Behind the Green - Annual Report to the Community

Look inside the heart of Floyd Hospital to learn what it really means to invest in the community.

Green Behind the

2017 Report to the Community

Welcome Behind the Green

Seventy-five years ago, Floyd Hospital opened its doors as the community hospital for Rome and Floyd County. An entire election centered on the call for a facility that would provide care to all comers in a post-Depression, World War II-wary community. That mission continues today. Seventy-five years later, the Floyd health system still maintains that mission and commitment to community leadership, even as it has grown to include multiple hospitals, a Primary Care network and a Family Medicine Residency program. Over the years Floyd has been a catalyst for growth and, today, it continues to be an economic engine for northwest Georgia as the county’s largest employer. Behind the Green is a review of the people, programs and compassionate acts over the past year that help tell the Floyd story. We are a not-for-profit community hospital, but what does that mean? It means we invest in our community by working in our schools and industries, by educating and screening our neighbors and by adding services and improving our facilities. And, we do all of that with a heart of compassion that you’ll read about in the pages that follow. You’ll also discover an important number, $72.8 million, which is the total cost of care Floyd and Polk provided to people in our community who could not afford to pay for their own care. On this page are elements that we assembled over the past two years to tell our 75-year story. These items are part of a large display we installed on our second floor. I hope you’ll take time to stop by Floyd Medical Center and see it in person. Coming soon, there will be a web component with pop-up windows that explain each item in more detail. Our hope is, that as you look at each of these elements, you’ll see that while much has changed over the past 75 years, one thing remains the same–our commitment to you.

From Boo Boos at School to Support on the Sidelines, Floyd Is There

Providing Epi-Pens to Schools Proves to be a Life-Saving Decision

EMS Is Floyd’s Frontline for Community Care

First Responder Marshall Greene Turned Tragedy into Purpose

A Look Back: Floyd EMS Has Been Caring for Our Community for 50 Years

From Access to Heart Care, Floyd Is Working to Meet the Need

Disease Management Gets to the Heart of the Matter

Mental Health and Nutrition Programs Respond to Community Needs

Floyd Invests Time and Resources to Make Our Community Healthier

Program Helps Navigate Cancer's Rough Waters

The Gift of Time

Giving Back at a Glance

Green Jackets are Masters of Generosity

Therapy Wrapped in Fur Is Making a Difference

Volunteers Like Wayne Are Truly Needed

Meet Amber Trotter, 2017 Nurse of the Year

DAISY Awards

The Last Concert

The Baptism

Quality Awards

Projects Designed with the Patient in Mind

Intensive Projects Focus on Enhancing Care for Our patients

Willowbrooke at Floyd Offers Expanded Behavioral Health Services

Health Care Delivery Statistics

New Medical Staff

Board Members and Executive Leadership

Financial Statements

Community Benefit

From Boo Boos at School to Support on the Sidelines, Floyd Is There

“Parents are very likely to read information sent home in a student's folder, which gives us a great educational opportunity,” said Chris. “Our hope is that one day, when these students become adults, they will remember their school nurse and decide to choose Floyd to care for them and their families.” Athletic Trainers Serve High Schools This same philosophy carries over into area high schools as student athletes and their coaches engage with Floyd athletic trainers. Floyd provides Certified Athletic Trainers (ATCs) to every public high school in Floyd, Polk and Chattooga counties, as well as to Darlington and Unity Christain schools. Floyd ATCs recorded more than 35,000 hours of service to more than 1,000 students at a cost of $1.16 million in FY 2017. Like school nurses, these professionals give students and staff members onsite attention, help them navigate the health care system and provide follow-up care. In addition to the expert medical care our ATCs provide, something else equally important happens on the sidelines: peace of mind, said Karen Sablon, Director of Floyd Physical Therapy & Rehab. “Our ATCs are on the sidelines on game day, but also during practice and throughout the school day,” Karen said. “They work with coaches and students to make sure student athletes can safely compete, and they add an extra tier of medical support in training, preventing injury, observing

When elementary age students need help with insulin, take prescriptions during the school day or simply have scraped knees or elbows in need of bandages, a Floyd nurse is there, providing medical expertise, comfort and a watchful eye. “Our schools cannot educate unhealthy children,” said Stephanie Clay, RN, the school nurse at East Central Elementary School. “By providing registered nurses in every school, Floyd is not only assisting with top-notch, comprehensive health care, but also with educating our children, families and community. I love what I do, the families I help and the lives I touch through my career as a school nurse!” Floyd Corporate Health became the provider of health care to the Rome and Floyd County school systems' more than 17,000 students and 1,700 employees in August 2016 and added the Polk County School District’s 7,000 students and 700 employees in August 2017. Nurses Guide, Advise Families “Through Floyd’s School Nurse Program, I am here to advise, assist and guide families in the most appropriate direction for health care,” said Stephanie. “When illness hits, getting prompt medical care is important for healing. School nurses are the front line responders. We are here to treat and send students and their families in that direction.” School nurses also build relationships, helping children to learn that health care is not scary or stressful, but helpful and compassionate. “It gives a positive impression of health care when a nurse sees a student in the hallway and asks them how their day is or gives them hug,” said Chris Butler, Director of Floyd Corporate Health. “For some of these children, these nurses will be a part of their lives for 13 years or more.” Because the nurses are at the school, they can also share Floyd services with staff and parents, and even recommend physicians if they need one.

athletes for signs of injury and providing treatment and triage.”

Providing Epi-Pens to Schools Proves to be A Life-Saving Decision Outstanding Story of Care

Ashley rushed to the school to find Sarah and Drew surrounded by a paramedic, an EMT, two firefighters and several Garden Lakes staff members caring for her daughter.

When Floyd stepped up to take over and manage the school nurse programs in the Floyd County, Rome City and Polk County schools, everyone involved agreed that it was an opportunity to continue and perhaps improve a good program. And Floyd Corporate Health, alarmed by the unaffordable prices for families to have Epi-Pens available, agreed that providing the emergency medicine to each school was worth the expense. We do those things because we believe strongly in our mission to make health care accessible to the men, women and children who depend on Floyd to take care of their needs, not knowing that those two decisions would make a life-saving difference for a member of our own family. Ashley Blake, who works in Floyd Physical Therapy & Rehab, experienced firsthand the importance of having a school nurse and an Epi-Pen available at her daughter’s school. It Was an Ordinary Friday Ashley started her Friday like so many other football Fridays. She drove her older daughter to an early cheerleading practice and grabbed a quick breakfast with her younger daughter, Sarah, at a local restaurant. She dropped her off at Garden Lakes Elementary School before heading to work. Sarah is in the fifth grade, and for her, going to school is as routine as brushing her teeth, but this day turned out to be anything but routine. While sitting in class, Sarah’s face turned bright red and began to swell. She was quickly taken to the office of school nurse Drew Nicholson. Sarah was having trouble breathing. She told Drew her heart hurt. Drew immediately recognized that Sarah was having an anaphylactic reaction. She reached for one of the two Epi-Pens in her medicine cabinet and administered the dose of epinephrine. Once Sarah was stable, Drew called 911 and Ashley.

After a trip to the Emergency Care Center to be checked out, Ashley took her daughter home.

Three months later, Sarah is back in class with her own Epi-Pen within reach, just in case she has a reaction again. Sarah Has No Known Allergies Sarah, who had no known allergies, had experienced a life-threatening reaction to something she came in contact with. After a series of allergy tests and doctor visits, there are no answers as to what caused Sarah’s anaphylaxis. Ashley said she can’t bring herself to think what may have happened to Sarah had Drew not been at school that day or if that Epi-Pen was not available. Floyd’s decision to develop a School Nurse Program and to supply schools with emergency medicines was absolutely good for the community, but for Ashley The other unknown is equally scary to her mom.

and Sarah, it’s much more personal. It’s a decision that may well have saved Sarah’s life.

EMS Is Floyd’s Frontline for Community Care Community Benefit

The staff’s diligence and commitment to excellence have resulted in Floyd EMS being honored as Service of the Year multiple times both regionally and on the state level. Floyd was named State EMS of the Year three times and Regional EMS Service of the Year six times, most recently in 2017. Today, Floyd EMS includes a staff of over 100 equipped with resources to serve the region well: • 14 advanced life support ambulances • 5 EMS equipped all-terrain bicycles • 4 non-emergency wheelchair transport units • 3 4-wheel-drive first response trucks • 2 mobile intensive care ambulances • 2 non-emergency behavioral transport units • 2 special events vehicles • 1 mobile disaster response command center

When an emergency arises in Floyd County or Polk County, a Floyd ambulance is ready to respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week, continuing a tradition of service that began more than 50 years ago. In fact, Floyd Emergency Medical Services (EMS) celebrated its 50th anniversary in FY 2017. In addition, EMS is Floyd’s frontline for community benefit services, recording more than 112,000 points of service through its community benefit activities. In the more than five decades since its founding, Floyd EMS has grown to become a comprehensive community service provider. In FY 2017, EMS reported the following community benefit statistics: • 138 individuals received CPR and first-aid training from Floyd EMS. • 5,500 individuals received information, screenings or other assistance at health fairs from Floyd EMS. • 98,135 lives were touched from EMS staff providing medical care at community and school events. • 8,630 students received information on careers and safety from Floyd EMTs and paramedics, often Staff Provides Screenings and Education Floyd EMS also serves in other ways, providing blood pressure checks and stroke screenings in the community, staging teen safety events and providing Stop The Bleed education. “I am so proud to be associated with a team of EMS professionals who truly care about the community and those we are privileged to serve,” said Bud Owens, Executive Director. “The future is bright as we look toward new technology and innovations that will help to provide exceptional life-saving care in the field.” with the help of Little Green, the EMS remote-controlled ambulance mascot.

First Responder Marshall Greene Turned Tragedy into Purpose Outstanding Story of Care In 2014, 3,179 people were killed and 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. These are tragic losses, but in a world filled with numbers and surveys, we all too often forget that every one of those numbers has a name attached.

Not Marshall Greene.

Each year Marshall, a Floyd Emergency Medical Services first responder, helps stage a realistic wreck scene to illustrate the results of distracted driving to 1,400 teenagers in Rome and Floyd County. The compelling scene depicts injuries and loss of life, and the grief, fear and regret that follow.

There, with every eye on him, Marshall puts names to those numbers.

Marshall Knows Better Than Anyone Marshall knows better than anyone the cost of

distracted driving. He lost his two sons, Mason, 12, and Zach, 6, in a horrific wreck when his wife briefly took her eyes off the road to check on the boys. The SUV they were riding in was broadsided by a tractor trailer. No one would have blamed Marshall if he had quit his job for another entirely different line of work, but he didn’t do that. Instead, he has channeled that devastating loss four years ago into a message that demonstrates a special brand of courage and empathy that is inspiring, humbling and selfless. Now Marshall’s efforts are educating young drivers not only in Rome and Floyd County, but in other locations as well. Working with Georgia State Patrol Troopers and Students Against Distracted Driving, he helped coordinate a distracted driving video that has been viewed more than 1.9 million times and has gotten the attention of others, including the Governor’s Office for Highway Safety, and law enforcement officers in Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky and Ireland. Some people spend their entire lives searching for the meaning or purpose in a tragic circumstance. Marshall, putting his professional knowledge to use, recognized his own tragedy as an opportunity to make a life-saving difference that now reaches across the ocean.

A Look Back: Floyd EMS Has Been Caring for Our Community for 50 Years Community Benefit

Floyd Emergency Medical Services is one of the oldest emergency medical services in the state. The service was established July 1, 1966 when the Floyd County Commission asked Floyd Hospital (as Floyd was then called) to take over the county-operated ambulance service to ensure the continued provision of emergency medical service to the community. Dana Treglown was the first director with John Burnett serving as assistant director and Stanley Payne as third-shift supervisor. In 1967, Floyd trained the area’s first emergency medical technicians (EMTs) registered by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Four years later, Floyd began administering IV fluids and medicines in ambulances, and in 1973, the service became one of the first to be licensed by the state of Georgia. That same year, Floyd EMS piloted a training course for Georgia EMTs with Coosa Valley Technical School (now Georgia Northwestern Technical College). Today, EMS is Floyd’s primary provider of community benefit services, recording more than 112,000 points of service during the year. And that care, happens all while continuing to be first on the scene when an emergency occurs, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Community Benefit

From Access to Heart Care, Flo

The Community Health Needs Assessment is the tool we use to measure the health of our community and to look for opportunities to improve it. Every three years Floyd conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment. Our most recent assessment discovered four primary areas of need: • Access to care

• Cardiovascular disease • Mental health services • Healthy nutrition

We align our Community Benefit activities with our needs assessment to strategically develop programs that aim to make a difference in these categories. Floyd’s outreach into the community, along with the provision of trauma and neonatal intensive care services, touched more than 174,375 people through educational programs and screenings, physical examinations for athletes, childbirth classes, support groups and publications. In total, Floyd co-workers and volunteers contributed 111,326 hours to community endeavors at an expense of $2,127,155.

Helping Families Access the Care They Need

In 2017, Floyd provided more than $32 million in free medical services to uninsured and underinsured patients, and a total of $70.61 million in unreimbursed care was delivered to individuals in the form of traditional charity care and through public programs and services. Floyd is a Level II trauma center and Level III neonatal intensive care provider, and offers emergency care and intensive care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. In addition, Floyd offers discounted medical services including financial counseling, indigent prescriptions and operation of the Floyd County Clinic for the county’s uninsured and underemployed population. Below are additional details of how Floyd assists with access to care: Floyd manages the school nurse programs in Floyd and Polk counties with 27 nurses, reaching 24,000 students. In addition, Floyd has placed athletic trainers in 14 high schools and colleges in the area, providing care on the sidelines and in schools to athletes in every competitive sport offered. In FY 2017, 10,015 students benefited from school-based education programs presented by Floyd departments at a cost of $19,978. In addition, Floyd supplies Certified Athletic Trainers (ATCs) at every high school in the three-county area. Providing athletic trainers to schools cost the organization $1.16 million in the past FY. These trainers, working with family medicine residency physicians, also provide free sports physical examinations to student athletes throughout the three-county area. In FY 2017, 1,391 student athletes received free sports physicals at an additional cost to the organization of $3,729. Supporting Our Schools with School Nurses and ATCs

In Georgia, indigent care is the care provided to individuals who live in a family whose combined income falls below 125 percent of the federal poverty level for a family of a specific size. Currently, a family of four with a total annual family income of less than $30,375 is eligible for indigent care. Patients who qualify as indigent receive their hospital services at no cost to them. Charity care is the medical care provided to low-income patients at a discounted rate. Floyd Medical Center discounts hospital charges on a sliding scale for patients whose combined family income falls between 125 percent and 325 percent of the federal poverty level for uninsured families of a specific size. The limit for insured families is 235 percent of the federal poverty level. For example, an individual living in an insured family of four with a total annual family income of $36,450 is eligible for a discount of 80 percent. Floyd Provides Financial Counseling Patients who come to Floyd Medical Center, Polk Medical Center or our behavioral health facility with no health insurance coverage or a low annual income meet with a financial counselor to determine if they are eligible for government assistance or for indigent or charity care. In FY 2017, Floyd financial counselors assisted 543 low-income residents in seeking eligibility for Medicaid, PeachCare and other programs. Approximately 3.9% percent of all Floyd patients received financial assistance through the organization’s indigent and charity care programs.

d is Working to Meet the Need

Providing Primary Care to Low-Income Families The Floyd Family Medicine Residency program provides a county clinic and We Care program that is available to specific low-income and uninsured populations, including a large number of Medicaid and Medicare patients.

Making Mammograms More Convenient Floyd’s Mobile Mammography Coach is equipped with state-of-the-art, digital mammography equipment and is used to reach out to the mostly rural and underserved areas around Rome. The coach provided 2,646 mammograms to women in our service area in FY 2017. Of those, 776 patients were past due for a mammogram, 142 women had never had a mammogram before and 186 screenings revealed an abnormality that required further testing. Nine women were diagnosed with cancer as a result of their visit to the mobile mammography coach. The goal of this program is to reach women who have never had a mammogram. The coach traveled 9,480 miles in 2017 to women in six Georgia counties and two Alabama counties to make mammography and clinical breast exams convenient for them. Mammography scholarships are available to qualifying individuals through Floyd Healthcare Foundation.

Community Benefit Disease Management Gets to the Heart of the Matter

Cardiovascular Disease Management

Corporate Health Takes Heart Care to the Worker

ACO: A Tool to Manage Chronic Conditions In 2016, the Accountable Care Organization of Floyd Medical Center LLC was approved to participate in the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Medicare Shared Savings Program. Accountable Care Organizations are designed to follow specific Medicare patient populations and to help them manage chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and its related diseases, preventing or reducing costly readmissions and providing better outcomes for compliant patients. Floyd participates in health fairs organized by the Northwest Georgia Regional Cancer Coalition, 100 Black Men of Rome and other entities, providing diabetes, wound care, high blood pressure, cholesterol and many other screenings free of charge or at cost, recognizing that a significant number of individuals do not have family physicians or routinely go for annual physical examinations. In 2017, 5,860 individuals received health information at health fairs at a cost to the organization of $14,268. In addition, diabetes educators provided education about prediabetes, diabetes management and other related topics to 1,655 individuals in 2017 at a cost to the organization of $4,046. Screenings Reach Thousands with Free Health Information

Floyd Corporate Health works with business and industry to develop and hardwire corporate wellness programs specific to the needs of each industry. This has resulted in the successful reduction of lost time and benefits cost savings for companies in our service area.

Equipping Learners with the Power to Save A Life

Floyd provides numerous education programs at every level, from preschool through senior adulthood. Our Speakers Bureau is available to provide experts to speak about health, safety and resources available to the community. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first-aid educators provide CPR and first-aid training to Floyd employees, employees of other companies and to members of the public. In addition, Floyd’s Chest Pain program staff provide hands-only CPR training in the community. In FY 2017, 138 individuals received CPR and/or first-aid training from Floyd staff members at a cost to the organization of $3,504.

Y Members Learn from Floyd Experts Floyd and the Rome-Floyd County YMCA partner to provide health education opportunities to YMCA members and residents of the service area who attend educational opportunities at the Y.

Community Benefit Mental Health and Nutrition Programs Respond to Community Needs

Mental Health Services Mental Health Solutions Available Close to Home Willowbrooke at Floyd, the organization’s 53-bed behavioral health hospital, provides inpatient adult psychiatric care to patients with a range of diagnoses such as depression and substance abuse. The facility also provides Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient programs for adults with psychiatric needs and hosts weekly on-site meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Nutrition Support

Partnership Helps Make Fresh Produce Easily Available Polk Medical Center, an affiliate of Floyd Medical Center, works with the Rockmart Farmers Market, which aims to make fresh produce available to members of the community at a central location. WIC participants can take advantage of a one-for-two credit system enabling them to further their food dollars while bringing nutritionally better options into their kitchens.

Food Drives Support Local Food Pantry Floyd supports the work of Rome Action Ministries through food drives and volunteer opportunities. In addition, one of the food pantries operated by Rome Action Ministries has focused its mission on working with Cancer Navigators, an affiliate of Floyd Medical Center, to make quality nutrition products available to cancer patients and their families. School Nurses Help Monitor Student Nutrition Both school systems offer summer nutritional support for students whose access to food is hampered when school is not in session. Floyd supports these efforts through donations and providing health care support at special nutrition distribution events. Floyd also manages the school nurse programs for Rome City and Floyd County schools, providing 17 school nurses who oversee the care of the systems’ 17,000 students.

Floyd Invests Time and Resources to Make Our Community Healthier Community Benefit

Individually and corporately, Floyd continues to be actively involved in the communities where we have a presence, lending leadership, time and other valuable resources to efforts to improve the quality of life for families in northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. Below are some of the additional community benefit activities provided in 2017:

Our Staff Trains The Medical Experts of Tomorrow One of the largest non-billed expenses at Floyd lies in our efforts to support schools and colleges in training nurses, doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other health professionals with real-life training opportunities while shadowing or being mentored by Floyd employees in their respective fields. In FY 2017, working with 534 nursing students, Floyd staff members provided 58,777 hours of clinical education at a cost of $374,397 to the organization. Many of these students eventually accept jobs in our service area, providing much-needed medical expertise in our primary and secondary service areas. Also, 59 students studying to be nurse practitioners or physician assistants were trained by Floyd staff members, who provided 10,287 hours of clinical education at a cost of $65,515. And, 110 medical students studying to become physicians trained at Floyd. Floyd staff members provided 36,815 hours of clinical education to medical students not in our residency program at a cost of $234,659.

Classes Give Young Families a Solid Start Floyd offers six-week, weekend and online childbirth classes to help expectant parents be better prepared for labor, delivery and caring for their baby. Some insurances and government health coverage programs pay for childbirth education. Expectant parents who do not have coverage for these classes are not denied participation. In FY 2017, 82 individuals learned about childbirth, breastfeeding and newborn care through these childbirth education classes at a cost to the organization of $6,131. EMS Supports Events All Year Round Floyd Emergency Medical Services, supplemented by other Floyd departments, is a fixture at community events throughout the year, providing onsite ambulance services, first-aid stations and medical support when it is needed. In FY 2017, 98,135 people benefited from medical care and support at community events at a cost of $120,132 to the organization. committed to caring for the entire family, even after the patient dies. The hospice program provides free grief counseling to anyone seeking help, regardless of whether the individual has a relationship with Floyd or Heyman HopiceCare. In FY 2017, 79 individuals benefited from free grief support services provided by Heyman HospiceCare at Floyd at a cost to the organization of $14,118. Hospice Meets an Often Unspoken Need The staff at Heyman HospiceCare at Floyd is

Program Helps Navigate Cancer Community Benefit

Event Raises $55,000 The annual Cast Off Against Cancer event, held each spring, raised $55,484 in 2017, and nearly half that total – $27,467 – was raised by Floyd teams. The event is the culmination of a months-long effort during which community teams organize individual fundraisers, such as T-shirt sales, raffles and food sales to benefit Cancer Navigators. The Cast Off Against Cancer event includes a walk to the Chief John Ross Memorial footbridge for the Daisy Drop. During this annual ceremony, individuals drop white daisies into the Oostanaula River in honor or remembrance of a cancer warrior. Wreath Auction a Holiday Tradition Each fall, Cancer Navigators hosts a holiday wreath auction. The 2017 auction raised more than $6,000. Area florists, garden clubs, businesses, cancer survivors and individuals created more than 60 one-of-a-kind wreaths that were displayed at the Harbin Clinic Tony E. Warren M.D. Cancer Center for the silent auction. Much of the success of the auction was the result of long-time Cancer Navigators supporter Buddy Bagley. Bagley purchased 25 wreaths, totaling nearly $2,000 in honor of his wife, Darlene, a Cancer Navigators patient who passed away after a battle with breast and ovarian cancer. Bagley used some of his purchased wreaths to decorate his home. He gave others to friends and family members in the Adairsville community where he lives.

A cancer diagnosis can trigger a wide range of emotions that challenge patients and their families, and when that happens, the resources of Cancer Navigators are available to anyone who needs them. Through education, counseling and access to resources, Cancer Navigators helps ease some of the difficult emotions newly diagnosed patients and their families experience and helps them to gain a sense of control. Founded in 2006 and opened in 2008, the community-based, non-profit organization was born from a strategic planning retreat attended by cancer providers and cancer survivors who were asked to consider this question: How can we best serve cancer patients in our community? The result is Cancer Navigators, a hub for cancer- related services and education that connects cancer patients and their families to resources and information. In 2017, Cancer Navigators provided the following services to 1,763 patients, 468 of whom were newly diagnosed cancer patients: • Cancer education • Caregiver workshops • Complementary therapies • Counseling • Durable goods resources • Financial assistance resources • Insurance issues resources • Integrative medicine • Mental and emotional health • Nutrition resources • Prevention of recurring cancer • Renewal retreats • Retreats • Support groups Cancer Navigators is also a link for patients to hospital or clinic-based nurse navigators and experienced oncology registered nurses, who provide patients and their families with information about their diagnosis and treatment options, and guide patients through all aspects of treatment and recovery. All navigation services are provided at no cost to the patient. • Symptom management • Transportation resources

To fund these services, Cancer Navigators depends on the generosity of donors and local fundraisers.

s Rough Waters The Gift of Time Outstanding Story of Care

Diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, Teresa Morgan knew she’d need help. What she didn’t know was just how impactful Cancer Navigators would be to her life. Her treatment plan would include surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiation, Teresa knew she’d have to take time away from her job for surgery and healing. Armed with a belief that God had chosen her for this journey, she determined she’d walk it one step at a time. Teresa had planned ahead. She had some disability insurance. But, with therapy and healing time she knew she would not be able to return to work while undergoing treatment. That’s when her oncologist, Dr. Matt Mumber, introduced her to Lena Crooker, Floyd Breast Health Navigator, and Cancer Navigators. Through Lena, Teresa met with Angela James, learning that Cancer Navigators offers free counseling, support groups and assistance with gasoline and food. When Teresa told her she had no other source of income other than her job, Jonna immediately knew of a potential resource for her, a special grant designed to keep cancer patients financially sound while undergoing treatment. Grant Gives Her Hope Teresa applied and was granted $12,000: $2,000 per month for six months. She found out that she qualified for the grant the same day her disability income ended. The grant, she said, allowed her to stay current with her bills and focus on healing rather than worrying about money. It gave her hope. Teresa said she can’t imagine what the past few months would have been like if Cancer Navigators had not been there to help. The program has been a blessing, she said. Today, Teresa has recovered from her surgery and has completed her treatment. She returned to work at the beginning of May. She goes for checkups every three months, and is ready to share with others the gift she received from Cancer Navigators. “I feel like this is something I was chosen for,” Teresa said, her belief that Cancer Navigators was a preordained part of her journey. “God wanted to increase my faith. He wanted me to know that He had gone before me and had set everything in order for me that I would be taken care of through the process.”

Jackie Walburn tosses a daisy into the Etowah River on Sunday during the Cast Off Against Cancer fundraiser event for Cancer Navigators.

“You have to go through a test to have a testimony,” she said. “Now, I can be a blessing to someone else.”

Giving Back at a Glance Community Benefit

In fiscal year 2017, Floyd provided $74.97 million in community benefit services. The largest portion of that total is related to unreimbursed care. Indigent and charity care are integral to the Floyd mission, but providing care to those who cannot afford it is expensive. In 2017, Floyd Medical Center and Polk Medical Center together provided $32.9 million in indigent and charity care to patients who either received free care or paid a discounted rate for their care. $74,97O,OOO Community Benefit Services

98,135 2,O12 In FY 2017, 98,135 people benefited from medical care and support from Floyd EMS at community events at a cost of $120,132 to the organization. In FY 2017, 2,012 outpatient visits were recorded at the Floyd County Clinic operated by the Floyd Family Medicine Residency program.

1O,1O5 In FY 2017, 10,105 students benefited from school-based education programs provided by Floyd departments at a cost of $19,978.

47,1O2 169 clinical students studying to be nurse practitioners, physicians or physician assistants were trained by Floyd staff members. 47,102 hours of clinical education were provided at a cost of $300,174.

58,777 In FY 2017, working with 534 nursing students, Floyd staff members provided 58,777 hours of clinical education at a cost of $374,397 to the organization.

24,OOO Floyd manages the school nurse programs

for Rome City, Floyd County and Polk County schools, providing 27 school nurses who oversee the care of the systems’ 24,000 students.

Breakdown

Polk Medical Center Indigent Care Unreimbursed Medicare Unreimbursed Medicaid

Floyd Health System Indigent Care

Floyd Medical Center Indigent Care

$27 million $27.8 million $15.7 million

$5.9 million $1.3 million ($4.9 million)

$32.9 million $29.1 million $10.8 million

Unreimbursed Medicare Unreimbursed Medicaid

Total

$70.5 million

Total

$2.3 million

Total

$72.8 million

$32,9OO,OOO Unreimbursed Indigent Care

15,376 In FY 2017, the Floyd pharmacy filled 15,376 prescription pharmaceuticals for 812 low income, uninsured patients at a cost of $472,197.80.

$72.8M In FY 2017, Floyd provided $72.8 million in unreimbursed care to patients, including unreimbursed Medicaid, Medicare, indigent care and charity care.

5,86O In FY 2017, 5,860 individuals received health information at health fairs at a cost to the organization of $14,268.

543 In FY 2017, Floyd financial counselors assisted 543 low-income residents in seeking eligibility for Medicaid, PeachCare and other programs. Approximately 3.9% percent of all Floyd patients received financial assistance through the organization’s indigent and charity care programs.

2,646 The coach provided 2,646 mammograms to women in our service area in FY 2017. Of those, 776 patients were past due for a mammogram, 142 women had never had a mammogram before and 186 screenings revealed an abnormality that required further testing. Nine women were diagnosed with cancer as a result of their visit to the mobile mammography coach.

1,655 Diabetes educators provided education about prediabetes, diabetes management and other related topics to 1,655 individuals in 2017 at a cost to the organization of $4,046.

Volunteers

Their green jackets and vests are a familiar sight around Floyd Medical Center and Polk Medical Center, whether in one of our gift shops, assisting at one of our entrances or helping with a fundraiser, office mailing or task. Approximately 200 Floyd Auxiliary members volunteer their time and talents to benefit the Floyd health care system, and in 2017, their fundraising efforts resulted in a gift of $130,000 to the organization. Auxiliary volunteers operate the gift shops at both Floyd Medical Center and Polk Medical Center, as well as the Hole in the Wall thrift shop at Floyd Medical Center and provide assistance in departments throughout the organization. Their efforts also fund scholarships to local students interested in health care careers. The Auxiliary has donated more than $3.7 million to Floyd since it was founded in 1971. Volunteers Have Served Since 1956 Volunteer involvement at Floyd is a tradition of more than 60 years, beginning with the Grey Ladies who provided assistance as early as 1956 at Floyd Hospital. In addition to the Auxiliary, two other volunteer groups donate their efforts to benefit Floyd patients today. Breast Health Advocates work closely with the staff at The Breast Center at Floyd to promote breast health awareness at community events throughout the year. Heyman HospiceCare’s engaged team of volunteers provides assistance such as errands and respite care for patients and their families. If you are interested in volunteering at Floyd, contact the Volunteer Services Department by phone at 706.509.5109, or email us at contactus@floyd.org. If you are interested in becoming a Breast Health Advocate, contact Vicki Seritt, Imaging Services Manager, by email at vseritt@floyd.org or by phone at 706.509.6232. If you are interested in becoming a Heyman HospiceCare volunteer, contact Bonnie Jones, Volunteer Coordinator, by email at bjones@floyd.org or by phone at 706.509.3200. Green Jackets Are Masters of Generosity

Floyd Medical Center Auxiliary volunteer Julie Ousley delivers magazines, reading glasses and puzzle books to patients and families.

Volunteers

Therapy Wrapped in Fur Is Making a Difference

"The sight of the animals and the touch of their fur often brings peace and joy to those patients whose life once included animals.” She said physical contact has a calming effect and that dogs have the ability to bring back pleasant memories of a person's life and that the dogs may cause patients to feel needed and wanted at a very difficult time. Therapy animals can also be incorporated into grief support therapy, especially for children in hospice care or their siblings. Interacting with a therapy dog can enable a young person to express feelings of grief by providing a sense of control, as well as providing memorable play time. Therapy animals can also be a source of comfort for family members following the death of a patient and can be a tool in bereavement counseling.

The Heyman HospiceCare at Floyd patient was declining. He had not opened his eyes in several days as he rested in his nursing home room. He loved animals, and his daughter thought it would be good for her father if he could pet a dog before he passed. Thanks to the Compassionate Paws pet therapy program that started at Heyman HospiceCare this year, granting her wish was possible. Bonnie Jones, Volunteer Coordinator for Heyman HospiceCare, called volunteer Lynn Todino, who brought her trained Australian Shepherd mix, Snoopy, to visit the patient.. “He was very sedated,” Lynn recalls. “He wasn’t talking or moving much of anything, but when we told him there was a dog there, he opened his eyes. That was the only time he had opened his eyes in three days.” Patient Responds to Snoopy Lynn brought Snoopy close. Snoopy surveyed the patient with his deep, wise eyes and dutifully offered his fur to a weakened, unfamiliar hand. The patient’s response was immediate and moving for his family. Snoopy provided the compliant, untethered love that dogs are so quick to give. This was therapy for the patient, but also his daughter, Lynn realized. “She hugged him and really appreciated him, and she was really comforted,” Lynn said. “It gave her something else to think about, as she was mostly concerned about her father being comfortable. I have had that experience a couple of times.” Pet therapy, or animal-assisted therapy, uses the natural bond between humans and animals to provide comfort, peace and soothing companionship, Bonnie said. Their presence lowers blood pressure, improves heart health, calms patients and diminishes the perception of pain. They can also help lift spirits, lessen depression, decrease feelings of isolation, encourage communication, provide comfort and decrease anxiety, she said. Compassionate Paws Program Assists The animals who serve Heyman HospiceCare are the same animals that visit patients at Floyd Medical Center. Their handlers are volunteers who come to Floyd through the Compassionate Paws program. "Our goal is to enrich the quality of life for hospice patients and their families as well," said Bonnie.

Snoopy, large and gentle, seems to sense the importance of his role.

A Veteran Responds Lynn recalls a veteran who had shown signs of depression and withdrawal until she arrived with Snoopy, who she describes as a big guy who loves people. His encounter with Snoopy brought a rare smile and conversation as the patient asked Lynn Snoopy’s name.

“He hadn’t shown any signs of communication or joy until he met Snoopy,” Lynn said.

Snoopy’s work is not limited to nursing homes and hospitals. Lynn says he’s a popular addition when she reads to elementary school children and a welcome sight on college campuses when she brings Snoopy to help students de-stress during exams. Lynn also brings Snoopy to speak to classes about the merits of pet therapy.

“It is,” she said, “very rewarding.”

For more information about the Heyman HospiceCare pet therapy program or volunteer opportunities, contact Bonnie Jones at 706.509.3217 or by email at bjones@floyd.org.

Volunteers Like Wayne Are Truly Needed Outstanding Story of Care

And he is a dependable greeter and escort to the patients and guests who enter there. That constant interaction has provided him with additional opportunities to serve at the Main Entrance as well. If a volunteer can’t fill a shift, Wayne is the first to offer his time, and he never fails to show up. A medical setback forced him to take a break in August, but Wayne was quick to ask to be added to the schedule when he was cleared to return to duty. Wayne is an inspiration. Where others would say they can’t, Wayne says he can. Where others say it’s too hard, Wayne says it’s harder to do nothing. Where some might focus on a disability, Wayne insists on focusing on his abilities. Volunteering is Like Coming Home In many ways, serving at Floyd Medical Center is like coming home. Wayne was born at Floyd. He had numerous surgeries here as a child and teenager, and that gives him a sense of empathy that enhances his role. He knows how comforting it can be to have a friendly face and helping hand at the ready. And, now, he is the supplier of those things.

Inspiration comes in all forms, but there is something special about the stories of people who overcome adversity to achieve a goal. Wayne Dixon’s goal was both simple and profound. He wanted to help people. He wanted to feel needed. Wayne is among the nearly 200 volunteers at Floyd. He serves a two-hour shift a couple of times a week at the North Entrance welcome desk. There, he greets and escorts visitors and patients, who usually register a look of surprise when he rolls his wheelchair from behind the desk to escort them to their destination. He Didn't Want to Sit at Home Wayne has cerebral palsy, a disease that has gradually cost him much of his mobility and slurred his speech, but he doesn’t let that stop him. He’s a lifetime volunteer who started with the volunteer fire department in the south Georgia town where he lived with his family. After his son started school, Wayne, who was unable to work due to his disability, looked for something he could do other than sit at home. He trained as an EMT and served in that role with the volunteer fire department for many years. When he moved back to Rome a couple of years ago, after a 30-year absence, Wayne didn’t waste any time in looking for opportunities to serve. Someone told him to contact Floyd Medical Center, and he did. When Amy Astin, Director of Volunteer Services, first met Wayne she carefully explained the expectations, the orientation process and the work involved. She wasn’t sure he’d return, but Wayne did. He completed orientation and quickly signed up for the role that best matched his abilities and schedule. He was assigned to be a greeter at the North Entrance of Floyd Medical Center. He has made friends with hospital staff who come and go to the parking deck.

Dressed in his Floyd hat, Wayne mans his position and waits for the opportunities that always come.

Wayne said he volunteers because it makes him feel good, and in helping, he realizes his goal: Wayne is needed.

Meet Amber Trotter, 2017 Nurse of the Year Recognition

Nursing is an ever-evolving field, Trotter said.

Amber Trotter can’t remember a time when she didn’t enjoy caring for others’ needs.

“I have been a nurse for almost eight years now, and nursing has changed so much. Tasks are constantly being added, making it harder to spend time with and care for our patients, but our patients are getting sicker and will need us more than ever. Nursing will continue to change every year, but we have to remember our patients are our priority.”

The 2017 Nurse of the Year for Floyd Medical Center said she remembers helping care for her grandparents when they were sick. Nursing is something she’s always done. A registered nurse on the Cardiac Stepdown unit, Trotter continues to provide that same kind of care to her patients now. “I become attached to patients and families fairly easily,” she said, recalling one patient whose positive attitude helped forge a particularly rewarding connection. “About a year ago, we had a patient on our floor who was never expected to come off the ventilator. In fact, she went home with a home ventilator,” she said. “I was able to keep in touch with her and her sister once she went home,” she said. “I encouraged her to stay strong and continue to fight as hard as she could. She is now off of the vent and able to care for herself.” Amber Is A Shining Example Dr. Sheila Bennett, Senior Vice President and Chief of Patient Services, said Trotter is a shining example. "We have a staff of more than 750 nurses, and all are wonderful, but Amber is truly a star," Dr. Bennett said. "She regularly goes above and beyond the call of duty to solve even the most complex patient care issue." Trotter is known for her leadership skills and her willingness to help guide younger nurses as they grow professionally. "Amber never hesitates to offer encouragement and guidance to her co-workers, especially those who are in the early stages of their career," Dr. Bennett said. "She's a willing mentor and truly embodies the spirit of caring that Floyd nurses are known for." Despite her circumstances, the patient and her family were nice and always encouraging to everyone.

Managing those tasks takes a team, she said, and her advice to other nurses is to rely on each other.

Advice from a Pro “Nursing is one of the toughest, yet most rewarding jobs out there I believe,” she said. “We will all have challenging days. Lean on your peers and talk about tough situations. Always remember what made you go into nursing and what makes you choose it daily as your career.” The Nurse of the Year and other nursing honors are presented each year during Nurses Week. As part of that celebration, Jerry Morillon was named 2017 Certified Nursing Assistant of the Year for Floyd Medical Center, and Phoebe Wilborn was honored as the 2017 Rising Star at Floyd Medical Center.

DAISY Awards Recognition

These Leaders Put the Extraordinary in the Ordinary

Dr. Sheila Bennett, Senior Vice President and Chief of Patient Services, Jesse Williams, Clinical Coordinator for Surgical Nursing, and James Keeton, Clinical Manager of Medical Pulmonary Nursing, received DAISY Leader Awards in 2017. The DAISY Leader Award is presented to a manager or director who is a role model for outstanding nursing leadership. Recipients provide a haven of safety for staff, both physically and emotionally, inspiring nurses to do their best, and provide an atmosphere were compassion is valued, which helps staff, in turn, treat patients and their families with deep humanity.

Dr. Sheila Bennett

Jesse Williams

James Keeton

She Helped An Employee's Out of Town Relatives When a Floyd employee became a patient, Sheila not only checked on the patient, but came to the rescue of out-of-town relatives. “I told her that my mom didn't know her way around but wanted to pick up some groceries,” the employee said. “Instead of giving directions, she picked my mom up and took her grocery shopping. She even paid for half of the groceries.” Sheila also helps with overflow and comes in late at night to help out in a crunch or to address staff and patient concerns.

Jesse Provides Selfless Support Jesse Williams was recognized for her selfless support of patients and her co-workers.

James Honored a Patient's Legacy James was the first Floyd leader to receive the DAISY Leader Award. He was nominated by the wife of a patient, who said her very ill husband had become confused. The patient was once a member of a traveling gospel group, and he had dedicated his life to music.

Her nominator offered four examples:

Jesse worked with the Pharmacy to provide medication for a patient who could not afford it. When a bedbound patient mentioned that the bath caps did not feel as good as washing her hair. Jesse improvised a shower and helped the patient wash her hair. With their permission, Jesse prays at the bedside of patients to help alleviate their fear. And, she is known to cook a meal for her staff, even cooking Thanksgiving dinner for her co-workers on her own birthday.

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James arranged for a private gospel music concert for the patient at the piano in Floyd Medical Center's lobby that resulted in the previously unresponsive patient briefly regaining consciousness.

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“She is always available,” the employee said.

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