Infirmary Health System Inc

Programs: Infirmary health system (ihs) provides centralized management and administrative services to four not-for-profit hospitals, a skilled nursing facility, a charitable foundation, and a network of more than twenty medical clinics. Ihs is focused on achieving economies of scale for its supported facilities by providing centralized, coordinated services, allowing the facilities to offer state-of-the-art medical services at the lowest possible cost. Centralized and coordinated services include accounting, accounts payable, human resources, information technology, purchasing, business office, and maintenance, among many other support services. The services are provided to system facilities at a level of knowledge and experience that, in many cases, would not otherwise be available or affordable. Ihs has spearheaded efforts to improve the availability of healthcare services in rural areas of southwest alabama. Recruitment of physicians to the rural community of bay minette, alabama has remained a focus, resulting in several physicians relocating to the area. Capital investment in the facilities in bay minette continue to provide benefit to the community, with over 15,000 emergency services, over 2,000 surgical cases, 205 newborn deliveries, and 27,788 adjusted patient days being provided. As a result of an assessment of community health needs, ihs supported the initiation of geriatric psychiatric services at its facility in bay minette, the only one of its kind in baldwin county. Studies to determine additional healthcare needs of the community are ongoing. In response to a community need, ihs built and now operates the e. A. Roberts alzheimer center, a day care center for the provision of care to patients suffering from alzheimer's disease or senile dementia. This low- cost facility, the first of its kind in the region, provides much needed assistance and relief to family members for these patients. Because ihs and its employees are actively involved in supporting numerous local community benefit organizations, health fairs, and health advocacy organizations. Ihs created, ihelp - a program to centralize, track and identify community service including volunteer, in-kind and financial resources to make an impact on the health and well-being of our region. Ihs established a community department with a budget and purchased software to track employee involvement and community requests. Campaigns for united way, the american cancer society, the american heart association, march of dimes, goodwill, american diabetes association and many other national organizations are actively supported by the organization and its employees. The ihs leadership team serves on more than 32 boards and plays an active role with ihelp by leading, supporting, encouraging and participating in all volunteer projects. Ihelp supports more than 130 organizations and non-profit organizations through teams, fundraising, health and wellness fairs and in-kind donations. Blood drives are conducted quarterly on ihs' campus, where employee volunteers and donations are strongly encouraged. Through infirmary health's "go red gulf coast," campaign, ihs partnered with fox10 in february with the goal of bringing awareness to american heart month and heart disease by providing free screenings to 271 community members - 50 percent of which had abnormal cholesterol results and high blood pressure. Fifty volunteers helped provide cholesterol, weight and blood pressure checks. 271 community members were screened employees wore red on fridays in february in honor of national heart awareness month. Banners were placed at hospital entrances and special e-signatures were created for employee emails to build community awareness. T-shirts were also available to purchase through infirmary health fitness centers. Ihs partnered with the american heart association for their annual heart walk raising more than 25,000 for the aha and hosted an inaugural corporate wellness symposium at prohealth fitness center. Twenty-four companies attended the symposium and ih received the highest recognition of being named a platinum fit-friendly company. Infirmary health employees not only have a team each year for the making strides against breast cancer walk, they serve on the planning committee and serve as the chair and co-chair for the event. Infirmary health was a flagship sponsor for the event that had more than 25,000 participants. More than 70 employees joined to honor survivors and raise awareness. A total of 23,252. 94 was raised through sponsorship, payroll deduction, online giving, and team fundraising efforts. Our employees continue to lead a cancer committee that meets quarterly and plans support group meetings, chili cook-off and relay for life team participation. Two of our employees bill and cassie carroll began the get your rear in gear colon cancer walk in mobile in honor of a fellow co- worker who passed away from colon cancer. Employees wore pink on "think pink thursdays" in october to raise awareness of breast cancer. We painted the campus pink with banners and signs creating awareness of breast cancer and the importance of early detection. Infirmary health also partnered with fox10 news station to offer free skin cancer screenings to the community may 19. A total of 256 people were screened with 117 recommended to make follow-up appointments with their physicians. More than 400 community members also attended a free prostate cancer screening held in september. To determine both the needs of our communities and how our employees want to give back, the ihelp committee conducted a community health needs assessment (chna) and an employee survey. By surveying and interviewing community leaders through the chna, two key areas of need were identified: healthy weight and access to care. More than 1,900 employees participated in the employee survey. This data is used to guide ihelp. In alignment with our community health needs assessment infirmary health increased promotion and awareness of scale back alabama, a free statewide weight-loss program for adults ages 18 and older. 670 community members weighed in jan. 11-18 at one of infirmary health's four host sites. Each team to weigh-in and weigh-out at prohealth fitness center, thomas fitness center, north baldwin fitness center or atmore community hospital (auditorium) has a chance to win one of the following: two one year individual infirmary fitness center memberships, two fitbit activity trackers, two 100 visa gift cards. Infirmary health offers various incentives to encourage employee volunteerism. Ihelp awards are given to those employees that go above and beyond. Awards include: 8 hours of eto, choice of a massage gift certificate or 2 personal training sessions, 50 ihealthy wellness points, recognition in employee newsletter, hospital tv monitors, display boards and at leadership summit, an event held at the battle house hotel for ih team leaders and above, award recipients are invited to attend the event and are called up on stage, in front of 450 leaders, as they are highlighted for their volunteer services. Volunteer teams and on-campus fundraising are promoted and encouraged. Ihealthy points are awarded for employee participation in community events. Ihelp matches employee donations through sponsorships. Infirmary health hosts its annual "turkey toss" for employees in december, giving each employee a turkey for the holidays. This year, 149 turkeys were donated to feed the homeless and low income families in mobile and baldwin counties through various organizations such as: feeding the gulf coast (formerly bay area food bank), home of grace, wilmer hall, l'arche mobile, penelope house, wings of life, prodisee pantry, fairhope united methodist church and first hope (first baptist church of fairhope). Those who donated their turkey provided a meal for a family that might not, have otherwise, had anything to eat this holiday season. In support of its desire to lead by example, ihs has initiated a wellness program for its employees, providing encouragement and incentives for employees to live a healthy lifestyle. The program includes health assessments that provide each participating employee with key health metrics. Plans for improving health are formulated for each employee based upon their individual assessment results. Ihs actively supports the efforts of the infirmary foundation, a non- private foundation formed to provide financial support for the mobile infirmary association, a not-for-profit hospital in mobile, alabama. The infirmary foundation provides financial support for investment in state- of-the-art technology, allowing the mobile infirmary association to provide the latest in advanced treatment options for its patients. The infirmary foundation, recognizing the shortage of qualified healthcare providers in the community, also invests in the education of future healthcare providers by offering scholarship opportunities for col