The latest report by the Georgia Hospital Association shows St. Mary’s Health Care System generated hundreds of millions of dollars for the local and state economy. Mark Ralston is Public Relations Manager at St. Mary’s.
“Using 2015 numbers, the most recent available, the Georgia Hospital Association analysis show that the three hospitals making up St. Mary’s Health Care System generated more than $440 million in revenue,”
He says the number is derived from both direct spending and the ripple effect of the system on other sectors of the community.
“They use an economic multiplier to come up with a number and that multiplier reflects the ripple effect of the spending throughout the economy.”
Ralston says the report also gauges the impact the system has on employment.
“St. Mary’s provides close to 1,900 full time jobs and when they use the multiplier there, it comes up with about 4,600 jobs that we’re helping to generate across the state.”
Jobs impacted include areas like medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, laundry supplies, medical waste disposal and more.
The Georgia Hospital Association is the state's largest hospital trade association.
In addition to St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens Sacred Heart in Lavonia and Good Samaritan in Greensboro, the system includes a region-wide home health care/hospice services agency, Highland Hills Village Retirement Community, medical group and outpatient facilities.