News

Northside Hospital Donates a GE MAC 1200 EKG Machine

December 15, 2017
GACH commissioned a video with Dr. Karen Kinsell, the only physician in Clay County, Georgia. In addition to her practice, Dr. Kinsell was appointed to the Senate Study Committee on Georgians’ Barriers to Access to Healthcare. 
 
The Alliance has used this video in several legislative committees, because Dr. Kinsell’s practice illustrates the types of problems that face Georgia’s hospitals, especially our rural providers.
 
In telling the story of her single-physician practice in rural Georgia, Dr. Kinsell tells the story of major challenges facing our state. 
 
Dr. Kinsell identifies the three major challenges facing her practice as:
 
1. Poverty/payor mix
2. Distance to care
3. Access to care
 
Dr. Kinsell’s video gives us a great entry point for discussing the importance of payor mix and Certificate of Need as the only tool the state has to stabilize healthcare finance and ensure healthcare access across the state.
 
One of the things Dr. Kinsell mentions in describing her practice is that she lacked an EKG machine or an x-ray – two of the basic tools of modern healthcare.
We are proud to report to you that Alliance member Northside Hospital has since generously donated a GE MAC 1200 EKG machine for Dr. Kinsell’s clinic to help her provide a higher level of service to her patients.