Northeast Georgia Health System’s five hospitals generate more than
$7.8 billion in local and state economic impact according to a recent report by Georgia Hospital
Association (GHA), the state’s largest hospital trade association.
The report found that, in 2023, four Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) hospitals
in Gainesville and Braselton, plus Barrow and Lumpkin counties, generated $7,649,017,607 in
revenue for the local and state economy and sustained more than 23,000 full-time jobs
throughout the region and state – in addition to the more than 12,000 people directly employed
by Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS).
In addition, more than $76 million in total estimated charity care was provided by all
NGMC hospitals in 2023, offering financial assistance to people who meet certain criteria and
cannot afford to pay all or portions of their medical bills. This figure does not include unpaid
bills that are written off or the more than $26 million NGMC provided in community outreach
such as free screenings and health education.
The GHA report also revealed that NGMC had direct expenditures of more than $2.1
billion in 2023. GHA used IMPLAN, a leading provider of sophisticated economic impact
modeling, to calculate the total economic impact of those expenditures. This output multiplier
considers the “ripple” effect of direct hospital expenditures on other sectors of the economy such
as medical supplies, durable medical equipment and pharmaceuticals – as well as restaurants, computer services and accounting. Economic multipliers are used to model the impact of a
change in one industry on the “circular flow” of spending within an economy as a whole.
GHA separately reported the impact of Habersham Medical Center (HMC), which wasn’t
part of NGHS until halfway through 2023. For all of 2023, the hospital in Demorest generated
more than $200 million in revenue for the local and state economies and sustained nearly 650
full-time jobs throughout the region and state. The hospital joined NGHS and became NGMC
Habersham on July 1, 2023.
“NGHS has always been committed to being more than just a healthcare provider,” said
Matt Hanley, MD, president and CEO of NGHS. “We’re a partner in the growth, strength and
health of this entire region. When we invest in new facilities, advanced technology and
innovative treatments, we’re not only improving care for our patients, we’re also strengthening
the economy by creating jobs and supporting local businesses. It all comes together and ties back
to how we’re growing the greater good in north Georgia and beyond.”
The figures in the GHA study only reflect the economic impact of hospital expenditures
and do not include the impact of other services, such as physician offices and long-term care
facilities, provided by NGHS.