Phoebe CEO fills Dougherty County Commission in on ongoing projects
Staff Photo: Alan Mauldin
By Alan Mauldin
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ALBANY — In a lengthy presentation on Monday, Phoebe Putney Health System President and CEO Scott Steiner gave the Dougherty County Commission some large numbers to consider: $1.8 billion in total economic impact, $425 million in annual payroll, $56 million in charity and indigent care, and $59.3 million in other community benefits.
The presentation to the commission also outlined the way the health system is working to improve care at its facilities and train nurses locally that will provide service in the future.
“It’s a big impact,” Steiner said. “(That) $56 million is the cost of providing care to those who do not have the ability to do so. Thanks to your partnership, we’re able to do that for 18,000 patients.”
The health system employs 5,528 people directly, Steiner said, and a total of 13,878 jobs are due to the hospital’s presence.
Among the ongoing projects is the renovation of Phoebe Urgent Care in East Albany, a project that does not just include fixing up the interior but looking to add new services, including dentistry.
Across from the main hospital on North Jefferson Street, a new Living and Learning Center will train the nurses of tomorrow. The nursing center, a joint project with Albany Technical College, will include a 50,000-square-foot teaching center, with 76 single-bedroom and four two-bedroom apartments on upper floors.
“We anticipate to be moving students in next summer, about a year from now,” Steiner said. “We’re looking to have a total enrollment of 200 … and we want to hire every one of them.”
A new emergency room/trauma center facility also is under construction at the main campus, and the hospital is seeking to achieve Level 2 trauma center status. That will represent a significant upgrade in trauma capabilities and serve a region that does not have that level of trauma care at any hospital in southwest Georgia.
“Ninety-eight percent of trauma isn’t gunshots or stabbings, which is what people think about,” Steiner said. “It’s car accidents, that’s No. 1, then residential accidents are No. 2.”
The trauma care center will be able to provide a team of physicians.
“Trauma is all about being ready,” Steiner said during an interview following his presentation. “It’s kind of like a fire. You can’t call people in. Trauma is having the physicians and equipment ready to go.”
One future goal is the consideration of a medical district in the area around the hospital that includes residential and retail additions.
“The medical district would maybe have houses, condominiums and apartments,” Steiner said. “What we’d like to see, we’d like to see a restaurant come in, a breakfast place. You’re going to have 200 nursing students next fall. You’re going to have 200 young people. They’re going to want breakfast and coffee.”
Recently Phoebe donated five parcels between Madison and Monroe streets for Habitat for Humanity housing. Two have been approved, Steiner said, adding that Phoebe will provide funding for one and hospital personnel will donate time to the construction effort for both.
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