People across the region will soon have the opportunity to benefit from new services, thanks to the innovative thinking of three Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) employees. Taylor McFarland, Paul Turner and Adam Raulerson received a combined total of more than $45,000 from the NGHS Foundation’s Change Grants program to bring their ideas for improvement to life.
The Change Grants program, which is funded by employee donations to the NGHS Foundation, gives employees the opportunity to submit their ideas to improve the patient, visitor,or employee experience.
“More than 3,000 employees across the health system donate a portion of their paycheck each pay period because they believe in the impact of philanthropy,” said Ash Warnock, manager of grants administration at NGHS and co-chair of the WATCH Committee – which focuses on employee giving. “It’s through their generosity that this program is possible.”
Each year, a handful of projects are selected to become reality. This year’s projects that were selected include:
- A new role to support the intensive outpatient peer support group, offering hope and empowerment for patients of Laurelwood, NGHS’ dedicated inpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment facility – submitted by Adam Raulerson, business development manager for Laurelwood Behavioral Health
- An outdoor sports rehabilitation space for patients in Gainesville – submitted by Paul Turner, clinic lead for NGHS’ Outpatient Orthopedic Rehabilitation Servicesin Gainesville
- Safe drug disposal receptacles at every Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) hospital to allow for monitoring and protection – submitted by Taylor McFarland, a pharmacy manager at NGMC Barrow.
“As an organization, we are grateful that employees across the system, regardless of their position, care deeply enough about our patients and their peers to take an idea, create a plan and apply for funding to implement that plan,” said Angela Gary, chief nursing officer for NGHS’ southern market and co-chair of the WATCH Committee. “We always say our people are our best asset, and the Change Grant program is further proof of what they can accomplish.”
For a full listing of all current and previous Change Grants, visit nghs.com/change-grants.To support the philanthropic initiatives of NGHS, visit nghs.com/foundation.
About NGHS
Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) is a non-profit on a mission of improving the health of our community in all we do. Our team of more than 1,500 medical staff members representing more than 60 specialties cares for more than 1 million people across the region through seven hospitals and dozens of other locations and practices. Our acute care hospitals, Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC), have a total of more than 1,000 beds across a Level I Trauma Center in Gainesville and other locations in Braselton, Winder, Dahlonega and Demorest. NGHS’ specialty hospitals also provide individualized rehabilitation programs for medical conditions and injuries through The Rehabilitation Institute in Gainesville, as well as inpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment at Laurelwood on the campus of NGMC Gainesville. Learn more at nghs.com.