HomeTown Health LLC, a leading advocate for rural healthcare
providers, announced the end of its 18th annual policymaker tour of
hospitals in rural North
Georgia.
CUMMING,
Ga., July 29, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --
HomeTown Health LLC, a leading advocate for rural healthcare
providers, announced the end of its 18th annual policymaker tour of
hospitals in rural North Georgia.
The tour was attended by several key state leaders, including
Russel Carlson, DCH Commissioner and
Grant Thomas, DCH Deputy
Commissioner; Stuart Portman,
Georgia Medicaid Director; Emily
Yona, Senior Advisor to the DCH Commissioner; and
Haley Gahlau, Deputy Chief of
Staff/Policy Counsel, Office of the Speaker. Georgia Representative Rob Leverett, Representative Stan Gunter and Senator Steve Gooch joined the approximately 500-mile
driving tour enroute. Jimmy Lewis,
CEO of HomeTown Health LLC, facilitated the tour bringing state
leaders together for a firsthand look at the unique healthcare
issues within each rural community.
We recognize the invaluable role rural
hospitals play in our communities and work tirelessly to ensure
hospital sustainability and success. This tour helps our
policymakers better understand the realities on the ground and
inform our advocacy efforts on behalf of rural healthcare
providers.
The two-day tour, which took place July
16-17, 2024, included hospital site visits to Morgan Medical
Center, Wills Memorial Hospital, Elbert Memorial Hospital, Stephens
County Hospital, Mountain Lakes Medical Center, Chatuge Regional
Hospital, and Union General Hospital. State leaders met with board
members, hospital leaders, staff, and community leaders to gain a
deeper understanding of the unique needs of the rural healthcare
facilities. The discussions, which covered access to care,
healthcare workforce shortages, financial viability, infrastructure
needs, and healthcare policy implications for rural communities,
were a powerful reminder to state leaders of how their decisions
impact the lives of rural residents.
"We recognize the invaluable role rural hospitals play in our
communities and work tirelessly to ensure hospital sustainability
and success, ultimately improving healthcare access for all. We
advocate for the needs of rural hospitals and ensure they have the
support and resources necessary to continue providing quality care
to their communities," said HomeTown Health CEO Jimmy Lewis. "This tour helps our policymakers
better understand the realities on the ground and inform our
advocacy efforts on behalf of rural healthcare providers."
Ralph Castillo, CPA, CEO of
Morgan Medical Center, spoke of their commitment to
patient-centered excellence and shared with state leaders, "Our
hospital is about two things – our patients and our doctors. We do
anything necessary to support them and take care of our community."
Castillo led a tour of their facility, which is strongly supported
by their community. He reminded state leaders of many rural
Georgia priorities, including the
desperate need for more primary care physicians.
During its hospital tour, Elbert Memorial Hospital was credited
with a forward-thinking approach. It secured the necessary funding
for its operations from the Georgia Rural Tax Credit Program, a
program successfully advocated for by HomeTown Health to help
fortify Georgia's rural hospitals.
Six months ago, Elbert Memorial Hospital proactively launched two
new service lines, Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab, and procured new
equipment through the tax credit program.
Mountain Lakes Medical Center shared its creative approach to
school-based health clinics. Their strategy involves leveraging the
support from their rural hospital to ensure the success of the
clinics rather than relying on external staffing and funding
resources, which often leads to challenges. Rabun County experiences a significant
increase in population during the summer, with many vacationers and
children attending summer camps. This surge in population heightens
the need for robust pediatric care, and Mountain Lakes Medical
Center is well-positioned to meet this demand. Their comprehensive
medical services and dedicated healthcare professionals work
diligently to ensure the local community receives quality care,
including the influx of children during the summer.
Union General Hospital reminded policymakers that it provides
the only obstetrics (OB) services within a 1.5-hour radius. The
hospital offers comprehensive women's health services, ensuring
that patients receive care close to home. The hospital provides a
birth experience with high safety standards in a caring
environment. Union General Hospital continues collaborating with
HomeTown Health to advocate for more robust support for rural OB
and other healthcare services for their community.
About HomeTown Health LLC
Founded in 1999, HomeTown Health, LLC (HTH) is a leading advocate
and network of rural and small hospitals, business partners and
healthcare providers who come together to safeguard and maintain
essential healthcare services in rural Georgia. Working with over 300 hospitals and
members in Georgia, Florida, Iowa, Indiana, Mississippi, and Nebraska, HTH advances excellence in quality
improvement through extensive grant-based technical assistance,
support, and resources through Flex and SHIP programs and
up-to-date information through healthcare industry conferences. HTH
executes its mission through a unified effort offering members
comprehensive support, including advocacy on policy matters,
operational assistance, educational resources, and the significant
benefit of collective purchasing power. We work with our members
and partners toward sustainable and enhanced healthcare
accessibility for rural populations. Join us and learn more at
KeepingTheH.com.
Media Contact
Meghan Williams, HomeTown Health,
LLC, 470-655-6950, info@hometownhealthonline.com,
https://keepingtheh.com
Twitter
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/georgia-state-leaders-join-hometown-health-policymaker-tour-of-rural-north-georgia-hospitals-302208231.html
SOURCE HomeTown Health, LLC