CHRISTUS St. Michael Atlanta Foundation announces “Our Heritage, Our Future” Capital Campaign

CHRISTUS St. Michael Atlanta Foundation unveiled its “Our Heritage, Our Future” Capital Campaign at a special event on Oct. 22, at CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital-Atlanta, where community leaders, hospital staff and supporters gathered to participate in the campaign launch.

Spearheaded by Babs McCoy and Dan Simmons, chairpersons, the “Our Heritage, Our Future” campaign has been developed to raise $500,000 in innovation funds to provide capital dollars for future services, technology, equipment, and facility upgrades at CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital-Atlanta, according to Sharon Riley, campaign manager.

“The citizens of Cass County and the surrounding community deserve to have access to quality health care in and out of the hospital setting close to home,” said Micah Johnson, MSN, BSN, RN, Administrator/ Chief Nursing Officer. “CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System has been honored to invest in the Atlanta community to ensure this hospital remains a viable health care provider for years to come. This capital campaign will allow us to continue to build on the legacy began by Dr. Joe D. Nichols, Dr. Ernest W. Grumbles and John J. Ellington with the opening of Ellington Memorial Hospital in 1936.”

With the vision of Dr. T.K. Nichols and the Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce, Ellington Memorial Hospital was replaced by the new state-of-the art Atlanta Memorial Hospital in 1972, and in January of 2013 the hospital was fortunate enough to partner with CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System, according to Chairpersons McCoy and Simmons.

The campaign chairpersons agree the similar mission, vision and values of the two health care ministries created a natural fit and has resulted in a stronger-than-ever faith-based ministry with a mission to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.

Community support in recent years enabled the CHRISTUS St. Michael Atlanta Foundation to fund projects such as expansion of the Emergency Department and Outpatient Rehabilitation Services.

“We are excited about the support for the “Our Heritage, Our Future” campaign we have already received prior to launching the public portion of the campaign,” said Becky Garrett, Foundation Board President. “Our community members are demonstrating once again they understand the value of a strong hospital and are willing to invest in growth and addition of services and technology.”

“Now, the only hospital in Cass County, CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital – Atlanta continues to provide top quality, convenient care close to home for everyone here in Atlanta and the greater Cass County area and has experienced growth and progress,” said Riley.

“Since becoming part of CHRISTUS Health, our hospital has become a Joint Commission Accredited facility recognized for outstanding commitment to quality care,” said Johnson. “We have also been recognized by the State of Texas as a Level IV Trauma Center, a Level III Stroke Center, and have achieved designation as a Chest Pain Center.”

As a designated Trauma Center, CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital-Atlanta offers highly trained staff and equipment to save life and limb in the worst levels of trauma and administer the live saving measures needed to treat and stabilize patients while arranging for the next level of care. As a Stroke Center, the hospital is equipped with teleneurology (allowing for onsite, real-time support by neurologists all across the country) and have the ability to administer the lifesaving “clot buster” drug called tPA. Hospitals that have earned ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation have proven to be exceptionally capable when treating patients with heart attack symptoms and have primary PCI available 24-hours-a-day, every day of the year.

“CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital – Atlanta is truly our community’s safety net hospital providing over $9,000,000 per year in charity care,” said Travis Ransom, Atlanta Mayor.

“In addition to providing care to the poor, underserved, and truly vulnerable within our community, our hospital is positioned to expand services and technology for the benefit of area residents. More, we anticipate that when our capital campaign reaches the goal of $500,000, the funding will serve as a catalyst to receive local, state and/or federally matched funds and continued capital investment by CHRISTUS Health.”