HMC makes Operational Adjustments to sustain Facility until New Owners take over

Habersham Medical Center (HMC) officials have announced they are making strategic decisions to help ensure critical hospital operations will continue uninterrupted until the Hospital Authority of Hall County and the City of Gainesville, and later Northeast Georgia Health System, assumes ownership of HMC on July 1.  On Thursday, HMC announced several operational adjustments.  The hospital stopped admitting new patients to the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) on Friday, February 3, and will pause all service when the last of the current patients are safely discharged. The ICU has an average daily census of one to three patients and is operating at a financial loss. Any patient who comes to HMC after ICU services are paused will be assessed based on acuity and transferred to the most appropriate facility if ICU care is needed.  Also, on Friday, February 3, the hospital paused the utilization of on-call general surgeons to cover emergency procedures. The current volume being seen by this service is averaging four procedures per week, and the service is operating at a financial loss. Regular Emergency Department operations will continue to be open 24/7. Any patient who comes to HMC during typical on-call hours will be assessed based on acuity and transferred to the most appropriate facility if emergency surgical care is needed.  Additionally, the strategic decision has been made to consolidate Operating Rooms operations from five days per week to three days per week, effective February 13. Based on current surgical volume, rescheduling ORs to be open Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will maximize efficiency while meeting current demand.  HMC’s Employee Fitness Center will pause operations effective February 22. Total Fitness currently operates at a financial loss. Members of Total Fitness who have prepaid dues will receive a prorated refund. HMC will continue to support employee wellness in other ways including: a Wellness Fair on February 8; Financial Wellness classes offered in partnership with Regions Bank; and Mental Wellness services provided in partnership with Avita.  Hospital Authority of Habersham County Chair Dolly Ritchie says, “While decisions to adjust operations are never easy, imperative steps are being taken now to improve the hospital’s financial situation…These moves target areas that currently serve few patients and are expected to reduce potential financial losses by up to $1 million over the next five months – which in turn helps ensure the hospital will stay open until July 1 and won’t use funds committed by the County Commission unless they are absolutely necessary.”  HMC President and CEO Tyler Williams says “Our leadership team is releasing any contracted labor involved with these services, and we are working with employees in each of the impacted areas to redeploy them to other areas within the hospital or potentially transfer to positions within NGHS. Great care is being taken to retain all willing and qualified staff members and ensure processes are put in place to ensure appropriate transfers for patients who may need these services in the future.”  HMC and NGHS agreed last month to enter into a Management Services Agreement until July 1, 2023. Under this agreement, NGHS management provides day-to-day oversight and review of critical functions and services, as well as financial services and information technology services support.