Georgia Hospital Association

We love this inspiring story from Atrium Health Floyd. In 2008, at just 34 years old, Kelly McKelvey faced a life-altering diagnosis: breast cancer. Through surgery, radiation, and a long road to recovery, Kelly's strength—and the support of her patient navigator—were her guiding lights. Now, she spends her days empowering young minds as an educational interventionist at an elementary school, while also serving as a breast health advocate. Kelly courageously shares her journey to inspire and support other women on their own paths to healing. Thank you, Kelly, and all those who continue to fight and advocate for breast health! #BreastCancerAwareness https://lnkd.in/eGcg_PE3

#MondayMotivation: We continue to hear inspiring stories about our hospitals in the aftermath of #HurricaneHelene. Just 2 weeks into his role and new to the area, Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center Emergency Preparedness Director Damone Garner had been living in a hotel while looking for a new home for his family. When he got news of the impending hurricane, Damone immediately left the hotel and moved into the hospital for 15 days, assessing needs, addressing staffing concerns, and ensuring there were enough supplies. At the same hospital, Rev. Henry Holt, director of spiritual care, went to the hospital and, because his team was shorthanded due to the storm, took turns rotating shifts, spending the night to ensure a chaplain was available 24/7. Despite his own challenges that included a tree landing on his car and a gas leak near his home, Rev. Holt and his staff made time to distribute meals to patients and staff. Thank you, Damone and Rev. Holt for all you did and continue to do! #HealthcareHeroes

Born with hearing loss, Phoebe Putney Health System's Dr. Abi Askew wasn't always sure audiology was the right path for her. But a dream that she was an audiologist as a teen sealed the deal, and now she's helping others address hearing issues early. Dr. Askew says, "I find it especially rewarding when I can make a difference in the life of a child and the parents tell me that I’ve made them feel a lot better about their situation." Thank you for the amazing patient care you provide, Abi! https://lnkd.in/eV2BYSSt

Proudly wearing our pink to support #WearItPink Day (Oct. 18) and breast cancer awareness! We stand with patients, families, and communities, grateful for the dedicated hospitals and health care teams guiding them through their cancer journey. Together, we can make a difference and offer hope for a brighter, healthier future. #BreastCancerAwareness #SupportTheFight https://lnkd.in/eMC3ijyg

#HeleneHeroes: It's been three weeks since #HurricaneHelene made landfall. This morning we're honoring the great work Georgia's hospitals are doing for the communities hit hardest. Clinch Memorial Hospital for example, has served more than 7,000 meals, and has a food pantry open for employees and the public. But we're shining the spotlight on Clinch Memorial lab manager Marsha Nelson. She lives 10 miles from work. When she woke up the morning after #Helene to trees blocking her road, she cleared what she could, then realized driving wasn't an option. She decided to start walking. She walked for MILES in dangerous conditions before a driver picked her up. A commute that normally takes 20 minutes, that morning, took 3 hours. Thank you for going above and beyond and for your dedication to serve your community, Marsha! #HospitalHeroes

Exciting news! Effingham Health System, in partnership with the Curtis V. Cooper Primary Health Care, Inc. behavioral health team, has opened a new Behavioral Health Center. With only one provider per 2,300 residents, this is a crucial step for the community. Special thanks to U.S. Congressman Buddy Carter and Georgia House of Representatives Speaker Jon Burns for joining the ribbon-cutting! "We know that health care, mental health needs are growing across this community and across our state, and I appreciate that we stepped to the forefront to set an example of innovative collaboration, but not just for our state, but for our nation.” -Speaker Jon Burns "We all want the same thing when it comes to health care. We want accessible, affordable, quality health care. Accessibility now with this outpatient clinic is going to be improved here in our community and that's so very, very important.” -U.S. Congressman Buddy Carter Pictured are Buddy Carter; Dr. Fran Witt, President and CEO of Effingham Health System; Jon Burns, and Albert Grandy, CEO of Curtis V. Cooper Primary Healthcare in Savannah.

Our hospitals do so much for their communities and they are equally as dedicated to their employees! When schools were canceled and daycares closed the week after #HurricaneHelene, Coffee Regional Medical Center provided onsite daycare services, allowing staff to focus on their essential work with peace of mind, knowing their little ones were in safe hands. Thank you to Coffee Regional for showing this amazing support during tough times!

#HurricaneMilton is approaching, and to help hospitals stay informed on federal and state government efforts, supply chain issues, financial updates, and everything else storm-related, we have set up a comprehensive resource page that is updated daily. Our thoughts are with our hospitals still deep in recovery efforts from #HurricaneHelene and we thank them for their continuous dedication to serving their patients and communities. https://lnkd.in/eNHBfJRB

Health care liability reform is an important part of ensuring that our hospitals can continue providing access to care for their communities. Our president and CEO Caylee Noggle and many of Georgia's hospital leaders recently discussed this important issue, highlighting the ways reform will help our state. https://lnkd.in/eysTWUsa

We are grateful to the Georgia Secretary of State Board of Nursing for their quick action last week in which they streamlined the process for allowing nurses from other states to practice in Georgia. Their efforts come at a critical time as we work to recover from the devastating impact of #HurricaneHelene. This timely decision will help ensure that our health care system has the support it needs, allowing skilled nurses to provide essential care to those affected by the storm. We are deeply appreciative of their leadership and collaboration in this challenging time.