CEO Selected by Georgia Trend Magazine for Second Time
Dr. Ninfa M. Saunders, President and CEO of Navicent Health was recently included on Georgia Trend’s annual listing of “100 Most Influential Georgians.” Saunders 2019 inclusion is the second time she has made the prestigious list in four years, demonstrating her continued impact on healthcare and Georgia’s healthcare consumers.
Georgia Trend’s editorial staff works throughout the year to compile the names of those leaders who use their power and influence to make the greatest contributions to their industry, their community and their state. According to a statement on Georgia Trend’s website, the 100 Influential Georgians included on this year’s list “have challenged, inspired and led efforts to bring about positive change in virtually every corner of the Peach State. Some are very public figures, while others work quietly behind the scenes…All are tireless and passionate in pursuit of their vision for a better Georgia.”
Saunders is recognized as a “fierce advocate” for access to quality healthcare for all Georgians, both urban and rural residents, regardless of their race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status. She has been included on Georgia Trend’s 2019 list for making a number of contributions to healthcare in the state, including:
Dr. Saunders’ efforts to consolidate local healthcare options, collaborate with competitors and increase Georgia’s medical profile have also drawn increased attention to both Saunders and Navicent Health.
“It is truly an honor to be recognized on Georgia Trend’s list of 100 influential leaders. This recognition is testament to the wonderful progress that we are making at Navicent Health, and the impact we are having on the industry and the lives of those we serve. We are not only improving healthcare in central and south Georgia, but also setting a standard for others to follow,” said Saunders.
Saunders was also recently included on Becker’s Hospital Review’s annual list of “130 Women Hospital and Health System Leaders to Know.” This is the sixth consecutive year she has been named to the annual list.
“Navicent Health is a dynamic industry leader and a model for other healthcare providers in an evolving healthcare industry We are thrilled that Dr. Saunders and Navicent Health have been recognized for the contributions that they are making to our state for the benefit of all Georgians,” said Starr Purdue, Chairperson of the Navicent Health Board of Directors.
Georgia Trend is the only statewide business publication in the market, reaching more than 50,000 subscribers. The monthly publication offers analysis of business and political trends around the state and economic development at the local level; creates a forum for leaders to voice their opinions on critical issues; and recognizes individuals, like Saunders, who make a positive impact on Georgia.
Georgia Trend’s list of 100 Influential Georgians includes elected and government officials, educators, philanthropists and various industry executives, including Bill Underwood, President of Mercer University in Macon. To view the complete list, please click here.
About Navicent Health
Navicent Health, the leading provider of healthcare in central and south Georgia, is committed to its mission of elevating health and wellbeing through compassionate care. Providing more than 1,000 beds and offering care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region, Navicent Health provides care for healthcare consumers’ through an academic medical center; community, pediatric and rehabilitation hospitals; urgent care centers; physician practices; diagnostic centers; home health; hospice and palliative care; and a life plan community. Navicent Health is dedicated enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally-recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. For more information, please visitwww.navicenthealth.org.
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Veazey Inducted into Lobbyists Hall of Fame 3:07 pmJames magazine inducted Monty Veazey of Tifton into its Top Lobbyists Hall of Fame during a recent ceremony in Atlanta.
“Monty Veazey is a respected veteran lobbyist who is well known for doing his homework and articulating his clients’ needs before legislators and the public,” said Phil Kent, the publisher of the magazine. “James is pleased to salute the hard-working professional by placing him in its elite Lobbyist Hall of Fame.”
Veazey has served as the president and CEO of the Georgia Association of Community Hospitals for 34 years, and he lobbies for numerous other clients as well. Veazey won election to the state House in 1976, becoming the youngest member ever elected in the House of Representatives, serving Tift, Berrien and Cook counties and left office in 1983.
“I greatly appreciate this recognition from James magazine, and it’s an honor to join so many friends and colleagues who have received this award in the past,” said Veazey. “I’m incredibly lucky that I’ve worked throughout my career on issues that improve the quality of life for Georgians in communities like Tifton. Community hospitals provide high-quality healthcare that’s crucial to our families, and beyond that, they are crucial to local economies.
“I get the best of two worlds. I work at the state Capitol where there’s so much going on for our state – but then I get to leave it all behind and come home to Tifton.”
Veazey serves on the Synovus Bank Board as well as the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. He and his family are members of First Baptist Church.
Free Childbirth Class Offered February 9 at Wayne Memorial Hospital 9:20 pmJesup, GA – A free class on childbirth is offered at Wayne Memorial Hospital February 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the hospital cafeteria conference room. This class is ideal for expectant mothers 25 weeks pregnant or later by the class date. People interested in registering may do so by calling (912) 530-3118 or (912) 530-3117.
Topics of the class will include the normal process of pregnancy, labor and delivery with an emphasis on conscious prepared childbirth. Stress is placed on a medically safe delivery in the hospital under the direction of a physician. Additional topics covered are infant care and infant feeding. Attendees are encouraged to invite a support person to the class.
Wayne Memorial Hospital, whose mission is to provide high quality health care services to all patients, built a state-of-the-art facility in 2007. It is the third largest employer in Wayne County with 475 employees, 84 beds and is a two-time winner of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals Small Hospital of the Year Award.
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Join Navicent Health to Learn if Your Heart is as Healthy as it Could Be 2:06 pmHeart Fest 2019 Planned for February, American Heart Month
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The CDC estimates 610,000 people in the U.S. die of heart disease each year – approximately one in every four deaths. Heart disease affects both men and women, with no regard for race or ethnicity. Deaths related to heart disease are particularly high in Georgia and the Southeast.
While statistics on the deadliness of this disease are staggering, there are steps individuals may take to improve the health of their heart. Navicent Health is dedicated to battling heart disease by giving central Georgians the tools they need to live heart healthy lives. Celebrate Heart Fest 2019 with Navicent Health during February, American Heart Month. Make your plans to attend the following events:
For more information on Heart Fest 2019, please visit www.navicenthealth.org, keyword “Heart Fest.”
About Navicent Health
Navicent Health, the leading provider of healthcare in central and south Georgia, is committed to its mission of elevating health and wellbeing through compassionate care. Licensed for 970 beds and offering care in 53 specialties at 30 facilities throughout the region, Navicent Health provides care for healthcare consumers’ through an academic medical center; community, pediatric and rehabilitation hospitals; urgent care centers; physician practices; diagnostic centers; home health; hospice and palliative care; and a life plan community. Navicent Health is dedicated enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally-recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. For more information, please visit www.navicenthealth.org.
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St. Mary’s Center for Rehabilitative Medicine earns CARF accreditation 6:20 pmAthens, Ga. – CARF International announced that St. Mary’s Center for Rehabilitative Medicine (CRM) has been accredited for a period of three years for its inpatient rehabilitation program, including a specialty accreditation for adult stroke care. The latest accreditation is the fifth consecutive three-year accreditation that CARF has given to St. Mary’s CRM.
This accreditation represents the highest level of accreditation that can be given to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process. It has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit its commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality.
“CARF accreditation demonstrates that St. Mary’s Center for Rehabilitative Medicine has made a specific commitment to put the needs of our patients at the center of everything we do,” said Montez Carter, St. Mary’s President and CEO. “It is official recognition that our organization is guided by internationally recognized service standards and best practices. I’m very proud of our medical staff, leadership, colleagues, and our partners with Kindred Hospital Rehabilitation Services for their continuous work to maintain our CARF accreditation.”
Founded in 2003, St. Mary’s Center for Rehabilitative Medicine, or CRM, is a 20-bed unit providing intensive physical, occupational and speech-language therapy to help people recover from some 25 debilitating conditions, including strokes, car accidents and heart attacks. Patients receive at least three hours a day of therapy, six days a week, in an inpatient setting with 24/7 nursing and medical care. All care is directed by a physician medical director and therapy services are provided by Kindred.”We are extremely proud that our center exceeds national standards for patient outcomes year after year,” said Ashley Cown, RN, director of the center. “For example, 82.5 percent of our patients are able to go home rather than to a nursing home or other institutional setting, compared to a national average of 78 percent.”
Those good outcomes and short lengths of stay (11.7 days on average, versus 13.2 nationally) are part of the reason the center was ranked among the top 10 percent of inpatient rehabilitation centers in the United States earlier this year by the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation.
CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process and continuous improvement services that center on enhancing the lives of the persons served. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF International, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services. For more information about the accreditation process, please visit the CARF website at www.carf.org.
For additional information, visit www.stmarysathens.org and look for “Rehabilitation Services” under the “Services” tab.
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Grant Supports Efforts to Decrease Unhealthy Substance Use in 34 Georgia Counties 3:32 pmNavicent Health, First Choice Primary Care Continue Efforts to Assist Uninsured, Minorities and Economically Disadvantaged
Thanks to a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Navicent Health and partners will receive funding to implement Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) to identify and address unhealthy alcohol and drug use for patients across 34 Georgia counties.
The $4,871,825 grant, awarded to Institute of Public and Preventative Health (IPPH) at Augusta University will allow healthcare providers participating in the SBIRT Initiative for Georgia’s Rural and Underserved Populations project to addresses healthcare disparities related to substance use disorder among minority, uninsured and economically disadvantaged patient populations. The five-year project will be implemented in seven Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) serving patients in a 34-county triangle linking Augusta, Macon and Savannah.
“This project gives us a unique opportunity to implement, and sustain, a much needed service in areas that are often overlooked when these type of funding opportunities come along,” said J. Aaron Johnson, PhD, interim director of the IPPH and leader of the project.
Navicent Health and First Choice Primary Care, a FQHC with six locations in Macon and Warner Robins, will implement the project for the benefit of patients in the central Georgia area. Grant funding received for the project will allow Paul Seale, MD and his team to continue ongoing efforts to address alcohol and drug abuse, and meet the needs of underserved populations.
“The SBIRT Initiative for Georgia’s Rural and Underserved Populations is one of five SBIRT dissemination projects implemented in the Southeast over the past decade, and they each have their roots in the pioneer SBIRT work conducted through Navicent Health’s Department of Family Medicine. Thanks to grants from NIH and SAMHSA, we were able to conduct four SBIRT projects at Navicent Health from 2005 to 2016. This grant allows us to continue our work in an effort to reduce health disparities and unhealthy substance use in underserved communities,” said Dr. Seale, a family practitioner with Family Health Center, Navicent Health.
Physicians and clinicians are able to identify and address unhealthy substance use using a comprehensive, patient-centered SBIRT model. Patients treated at the seven FQHCs participating in the project will be asked to complete screenings using tablet technology. The results of the screening will be integrated into the patient’s electronic health record. Healthcare providers, including licensed clinical social workers, will provide interventions, up to referrals for treatment, based on the results of the screening.
In addition to implementing SBIRT services and establishing a patient-centered model of care, one of the goals of the project is to create a sustainable SBIRT model in FQHCs that can be replicable for other FQHCs throughout the state.
“Health centers around the country are working to increase their capacity to integrate behavioral health into primary care. This project is a great opportunity for us to learn from SBIRT experts and our colleagues at other health centers as we work to integrate this practice into our daily patient-centered model of care and use technology to support those efforts,” said Katherine McLeod, Chief Executive Officer of First Choice Primary Care.
The goals and objectives of the project are closely aligned with Navicent Health’s mission to elevate health and wellbeing for individuals across its service area, while improving health equity and minimizing healthcare disparities.
“Through this five-year project, Navicent Health and other participating partners will work together to screen thousands of individuals for substance use disorder, intervene, and refer to treatment if necessary. The impact will continue to spread as we train others to screen for and address unhealthy substance use in a variety of care settings. We are making a difference in the lives of individuals, their families and their communities through these efforts,” said Tom Oliver, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Navicent Health.
About Navicent Health
Navicent Health, the leading provider of healthcare in central and south Georgia, is committed to its mission of elevating health and wellbeing through compassionate care. Licensed for 970 beds and offering care in 53 specialties at 30 facilities throughout the region, Navicent Health provides care for healthcare consumers’ through an academic medical center; community, pediatric and rehabilitation hospitals; urgent care centers; physician practices; diagnostic centers; home health; hospice and palliative care; and a life plan community. Navicent Health is dedicated enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally-recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. For more information, please visit www.navicenthealth.org.
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Northside Hospital recognized for best company culture and opportunities for women by Comparably.com 1:44 pmNorthside Hospital has been recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in 2018 by workplace culture and compensation monitoring siteComparably. Among all Top Large employers (more than 500 employees) across the United States, Northside ranked 26th for Best Company Culture and 27thfor Best Companies for Women.
Comparably’s annual “Best” lists showcase companies that receive the highest ratings on Comparably.com throughout the year based on anonymous feedback from employees about work environment, compensation, leadership and more.
In addition to Northside, five other Georgia companies made the two lists including Aflac, Insight Global, The Home Depot, Delta Air Lines and Chick-fil-A.
“Northside strongly believes in creating an environment where our employees are empowered, appreciated and supported so they can provide the best health care to our patients,” said Bob Quattrocchi, president and CEO of Northside Hospital. “That we rank among such highly respected companies across all industries is no surprise to me; I am honored by and proud of the work that we do.”
Earlier in 2018, Northside also was honored as one of the Best Places to Work by Glassdoor.
Northside Hospital is one of the fastest growing health care organizations in the Southeast and currently employs more than 16,000 employees, including physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, administrative and support services personnel throughout the Atlanta Region and many parts of Georgia.
For more information about Comparably’s Best Places to Work lists and a complete list of winners, visit: https://www.comparably.com/blog/best-places-to-work-2018/.
About Northside Hospital (www.northside.com)
The Northside Hospital health care system is one of Georgia’s leading health care providers with more than 150 locations across the state, including three acute care, state-of-the-art hospitals in Atlanta, Cherokee County and Forsyth County. Northside Hospital leads the U.S. in newborn deliveries and is among the state’s top providers of cancer care and surgical services. Northside has 3,000 physicians and 16,000 employees who serve more than 3 million patient visits annually across a full range of medical services.
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Northside Hospital honored as one of the Best Places To Work in 2019 1:49 pmATLANTA– Northside Hospital has been honored with a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award, recognizing the Best Places to Work in 2019. Northside Hospital ranks No. 52 out of 100 large employers in the United States and is the only Georgia hospital to make the list.
Now in its 11th year, the Employees’ Choice Awards program is based solely on the input of employees, who anonymously share insights and opinions about their work environments. Employees rate their overall satisfaction with the company, career opportunities, compensation and benefits, culture and values, senior management and work/life balance.
“The greatest asset of any organization is its employees, and I am proud to work with the thousands of dedicated professionals at Northside Hospital,” said Bob Quattrocchi, president and CEO of Northside Hospital. “Their high rating of Northside is a true reflection of their commitment to our patients, their families, and to one other. I see this excellence every day and recognize how valuable it is to Northside.”
Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work were determined using company reviews shared between October 23, 2017 and October 21, 2018. To be considered for the large category, a company must have had at least 1,000 or more employees and have received at least 75 ratings across each of the eight workplace attributes from U.S.-based employees during the period of eligibility. The final list is compiled using Glassdoor’s proprietary algorithm, led by its Economic Research Team, and takes into account quantity, quality and consistency of reviews.
Northside Hospital is one of the fastest growing health care organizations in the Southeast and currently employs more than 16,000 employees, including physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, administrative and support services personnel throughout the Atlanta Region and many parts of Georgia.
For the complete list of the Glassdoor Best Places to Work winners in 2019, visit: https://www.glassdoor.com/Award/Best-Places-to-Work-LST_KQ0,19.htm. Page 2 of 2
About Northside Hospital (www.northside.com)
The Northside Hospital health care system is one of Georgia’s leading health care providers with more than 150 locations across the state, including three acute care, state-of-the-art hospitals in Atlanta, Cherokee County and Forsyth County. Northside Hospital leads the U.S. in newborn deliveries and is among the state’s top providers of cancer care and surgical services. Northside has 3,000 physicians and 16,000 employees who serve more than 3 million patient visits annually across a full range of medical services.
About Glassdoor Glassdoor combines all the latest jobs with millions of reviews and insights to make it easy for people to find a job that is uniquely right for them. As a result, Glassdoor helps employers hire truly informed candidates at scale through effective recruiting solutions like job advertising and employer branding products. Launched in 2008, Glassdoor now has reviews and insights for over 830,000 companies located in more than 190 countries. For more information, visit glassdoor.com. Glassdoor® is a registered trademark of Glassdoor, Inc.
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Free Childbirth Class Offered December 29 at Wayne Memorial Hospital 1:59 pmJesup, GA – A free class on childbirth is offered at Wayne Memorial Hospital December 29 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the hospital cafeteria conference room. The class is ideal for those expectant mothers 25 weeks pregnant or later by the class date. Those interested in registering may do so by calling (912) 530-3118.
Topics of the class will include the normal process of pregnancy, labor and delivery with an emphasis on conscious prepared childbirth. Stress is placed on a medically safe delivery in the hospital under the direction of a physician. Additional topics covered are infant care and infant feeding. Attendees are encouraged to invite a support person to the class.
Wayne Memorial Hospital, whose mission is to provide high quality health care services to all patients, built a state-of-the-art facility in 2007. It is the third largest employer in Wayne County with 475 employees, 84 beds and is a two-time winner of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals Small Hospital of the Year Award.
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Open for Care: New Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica Emergency Department Now Serving Patients 2:44 pmEven what little wind there was cut through the coats of the Tanner Health System staff members and contractors working in freezing temps during the predawn hours Wednesday to pull the covers off the signage for the new emergency department at Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica.
Hidden for months as crews finished work on the massive construction project that nearly doubles the footprint of the 40-bed acute care hospital, it was time at last to light the new signs for the emergency department and ambulance bay as the unit was ready to accept its first patients.
And it didn’t take long: within the first hour, the unit already had three patients in various stages of triage and evaluation.
In the former emergency department, clinical staff continued to care for two patients, including one who was being discharged home as the new unit came online. Staff then left the old unit to continue their shifts in the new space. Meanwhile, Tanner Security staff in their heavy winter coats stood watch outside the former emergency department to intercept any arrivals after the new unit’s opening and reroute them to the new unit.
“It’s exciting,” said Eric Dalton, administrator for Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica. “A lot of people have put their time and talents into making this morning successful. Our goal was to make this transition seamless for our patients, and I think we’ve accomplished that. Now, we have an emergency department that can serve our community for years to come.”
System-wide, Tanner provides care for about 100,000 emergency department visits each year, about a third of which are treated through the emergency department at Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica. As with most other hospitals, the emergency department is also the leading source of inpatient admissions for the facility.
Tanner broke ground on the $37 million expansion in January 2017, citing the area’s growing population. When the former emergency department opened with the rest of the Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica facility in 2003, the city’s population was pushing 8,000 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau; now, the city’s population has crested 15,000 residents and continues to grow, as does the surrounding populations in northern Carroll County, western Douglas County and southern Paulding County that are also served by the hospital.
Along with the new emergency department, the expansion also features a new surgical services center, complete with state-of-the-art surgical suites capable of providing the latest minimally invasive procedures, as well as more involved orthopedic surgeries like total joint replacements. The unit also offers more than twice the number of pre-op rooms compared to the current unit, two new gastroenterology suites and a new post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) for patients to receive care immediately following surgery. The new surgical care unit is scheduled to perform its first cases Dec. 17.
The new emergency department offers 37 private exam rooms — more than twice the former unit — as well as on-unit diagnostic imaging services featuring ultrasound, digital X-ray and CT services. The unit is also staffed with board-certified, fellowship-trained emergency medicine physicians and advanced-practice providers, as well as specially trained emergency nurses and other clinicians.
“We’re so excited to be able to deliver care in a facility of this caliber,” said Jill Williams, RN, nurse manager for the emergency department at Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica. “Emergency care is something no one expects to need, but everyone does at some point in time. In this area, when that need arises, we’ll have the space and the team to help take care of our neighbors.”
Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica’s clinical programs have grown in recent years, too. The facility serves as an accredited chest pain center, offering interventional cardiology services featuring angioplasty and stenting, as well as a primary stroke center.
“With our clinical growth, we’ve become a regional destination for care,” said Dalton. “This facility is going to allow us to continue developing the services our community needs for years to come.”
More information about Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica and Tanner’s other services is available online at www.tanner.org.
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