Tanner Health System contributed more than $634.6 million to the region’s economy and created 4,666 full-time jobs in 2009, according to a report from the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA).
The economic impact represents a more than 16 percent increase from 2008, according to the health system.
“This continues to be a period of tremendous growth at Tanner,” said Loy Howard, president and CEO of Tanner Health System. “Over the time that this report documents, we opened Tanner Heart and Vascular Center in Carrollton and Willowbrooke at Tanner, the new inpatient behavioral health facility in Villa Rica. We’ve also seen very strong growth among the practices that are part of Tanner Medical Group, with established practices joining and new practices starting.”
GHA compiles its annual Economic Impact Report to give a better view of how Georgia hospitals serve as vital economic engines for local and state economies. Figures provided by the Georgia Department of Community Health are processed through economic multipliers developed by the United States Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis to give a more accurate portrayal of how jobs and revenue generated by hospitals and health systems in Georgia actually impact their local economies. The 2009 data is the latest available from the Georgia Department of Community Health.
“This report demonstrates Tanner’s role in supporting the region’s economy, beyond providing healthcare services,” said Howard. “This is a responsibility we take very seriously. These are difficult economic times for everyone, including hospitals. Even so, Tanner remains committed to improving access to healthcare services and continuing as a positive economic contributor for our area.
“We are fortunate that, even as 40 percent of Georgia’s hospitals are operating with negative margins, Tanner continues to create jobs – not just directly, through expanding services and adding staff, but also through its role as an economic engine.”
Based on the hospital’s total direct expenditure – or how much money the hospital spent in 2009 – Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton led the system in economic impact with a total output of almost $383 million injected into the region’s economy. The hospital generated almost 3,000 full-time jobs in the community and led to the contribution of more than $189 million in household income for area residents.
Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica generated almost $119 million in total output, helped generate almost 900 full-time jobs and led to a total household income of more than $46.4 million. Higgins General Hospital in Bremen generated almost $63 million in total output, about 480 full-time jobs and household income of more than $28.6 million.
Tanner Medical Group, one of metro Atlanta’s largest multi-specialty physician groups, produced a total output of more than $61 million for the region’s economy and generated almost $36.5 million in total household earnings and almost 300 full-time jobs.
“What Tanner represents would not have been possible without true community support,” said Howard. “The dedication of our medical staff and team of healthcare professionals – as well as the loyalty of our patients – enable Tanner to continue as an economic leader. This report highlights the importance of using local services and supporting local industries. Using local services creates local jobs and opportunities for our neighbors.”
Tanner’s impact in the community extends further into job creation when it comes to attracting new economic prospects to the area.
“When a company is looking to relocate or expand into a new community, the first two things they consider are health care and education,” said Howard. “These two areas are fundamental parts of a sound economic development program. The presence of a robust healthcare industry and excellent schools give this region a competitive advantage over many other areas of the state.”
According to Howard, the ability to create jobs is unique to health care. Though many industries have lost jobs to competition overseas, healthcare jobs are generally local and are usually very stable, he said.
Statewide, Georgia hospitals contributed more than $39 billion in total economic impact, and created more than 288,000 full-time jobs and almost $15 billion in total household earnings.
Tanner Health System is a nonprofit regional healthcare provider serving a nine-county area of west Georgia and east Alabama. Tanner operates three regional hospitals and an inpatient behavioral health facility. Tanner also operates Tanner Medical Group, one of metro Atlanta’s largest multi-specialty physician groups offering a wide range of medical specialties.
Tanner’s continuum of care includes state-of-the-art cancer care, a leading cardiac program, revolutionary critical care services, innovative medical imaging, 24-hour emergency care, inpatient and outpatient surgical services, modern maternity services and more.
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