Progress Update:  Upson Advances in First Quarter 2009

As a true regional medical center, Upson’s commitment to the community is a priority.  Whether it is through quality care, education, or serving the less fortunate in our community, Upson has a progressive and positive impact throughout Central Georgia.

Under leadership of CEO David Castleberry, who in October succeeded Gene Wright, the hospital continues to advance clinically, operationally and financially.  “We push it every day because we want the very best experience and outcome for our patients,” Castleberry said.  “Patients are the center of everything we do, and that’s why our drive to continuously improve is so important.”

Safety and Satisfaction

The changes Upson Regional has undergone are far more than cosmetic, and the evidence is far more than upgrades to architecture and furniture. The 115-bed hospital measures patients’ perception of care and compares its results with more than 1,800 hospitals across the county to identify ways of improving its service. 

Last year, Upson Regional’s patient satisfaction ranking climbed to the top quartile nationwide and is still climbing.   Every month, Upson Regional’s managers get feedback from patient surveys on what is working and what needs improvement.  “We are listening to our patients’ feedback, and we are leaning forward to exceed their expectations,” Castleberry said.

Investing in Patient Care

Upson is uniquely positioned to continually re-invest in patient care. The combination of excellent staff, service and technology allows Upson to continually improve quality care for patients. Some investments over the past year include:

• $194,000 on 24 new hospital beds, to ensure patient safety and comfort.
• $515,000 on new lab equipment that will improve turnaround time for tests and increase capability of the lab to perform tests
• $350,000 on smart IV pumps, which help ensure patients receive the right dosage of the right drug at the right time.
• $300,000 in High-Definition technology for the Operating Room. The incredible visualization of HD technology improves early detection of abnormalities because surgeons will be able to see the smaller abnormalities even sooner. 

Improving Patient Access

When people are evaluating where to relocate their homes or their business, they look at access to healthcare services.  To increase access, Upson is recruiting more primary care physicians to the area.  And, according to the American Hospital Association, recruiting is not easy.  Only four out of 100 medical school graduates desire to work in a rural area, and the competition for the four is great.  A key factor is having a place of practice ready. 

That’s why Upson is renovating the Tyler Building, at the corner of Thurston Avenue and W. Gordon Street,  and adding to it an additional 10,000 square feet.  Physician Recruitment Director Hoppy Hopkins said, “A medical office building provides us with a competitive edge.  It is important for us to be able to show physicians where they will practice and how close it is to the hospital.”

Dr. Tonya Robinson, OB/GYN joined Upson Women’s Services in January and is already seeing new patients.  Carol Hopper is managing the physician practice, and will help run operations and finances for additional hospital-owned doctors.

Other access improvements can be found inside the hospital. Cardiology Services is relocated from the third floor to the first floor, granting easier access for patients and faster response time to the Emergency Department.  The respiratory care and inpatient dialysis areas also are remodeled for patient convenience.

This year, the hospital kitchen will receive its first major upgrade in more than 55 years complete with new modern-day food production and dining equipment, including new ovens, fryers, stove tops, a larger cooler and freezer, a new dish-machine and all new food court and dining room furnishings.

The dining space in the new cafeteria, which will be located adjacent to the Auditorium, will more than double the existing space and accommodate an estimated 150 people.  The existing, old cafeteria space is packed with a total of 63 seating spaces.

Health and Wellness

Upson is seeing a trend in continued and increased participation in wellness. “Preventive care has become crucial for middle class baby boomers unsure of their financial future," explains Castleberry. "Consumers realize now is the time to invest in their health to avoid more serious problems that might cause financial hardship later in life."

One example of this trend is increasing memberships at the Wellness Center.  Despite the challenging times more than 1500 residents of Thomaston and surrounding communities have decided to invest in a Wellness Center membership because they recognize that exercise is medicine and want to minimize certain risk factors (diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.) known to impact their quality of life both now and in the future. 

The Wellness Center’s staff includes certified personal trainers and professionals with degrees in exercise science.  The Wellness Center takes the steps necessary to define members’ current health and fitness status and identify wellness goals, prior to recommending an exercise plan.

Through community-beneficial education valued at $26,795, Upson last year made 1,200 contacts, and through sponsorships and donations, contributed more than $173,000 to local charities, like the American Cancer Society.         The hospital also participates in local health fairs to help increase awareness and access to healthcare throughout our community.  In 2008, Upson provided more than 8,500 “free” tests valued at more than $275,000.

Economic Impact

While we are proud that Upson Regional is recognized for its commitment to tending to Central Georgia’s medical health, a healthy Upson Regional is also a critical economic engine for our region.  Upson is the second largest employer behind the school system. In addition to the 1,396 jobs generated by Upson Regional expenditures, the hospital is one of the largest employers in the region with more than 630 nurses, technicians, physicians, staff and other allied health professionals and an annual payroll of $25 million. The service and wages of these individuals are critical to the health of the community.

 “Even in these difficult economic times, Upson has an enormous positive impact on our local economy,” said Castleberry. “We thank the region for its unwavering support of their local hospital and will continue to work hard to ensure that the citizens of this community have access to health care services that are second to none in quality and affordability.”