![Atrium Health Navicent, Georgia.](/sites/default/files/2022-10/Atrium-Health-Navicent-Georgia-small.jpg)
![Atrium Health Navicent, Georgia.](/sites/default/files/2022-10/Atrium-Health-Navicent-Georgia-small.jpg)
Atrium Health Navicent | Georgia
Metropolitan Anchor Hospital (MAH) | Case Study
Overview
Founded as a nonprofit in 1994, Atrium Health Navicent is the leading provider of health care in Central and South Georgia and is committed to its mission of improving health, elevating hope, and advancing healing—for all.
Atrium Health Navicent has more than 1,000 beds for medical, surgical, rehabilitation, and hospice care and offers patients access to more than 53 specialties in more than 50 facilities throughout Georgia. As part of the Atrium Health network of 40 hospitals and more than 1,400 care locations throughout the Southeast United States, Atrium Health Navicent provides a broad range of community-based, outpatient diagnostic care, primary care, extensive home health and hospice care, and comprehensive cancer and rehabilitation services spanning the full continuum of care. Its facilities include five acute care hospitals, a rehabilitation hospital, a new state-of-the-art children’s hospital, Central Georgia's first life plan community—a continuum of living and care options for older adults previously known as Continuing Care Retirement Communities—multiple urgent care centers, and an inpatient hospice facility.
“Our mission is to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing—for all.”
Atrium Health Navicent’s Mission Statement
Distinguished nationally for its excellence, Atrium Health Navicent is also one of the premier teaching hospitals in the United States and serves as the primary teaching hospital for the Mercer University School of Medicine, hosting more than 100 medical residents and fellows annually. Included within the Atrium Health system is Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center, a 637-bed, ACS nationally-verified Level 1 Trauma Center, and a four-time Magnet Designated hospital for nursing excellence worldwide.
Patient–Payer Mix
With a commitment to every community member it serves, Atrium Health seeks to improve health, elevate hope, and advance healing for all. As a metropolitan anchor hospital (MAH), Atrium Health Navicent faces a challenging patient-payer mix. Medicaid and Medicare comprise 64.3% of total discharges and 65.9% of all patient visits. Approximately one-fourth of patients are covered by commercial insurance. Facing significant financial challenges, low margins, and workforce shortages—all of which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic—MAHs like Atrium Health Navicent are working to stretch every dollar for the benefit of all patients.
Atrium Health Navicent's Unique Approach to Care
Atrium Health Navicent’s unique approach to advancing patient health and wellness includes:
Advancing Equity Inside the Hospital – and Out
Atrium Health Navicent has worked hard to reduce health care disparities and advance diversity and inclusion to support the goals of the American Hospital Association’s National Call to Action to Eliminate Health Disparities. Atrium Health Navicent is committed to documenting health outcomes by evaluating race, ethnicity, and language (REaL) preference data collected at the time of admission in patients with certain conditions and was created to help influence social determinants of health and improve condition-specific access to care management for diabetes and heart failure. As a result, Atrium Health Navicent has addressed readmission health disparities among Black patients with heart failure, and diabetes, as well as health disparities among women with diabetes.
Atrium Health Navicent's dedication to health equity also resulted in the development of a cultural competency and engagement program, which supports patients, employees, associates, physicians, vendors, and other partners. In addition, the Atrium Health Navicent Board follows a competency-based performance guide in recruitment, selection, and re-appointment of board members. The system received the prestigious AHA Equity of Care Award in 2018 in recognition of its efforts.
Children’s Behavioral Health
The Atrium Health Navicent Children’s Care Pediatric Developmental & Behavioral Health empowers all children and families to reach their highest potential, moving them from challenge to success. The center is a leader in autism and developmental assessment and intervention, providing the highest quality, comprehensive clinical support for children and families.
Commitment to Service
Atrium Health Navicent is part of the Atrium Health network, which has a long tradition of generosity when it comes to supporting the communities across the Southeast United States. In 2019, Atrium Health employees collectively donated nearly $5.6 million to local and regional charities. Employees also dedicated more than 45,000 volunteer service hours to support local community service projects. Beyond its direct service areas, Atrium Health works to deliver medical assistance globally and establish sustainable health care in medically underserved countries through the International Medical Outreach (IMO) program – a collaboration between Atrium Health and the Heineman Foundation of Charlotte.
Metropolitan Anchor Hospitals Need Support
Despite the financial challenges MAHs face, Atrium Health Navicent continues to support important efforts that improve the health outcomes of the communities it serves. Ultimately, MAHs like Atrium Health Navicent need sustained federal support to advance their successful programs, strengthen patient outcomes, and further improve health in their communities.