to grow the endowment. “I am thrilled to see the impact of my philanthropy double,” he said. “We are so grateful to this donor for partnering with us in such a meaningful way,” said Jeffrey Lamie, vice president, chief development officer for TMC Foundation. “This gift will help so many people, from our caregivers to patients, and will go a long way toward helping us in our mission to provide exceptational health care with compassion.” While it’s a long way to Tipperary, his heart is right here in Tucson.
“We are thankful to PetSmart Charities and all of our community partners who have helped Timothy through this process,” said Julieta Scroggs, RN, TC-3 program manager. “With their support, we have enabled Timothy to make his health a priority.” 16
TMC Hospice celebrates 30 years In 2021, TMC Hospice celebrated the 30th year since it received a state license to start a hospice program. Today as then, the program provides support and care for people with a lifelimiting disease so that they can live as fully and comfortably as possible.
TMC Mega Raffle: 9 years, $11 million and counting The TMC Mega Raffle sold out in 2021 with proceeds going toward the funding the advanced technology used for telemedicine; cochlear implants for pediatric and adult patients; a top-ofthe-line obstetrics simulation suite; and scholarships for employees. The almost $11 million raised in nine years makes a difference in the lives of patients, families and our community. The next time you think about purchasing a TMC Mega Raffle ticket, you will have confidence knowing that everybody wins.
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TMC trained an initial cadre of 50 volunteers. These volunteers would “offer companionship and support to patients and family members; stay in the home for a limited time so family members can shop or take care of personal business, run errands, transport patient and family to appointments; and help with emergencies when necessary,” according to Pat Torrington, the program’s first nurse manager. Over the decades, staff and volunteers continue to visit and care for patients and their families in the home setting. About 90 percent of hospice care is delivered in the home or home-like setting, such as assisted living facilities and skilled nursing homes. The other 10 percent is through Peppi’s House, where patients come for symptom management and respite care services.
While the dedicated support and care have always been the centerpiece, TMC Hospice has been able to add a number of programs—many funded through donations—including bereavement services, a veterans program, a pediatric program, complementary services (massage, aroma, pet and music therapies) and more. The biggest change over the years has been the location of inpatient care, which started on Unit 650, moved to the Papago Building and, finally, to Peppi’s House. An initial gift of $1 million from the building’s namesake got the ball rolling on the 16bed standalone inpatient unit and administrative offices, which offers patients and families a peaceful, homelike setting away from the bustle of an acute-care hospital. As TMC Hospice looks towards the future, it will continue to meet patients’ needs and wishes using a team-oriented approach to expert medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support.
Keeping connections alive for seniors Recognizing the importance of remaining socially engaged as we age—especially during the COVID-19 pandemic—TMC for Seniors hosted drive-thru events and online groups to help keep those connections alive. “Each month we put together an activity/ education kit to keep our attendees up to date on health information, along with brain health activities to do at home,” said Maya Luria, director TMC for Seniors. “The drive-through events gave us a chance to see people in person while they remained safely in their cars.” TMC for Seniors provided kits monthly May 2020 June 2021, and again in November and December 2021. In total, 4,258 kits were distributed.
In order to keep participants safe while encouraging important connections, support groups have continued on Zoom and presentations have streamed online. Though developed out of necessity, the online platforms have created more options for people to connect moving forward. “As much as we love being in person, the digital format has opened our eyes to new ways to provide programming,” Luria said. “Our plan is to move to a hybrid model in the future, with small in-person audiences, as well as attendees watching online. With a diverse audience, this allows us to connect using different methods that work for them.”
TMC Health & Wellness Programs Online presentations:
67
Views:
42,500 Hybrid Lectures:
(in-person and online)
18
Views:
5,700 In-person:
250
Safe & Socially Distanced Classes:
388
Total Attendance:
A new home for TMC for Seniors TMC for Seniors relocated in 2021 to the Palo Verde campus. The space includes an outdoor courtyard with a beautiful view of the Santa Catalina Mountains that is perfect for events and classes. Its close proximity to TMC allows for utilization of campus grounds for new programs such as the Heart & Soul Walking Club.
3,320
Online Classes:
16
Views:
3,200 Virtual support groups:
24
Participants:
213
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TMC helps get more than 367K vaccine doses in arms
COVID-19 Vaccinations Administered Lot 29 Drive-Through
113,363
Tucson Medical Center and Pima County Health Department joined forces in 2021 to vaccinate our community. By the beginning of 2021 TMC was operating a drive-through vaccine point of dispensing (POD) at Lot 29, near North Wyatt Drive and East Glenn Street, as well as a walk-in POD in the Marshall Conference Center. Initially, these sites vaccinated health care staff before opening up to the public, with the community’s eldest being first in line.
Marshall Walk-In
34,515
Udall Rec Center
21,203
Tucson Convention Center
88,291
Eventually, the Marshall walk-in clinic shutdown as most people opted for the convenience of the drive-through. As temperatures rose, the drive-through POD needed to move. On April 19, operations were moved to the Morris K. Udall Recreation Center.
UA Drive-Through
28,973
While TMC was running the PODs at the hospital and Udall Park, it was assisting the county with
UA Walk-In TMCOne Benson Hospital Northern Cochise Community Hospital
8,809 72,255 4,209 1,961
Total doses administered
373,579
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information technology and other support at a number of other locations, including the Tucson Convention Center and the University of Arizona mall. Additionally, more than 2,000 volunteers— nurses, doctors, social workers, retirees, TMC volunteers and others—stepped up to help vaccinate the community. The Udall POD closed June 30 after which enough vaccine supply was available throughout the region that people could get vaccinated through more traditional means, including primary and urgent care clinics, and pharmacies. Additionally Benson Hospital administered 4,209 doses and Northern Cochise Community Hospital administered 1,961 vaccines. In all, the TMC Health administered 373,579 COVID-19 vaccines.
Mural by Joe Pagac - May 2021
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Community Benefit 2021
Community Benefit 2021
TMC Health reports nearly $47.6 million in community benefit and charity care for 2021, or about 6.1% of net revenues.
What Makes up this number? Outreach & Education: This figure includes community benefit programs and activities that provide treatment or promote health and healing as a response to identified community needs. These programs and activities help improve access to health care services, enhance the health of the community and advance medical knowledge. Hospital Assessment: Since 2014, Arizona hospitals have paid an assessment to the state of Arizona to help fund the cost of expanding AHCCCS services to low-income residents. In 2021, the assessment covered 640,000 residents, and TMC Health’s portion of the hospital assessment was $21.0 million. Health Care Investment Fund (HCIF): In March 2020, HB 2668 was passed which established a second assessment effective Oct. 1, 2020. Monies from this assessment are deposited into the Health Care Investment Fund to 1) make directed payments to hospitals pursuant to 42 CFR § 438.6(c) to persons eligible for Title XIX services, 2) increase base reimbursement for services reimbursed under the dental fee schedule and physician fee schedule, and 3) to pay for the non-federal share of the costs for AHCCCS expenses to administer this program, not to exceed one percent of the total assessment monies collected.
44%
Hospital Assessment $20,985,884
Total
24%
Cost of Uncompensated Care (Charity Care & Bad Debt) $11,350,000
Percentage of net revenue: 6.1%
23%
Health Care Investment Fund (HCIF) $10,878,416
9%
Outreach & Education $4,347,963
$47,562,263
2021 Hospital Data and Volumes
Uncompensated Cost of Care for Charity Care, Bad Debt & Discounts for the Uninsured: Charity care is free or discounted health services provided to people who can demonstrate that they do not have the means to pay the full cost of care and who meet the organization’s financial-assistance policy criteria. Bad debt consists of services for which the hospital anticipated but did not receive payment. Recognizing that self-pay patients who do not have health insurance are not in the same position as insurance companies to negotiate reduced rates, TMC Health discounts these patients’ bills by 69%; and, depending on a patient’s income, other discounts may apply as part of TMC Health’s Community Care program. For purposes of community benefit reporting, charity care, bad debt and uninsured discounts are reported in terms of costs, not charges. For more information about TMC Health’s charity care policy, visit: tmcaz.com/community-care.
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Number of Licensed Beds
Inpatient Admissions
ED Visits
NCCH
Benson
TMC
24
24
628
173
209
29,842
5,503
8,311
84,326
Board of Trustees TMC Health
Benson Hospital
Northern Cochise Community Hospital
Tucson Medical Center
Louise Francesconi, Chair
Jon Young, Chair
Steven Metts, Chair
David Cohen, Chair
Stephen E. Eggen
Barbara Hartley, M.D.
Kathy Cook
Jeff Christensen
Robert Gonzalez
Ann Macinnes Cook
Carol Dunagan
Mimi Coomler, CEO
Jay Katz, M.D.
Micah Mortensen
Jay Katz, M.D.
Gayle Dean, M.D.
Judith F. Rich, President and CEO
Matt Smith
Mo Sheldon, CEO
Donal Drayne
Beckie Torrey
Julia Strange, CEO
Julia Strange
Cynthia Garcia
Gay Tosch
Hope Thomas, Vice President
Dawn Walker, D.O.
Alan Rogers, M.D.
Daniel Wilson
David Smallhouse
Jon Young
Linda Wojtowicz Julie Zaetta, M.D.
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Annual Report 2021 | Published June 2022 5301 E. Grant Road, Tucson, AZ 85712 tmcaz.com • (520) 324-5461