Two of the world’s leading credit rating agencies – Fitch Ratings (Fitch) and S&P Global Ratings (S&P) – recently upgraded Northeast Georgia Health System’s ratings from “A” to “A+” and issued a stable outlook for the organization. Key drivers that influence the ratings include market position, service area, payor mix, operating risk and flexibility, quality of management and past financial performance.
“These ratings place Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) among top performing non-profit hospitals and health systems across the nation and highlight the work we’re doing, under the governance of our volunteer board members, to remain strong so we can fulfill our mission of improving the health of our community in all we do,” said Matt Hanley, MD, president and CEO of NGHS.
The Fitch and S&P reports cite NGHS’ strategic investments in expanding its locations and services to increase people’s access to care; innovative care like robotic heart surgery and histotripsy for liver cancer treatment; a focus on employee recruitment and retention through education, training, and flexible work arrangements; and responsible stewardship of its resources as reasons for the ratings upgrade and stable outlook.
“The national, state and local healthcare industry is evolving at a rapid pace, and so are we,” said Brian Steines, chief financial officer for NGHS. “We’re pleased these national agencies recognized how our teams are adapting and overcoming challenges by continuously improving the care and support we provide our patients – often by finding innovative ways to deliver our services.”
Find a doctor, schedule an appointment or get urgent care directly on your phone, computer or tablet at nghs.com.