Corporate Citizenship Responsibility Sustainability Report
Garnet Health is a New York State, not-for-profit corporation headquartered in Middletown, New York. It is currently the active parent company for two member hospitals, two medical groups and two foundations:
- Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills
- Garnet Health Medical Center
- Garnet Health Doctors
- Garnet Health Foundation - Catskills
- Garnet Health Foundation
- Garnet Health Urgent Care
Providing healthcare to nearly 450,000 residents in Orange, Sullivan and Ulster Counties, Garnet Health was designed to improve the quality, stability and efficiency of healthcare services in the mid-Hudson and Catskill region.
Garnet Health is dedicated to developing specialty services, medical programs and needed healthcare services that allow residents to remain close to home to receive quality care. Services provided by more than 3,300 employed professionals and over 850 medical staff members, makes Garnet Health one of the largest healthcare providers in the tri-county area.
Our Mission, Vision and Values
Mission Statement
Improve the health of our community by providing exceptional healthcare.
Vision Statement
We are caring professionals driven by standards of excellence who go above and beyond to provide an exceptional patient care experience.
Values Statement
- Patients and families first
- Respect and Civility
- Honesty, integrity and transparency in action
- Operational Excellence
- Teamwork, collaboration and communication
- Accountability
- An impeccable, healing environment
Why focus on Corporate Citizenship, Responsibility and Sustainability?
We, at Garnet Health, are always looking for ways to improve the overall experience for our patients, as well as improve efficiency and reduce overall costs. Sustainability initiatives offer significant environmental and financial benefits for our hospitals that can help our system thrive in the future.
According to a report by the Health Research & Educational Trust (2014, May), “sustainability can be defined as the ability of a system to continue doing what it is doing over time. In recent years, society has increased its focus on being “green” and becoming more environmentally friendly. To be truly sustainable, however, initiatives must stand the test of time by being fiscally sound while also helping the community and the environment. Hospitals and care systems that pursue sustainability initiatives find benefits in multiple areas. Their efforts contribute to a healthier environment, improve the organization’s public perception and can help their local communities. Environmental sustainability is also good business, as it helps lower operational costs and allows hospitals to direct more resources to patient care.”
Our Approach to Sustainability and Anticipating Societal Impacts
Garnet Health works very closely with the community it serves to address and anticipate societal impacts and public concerns. Approaches include the following:
- Routine community two-way forums including face-to-face meetings- general public and specialty/ population specific sessions, electronic means- email, social media, blogs, web-interface to identify service offerings
- Collaborating with the community to improve services including reducing readmissions and primary care medical home
- Community-strategic analysis/assessments
- Comprehensive supply-chain management processes
- Environmental risk/ building / construction assessments/ impact; annual Environment of Care Plans addressing utilities, security, fire safety and emergency management (recognized as a leader in regional preparedness activities)
- Waste Management/ recycling efforts
- Leader involvement in local/ regional community/ professional boards and volunteer activities
- Collaboration with community and government agencies
The key compliance process, measures and goals, are demonstrating that we are meeting and surpassing regulatory, legal and accreditation requirements.
Enhancing Societal Wellbeing
Expanding To Serve The Needs of Our Community
Our most recent expansion project included the completion of a new 153,000 square foot, five-story outpatient building and a 26,000 square foot, single-story cancer center at our hospital’s 73-acre main campus. Both new buildings are patient-centered healing environments incorporating all the latest technology and amenities for patients and families.
Garnet Health Medical Center Designated as First Level II Adult Trauma Center in Orange County
Garnet Health Medical Center has recently been verified as a Level II Adult Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Garnet Health Medical Center joins 11 other hospitals in New York State who offer this high level of emergent care and is the first Level II Adult Trauma Center in Orange County. Advancing trauma care is significant and Garnet Health Medical Center has been working toward this designation for the past seven years.
Enhancing Hospital Safety – Visitor Management System
Garnet Health Medical Center provides a safer environment for guests and staff members with the addition of metal detectors as part of its visitor management system. According to Gregg Hough, Director of Security and Emergency Management, implementing safety measures, especially those that have the ability to detect weapons, is a proactive measure, and an industry best practice, that can help to prevent incidents from happening.
Garnet Health Medical Center also implemented a new, hi-tech ID card scanning system produces a visitor badge that must be worn at all times. The new visitor management system scans visitors' ID and automatically produces a visitor badge with a photo as well as the individual’s name, date, time of entry and destination. No data is shared with any outside organization or authority.
Valet Service at the Spagnoli Family Cancer Center
In addition to our valet service offered at our Main Lobby Entrance, valet service is now available at the Spagnoli Family Cancer Center, Tuesday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
LGBTQAI+ Resource Team
The Garnet Health LGBTQ+ Resource Team was created to help share and spread the word on the System’s goal to become Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) certified. The Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) is the national LGBTQ+ benchmarking tool that evaluates healthcare facilities' policies and practices related to the equity and inclusion of their LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees. Garnet Health's goal is to better serve patients, employees and community members within the LGBTQ+ community and we have started our journey to become HEI certified.
Healing Environments
Garnet Health Medical Center Fitness Trail
The Garnet Health Foundation has funded a Fitness Trail project on the campus with outdoor exercise stations as part of a $3.3 million “The Future is Orange” Campaign which helped to fund the overall expansion project. The walking and exercise path can be used by patients, families, and staff to promote overall good health.
Cancer Center Healing Garden
The Foundation also funded the Viewing Garden for Garnet Health Medical Center’s Infusion patients, located at the entrance of the new Spagnoli Family Cancer Center. The Viewing Garden supports our healing environment for patients and their families.
Accredited Urgent Care Locations
Garnet Health Doctors opened a newly built facility, Urgent Care & Primary Care at Resorts World Catskills - now offering access to quality medical care to Sullivan County community and surrounding areas. This facility is another step forward with our commitment to delivering patient-focused care for a healthier community.
Since opening, Garnet Health Doctors both celebrated their Urgent Care Association (UCA) Accreditations. This certification means that the Garnet Health Doctors Urgent Care staff have demonstrated a commitment to providing patients with access to appropriate levels of care.
Conservation of Our Natural Resources
Garnet Health is dedicated to conservation of our natural resources. As such, many projects have been undertaken:
- 56% of Municipal Waste Stream is currently being recycled & diverted out of landfills
- 270 tons of single stream recycled in 2013 (6% increase from 2012)
- Reduced Regulated Medical Waste to <0.89 lbs per Adjusted Patient Day
- "Shred All" paper recycling saved 5,454 trees in 2013 (9% increase from 2012)
- Utilizing dogs to chase control geese population at retention ponds in lieu of chemicals
- Occupancy lighting sensors installed in all major conference rooms (1-7)
- EVS Initiated a "blue wrap" recycling initiative in the OR in 2014
- Energy Star on-line Portfolio Manager - increased efficiency from 64% to 67% since implementation of Energy Conservation and Sustainability Committee, December 2013
Garnet Health is the largest non-governmental employer in the area, and has a significant impact on the social and economic systems of the community.
Serving the Community & Leading by Example
Garnet Health leadership members serve on various local and national committees ranging from ACS on the national level to Boards of Education locally. In return, community members serve an integral part of the operations on the organization through various mechanisms, including serving on the Board of Directors, the Bioethics Committee, and the Patient Family Advisory Committee (PFAC).
Jonathan Schiller, Chief Executive Officer, volunteers his time as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association, Hudson Valley Chapter, New Hope Community as well as the Board of Directors for the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development, Leadership Orange and Christ Health Care Ministry.
Jim Grigg, Garnet Health's Chief Financial Officer:
- Appointed to serve on the Dutchess County Board of Health.
- Contributed to the Healthcare Financial Management Association’s article on ethics for hospital CFOs and other finance leaders.
Pamela J. Murphy, MD, FACEP, Chief Medical Officer, Garnet Health Medical Center, was appointed to serve on the Orange County Board of Health.
Mary Kate Donohue, Garnet Health Administrator of Cardiology Services, was selected as the 2019 Tri-County American Heart Association’s Heart Walk Committee Chair.
William Dauster, President, Garnet Health Foundation has been elected to the Orange County Citizens Foundation Board of Trustees. He will begin his two-year term on January 1, 2020. The Citizens Foundation is a membership-based non-governmental organization that improves quality of life for residents through public policy and advocacy in land use and transportation planning, downtown revitalization through place-making, water conservation, waste management, cultural affairs, education, agriculture, recreation and healthcare.
Community and Collaboration
Garnet Health collaborates with organizations, schools, public agencies and businesses to educate the public, shift policy, and create a culture of health for the communities we serve. It is our goal to engage and influence other sectors while providing leadership for dynamic, large scale change.
In 2016 A University of Wisconsin Public Health Institute report published that:
- Only 10% of health can be attributed to clinical care
- 40% has been attributed to social and economic factors
- 30% to health behaviors
- 10% to environmental factors
By committing to community health work, Garnet Health will be a key driver to improving health and reducing chronic disease in our communities.
We are pleased to be able to provide health resources and education to our community in an effort to improve the health of families and support wellness proactively through promotion of healthy lifestyles; research; free classes, seminars, support groups and screenings; training and disease prevention. We also participate in and sponsor numerous community events including, but not limited to, participation and sponsorship of health fairs, walks/runs, conferences and various health-related efforts presented by other not-for-profit organizations in our community.
For a details, see our community service plans:
- Garnet Health Medical Center Community Service Plan
- Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills Community Service Plan
Feel Good Concert Series
From time to time, our Hospitals hosts community musicians and vocalists to perform for our patients, visitors and employees. Their melodies are a welcome addition to our healing environment.
Circle of Hope Family Support Group
A newly established FREE education and support group for those with a loved one struggling with addiction. In partnership with the Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Council of Orange County, the Garnet Health Medical Center/Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills support group helps family members or loved ones who are caring for an individual struggling with a substance use disorder. Family Support Navigators will be available to offer information about support for guidance and treatment. All meetings are free and confidential and verbal participation is not required.
Little Hats, Big Hearts
Our Hospitals partner with the American Heart Association (AHA), in connection with The Children’s Heart Foundation, for the “Little Hats, Big Hearts” Program during February - American Heart Month to help raise awareness for congenital heart defects. Every baby born during February receives a little red hat. American Heart Month aims to raise awareness of heart disease, the number one killer of American men and women, and Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) Awareness Week, which focuses on congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth defect in the country.
Walk to End Lupus
Garnet Health Doctors and Garnet Health Medical Center staff participates in the Hudson Valley Walk to End Lupus.
Safety & Emergency Preparedness Education
Garnet Health Medical Center staff participates in the Emergency Preparedness and Fire Safety Expo at Home Depot in the Town of Wallkill, as well as the "Lowe's Safety Day" where staff provided car seat inspections to the community.
American Heart Association’s Cycle Nation Spin-A-Thon
Garnet Health Medical Center employees participated in the American Heart Association’s Cycle Nation Spin-A-Thon. The evening was full of energy, exercise and fun. The Garnet Health Medical Center team had some stiff spirit competition, but still won an award for “best team spirit.” Congratulations to all who participated.
Nourish Your Neighbor Food Drive
Garnet Health Medical Center and Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills collect healthy food donations annually, in partnership with Eat Smart New York – a Cornell Cooperative Extension program. The Nourish Your Neighbor healthy food drive promotes local change that makes it easier for our neighbors living and working in Orange County to eat well.
Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills Annual 98.3 WSUL Heart-A-Thon
Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills hosts the Annual 98.3 WSUL Heart-A-Thon, benefitting Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills' Cardio-Pulmonary Department. The event takes place in the Woodland Wildlings Garden Café, located on the Hospital’s ground floor and broadcasts live on WSUL, 98.3/95.7 FM, with pledges read aloud on the air. The event features guest speakers, guest host segments with community leaders and personalities, information and tips about heart health, and a variety of health care demonstrations.
In 2019, the Heart-A-Thon raised $110,000. These funds will help subsidize the purchase of a TeleRehab™ system, an advanced cardiopulmonary rehabilitation telemetry system by VersaCare.
Warrior Kids
In conjunction with the Snap-Ed and Eat Smart New York - Cornell Cooperative Extension, Garnet Health has developed a program called Warrior Kids which is designed to inspire children to develop lifelong healthy habits through education, fitness and fun! Each week, participants of the program benefit from a 30-minute educational session followed by a 30-minute high-energy workout, both led by an accomplished fitness instructor. Warrior Kids is offered to large groups of campers or students for four consecutive weeks. Each child who completes the program receives a certificate and a free Warrior Kids gift bag.
The Benefits of Breastfeeding
National Breastfeeding Month is celebrated every year in August to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. Both Garnet Health Medical Center and Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills hold annual events to raise awareness of the importance of breastfeeding and share experiences with fellow breastfeeding mothers.
Cancer Screenings
Early diagnosis and cancer treatment is critical to improving outcomes. We offer several free cancer screenings to our community throughout the year, as well as year-round early detection cancer programs. Programs include breast, skin, prostate, lung and oral, head & neck cancer screenings.
Garnet Health Community Health Team Attends State Health Summit
Members of our Community Health team, Amanda Langseder, Director of Community Health, and Andrew Oni, Program Coordinator, attended the recent New York State Health Summit VI to learn about the newly released New York State Prevention Agenda Priorities. They were joined by Garnet Health Medical Center Resident, Nithin Varughese, who is completing a rotation in Population Health. The New York State Health Summit brings together hospital systems across the State, including Garnet Health Medical Center and Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills, to learn about changes and newest additions to the Prevention Agenda. This agenda outlines evidence based interventions and strategies which we incorporate in our community service plans to improve the health of our community.
National Healthcare Decision Day
An awareness day to encourage staff, patients and visitors to begin their advance care planning no matter your age. Presented by the Garnet Health Bio-Ethics Committee.
Celebrating our Cancer Survivors
Garnet Health Medical Center’s Spagnoli Family Cancer Center hosts an annual celebration of life in conjunction with National Cancer Survivors Day (NCSD). This free event is open to anyone that has been diagnosed with cancer, is in treatment for cancer or has completed cancer therapy, as well as their friends, family members and caregivers.At Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills, Oncology Staff and executive leadership also gather to celebrate cancer survivors at the Annual Celebration of Life Picnic.
Prevent Type 2 Diabetes Class
Prevent T2 participants are involved in a year-long program that promotes modest weight loss (5%-7% of current weight, if overweight or obese) and increased physical activity through lifestyle changes. Participants are coached in self-efficacy, physical activity and diet. Experiences are planned for the classes like a grocery store tour with a ShopRite dietitian as well as this interactive experience on the fitness trail.
Garnet Health Medical Center Lung Disease Support
Newly established free support group “Just Breathtaking” will provide information, education and discussion about living with chronic lung disease and will explore ways to adjust to living with the anxiety and depression that may accompany the illness.
Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills Sullivan Birth & Baby Fest 2019
The annual Sullivan County Birth & Baby Fest, hosted by Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills in partnership with the Sullivan County Breastfeeding Coalition and Maternal Infant Services Network, welcomed over 80 expectant parents and family members.
Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills RISE Walk
The 8th Annual RISE Walk took place at the Sullivan County Government Center in Monticello and raised funds for Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills' RISE Program – Rape, Intervention, Services & Education of Sullivan County. The event raised more than $14,000 from walkers, fundraisers and event sponsors. That’s $6,000 more than the 2018 Walk. For more information, please contact the RISE office at 845-794-3300, ext. 2440 or e-mail RISE@ghvhs.org.
Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills Caritas Award
Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills' Departments of Emergency Medicine and Behavioral Health received the Caritas Award at the Celebration of Charity dinner recently for their work with Catholic Charities to help combat the Opioid crisis. The Caritas Awards are presented by Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster each year to organizations and individuals in the community who exemplify the agency’s mission to provide help and create hope.
We are so proud of our employees, who go above and beyond to help those in need!
Community Health Needs Assessment
Garnet Health recognized that healthy communities lead to lower healthcare costs, robust community partnership and an overall enhanced quality-of-life. Garnet Health completed a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) in to evaluate the health needs and behaviors in our service areas. Garnet Health examined a variety of risky health behaviors and chronic health conditions.
There were data collection sessions with community members and focus groups with key community stakeholders. A CHNA Needs Prioritization Session was held and as a result priorities were set. These serve as the basis for long-term and short-term strategies and tactics for daily operations.
Graduate Medical Education
The mission of the Graduate and Undergraduate Medical Education Program at Garnet Health Medical Center is to prepare residents and students to be excellent physicians and well-developed individuals by educating them in the fundamental concepts, knowledge, and practical applications of skills taught by a team of dedicated medical professionals.
An Garnet Health Medical Center residency offers a state-of-the-art facility, enthusiastic faculty and an academic neighbor in Touro Medical College who has a campus within a few miles of the hospital. Dedicated to the principles of Osteopathic medicine, our partnership with Touro Medical College provides additional opportunities to offer a dynamic educational experience.
Medical Education Graduates
32 graduates from our Residency Programs, including Transitional Year Internship, Internal Medicine Residency, Family Medicine Residency, Emergency Medicine Residency and Psychiatry Residency. For three of these programs, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Psychiatry, this year saw its first class of graduates. As a teaching hospital, the mission of the Graduate and Undergraduate Medical Education Program is to prepare residents and students to be excellent physicians and well-developed individuals by educating them in the fundamental concepts, knowledge and practical applications of skills taught by a team of dedicated medical professionals.
For more information, contact Residency Program Manager, Heather Marcolina at hmarcolina@ghvhs.org.
Sustainability in the Workforce
We count on the excellence of our employees to drive our vision of exceptional health care in our community. In addition to tradition healthcare benefits, to keep our workforce healthy, we offers free vaccinations and health screenings to our employees, and often invite onsite representatives to assist with financial planning and supplemental benefits.
Also offered is a comprehensive Lifescope program that assists with various personal items or issues, from elder care to tutoring services for children and career building skills.
Employee Recognition Programs
One of our employee recognition awards, The BEE Award, celebrates members of our hospital family who demonstrate excellence in their interactions with patients, visitors, colleagues and the community.
DAISY Awards
DAISY Award honorees personify Garnet Health Medical Center’s remarkable patient experience. These nurses consistently demonstrate excellence through their clinical expertise and extraordinary compassionate care. They are recognized as outstanding role models in our nursing community.
Fitness and Healthy Eating
The hospitals offer several wellness programs, including Step up to Fitness, with aerobic and training classes offered at a discounted rate and often on hospital grounds. Also offered is a farm share offering produce from nearby farms with deliveries made to the hospital staff.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Each year, Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills, facilitates a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) for our staff - provided this year, through Lackawaxen Farms. Promoting healthy eating with the freshest, local fruits and vegetables available to our staff and their families.
Annual Engagement Survey
Garnet Health Medical Center implements an annual engagement survey that includes employees and physicians. Following the survey, Leaders share results with their teams and create action plans. Staff and leaders work together to identify one strength and one opportunity from each unit, based on their results and craft action plans that are staff driven, with each plan unique to the individual unit and the employee’s opinions on which survey items they deemed most important. Plans drafted utilizing DMAIIC process, correlate to survey questions, and are submitted online and worked on throughout the year.
Employee Evening at the Ray W. Moody, M.D. Breast Center Outpatient Building (Garnet Health Medical Center)
Mammograms were made available to employees by appointment. Real time imaging results were available that day. Refreshments were served, and employees entered to win a chance for a “Spa Basket”.
Culture of Compliance
Garnet Health is committed to ethical behavior as evidenced by our Mission, Vision and Values. All staff is expected to honor our commitment to honesty, integrity, transparency, and accountability. Employees are encouraged to not only adhere to our policies, but to speak-up without fear of retaliation, whenever a potential problem or opportunity to improve presents itself.
Our Compliance Program:
- Fosters a culture of ethics and compliance
- Promotes the understanding of risks and potential exposures
- Stops fraud;
- Protects patient privacy;
- Prevents conflicts of interest;
- Ensures proper credentialing;
- Identifies and prevents waste;
- Furthers accurate billing and coding;
- Assists in obeying state and federal laws;
- Maintains and promotes high quality care; and
- Strives to promote the use of best practices in management and board governance
Process Efficiency and Effectiveness
Operation costs within our Garnet Health hospitals and medical groups are reviewed and monitored on a regular basis and shared from the top down. On a monthly basis and when necessary, variances in budget items are investigated, explained and communicated through the appropriate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Garnet Health Medical Center is an active member of Premier, a Group Purchasing Organizations (GPO) to leverage national buying power.
EPIC EHR reinforces evidence-based practice and standardized medication and testing orders. Workflow and processes are developed using best practice and evidence based methods to reduce risk and minimize patient harm. Specialized and focused training, including tip sheets, assist in workflow modification. Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) streamlines the process, reducing error. Highly effective, proactive system checks, on all equipment are built into all technology driven areas. Reports and audit trails are regularly provided through a robust preventive maintenance (PM) schedule including an electronic work order system.
Garnet Health Medical Center listens to the voice of the patient, the voice of the physician, the voice of the staff, and transparently prioritizes equipment and programmatic investment aligned with our mission, vision, and values.