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Hospital awarded $10,000 for collaborative effort
Criteria was impact, innovation, collaboration
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Nurse practitioner Leigh Anne Day checks the heartbeat of patient Elaine Smith during an office visit Thursday at Good News Clinics in Gainesville. The National Charitable Service Awards recognized the Northeast Georgia Medical Center for its work with Good News Clinics. - photo by SARA GUEVARA

Northeast Georgia Medical Center took home $10,000 Thursday for a new nationwide award recognizing hospitals that give back to the community.

Presented by former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich in Atlanta, the National Charitable Service Awards pinpointed Gainesville's hospital for its work with Health Access Initiative and Good News Clinics, which help low-income and uninsured residents in
Hall County.

"We're so warmed and thrilled about receiving this because it's a relationship where we do work collaboratively," said interim hospital CEO Carol Burrell. "We have a number of physicians, dentists and volunteer board members who support both and ensure that care is provided. It's a direct benefit to the community and hospital here because it helps folks who otherwise wouldn't have medical care and keeps them from coming into the (emergency room), which is so costly."

The Health Access Initiative, a network of providers that partner to improve access to health care, has served more than 3,300 patients with more than 80,000 patient visits in the past three years. Good News Clinics, staffed by volunteers, provides primary health care, dental care and vision services.

Judges chose the Northeast Georgia Medical Center as one of 10 winners and 110 nominees for the inaugural award sponsored by Jackson Healthcare in
Alpharetta. The $10,000 will go toward operating expenses for Health Access Initiative and Good News Clinics.

"We're really excited about it and didn't expect to win," said Cathy Bowers, the hospital's public relations director. "It's an honor to all of our organizations and speaks to what can be done when we're willing to work together."

The winners were selected based on community impact, innovation and collaboration.

"When we received the call for entries, we recognized some of the unique efforts being done with the hospital and the community partnerships," Bowers said. "I think the strength of our application is based on those strong working relationships and innovative ideas used to improve the health of the community."

The national awards program was created to recognize the best practices of community-oriented charitable programs.

"It brings together a lot of ideas all over the country that we can borrow and build on to serve our own community, and it's been interesting today to hear about the different programs," Burrell said.

"Recently, an acquaintance of mine had an infected tooth for several weeks but had no money to go to the dentist. He was able to go to Good News Clinics and thinks the dentist probably saved his life. It's those personal stories that are truly touching."

The other nine winners featured programs that combat obesity, child abuse, infant mortality and heart disease, with several targeting the uninsured. Good News Clinics was packed with Gainesville residents seeking care Thursday.

"It's exciting to see the hospital recognized for its work in the community, and Good News Clinics is the largest free clinic is the state, largely contributing to the hospital's support over the years," said Cheryl Christian, executive director of the clinic.

"We have a tremendous need in our community, and being able to provide service through volunteer physicians makes Gainesville a very special place."