SIDNEY — Wilson Health continues to find itself poised for continued growth and opportunities to meet the ongoing health needs of the community. Independent health systems like Wilson Health enjoy some distinct advantages over larger systems including lower cost structure, strategic agility and proximity to our customers.
“In order to maintain the success of our independent health system, we must focus on what we do well; providing local services within our scope, facilitating access to high-end specialty care, and serving the healthcare continuum – education, prevention, diagnosis and treatment,” said Mark Dooley, president and CEO.
As an independent health system, Wilson Health understands the importance of partnering with other hospitals and health systems to provide the highest possible quality of care for their patients. “We must embrace the right partnerships,” says Dooley. “Partnerships are no longer a choice, but a necessity. Partnership does not mean acquisition. Ideal partnerships include providing all services within our scope locally, seamless transition to a larger system for advanced care, and patients receiving access to the right care, at the right place, at the right time,” adds Dooley.
Leading the way is a 15 member Board of Trustees volunteering their time and expertise toward improving the organization. The trustees are: Devon Beer, Janice Benanzer, Andy Counts (secretary), Stan Crosley (chair), John Deeds, Mark Dooley, Chuck Edelen, Rudy Keister (vice-chair), Dave Monnier (treasurer), Ken Monnier, Eric Prenger, Tom Sheehan, Tonya Theiman, Bob Wheeler and Priscilla Wilt.
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Financial and service summary
Wilson Health’s financial performance continues to provide a means to add new programs, services, equipment and technology to better diagnose and treat disease as well as promote health and wellness.
Wilson Health is the area’s preferred healthcare provider and contributes significant financial resources to the area. Sitting at the number four spot amongst top employers in Shelby County, Wilson Health employs over 800 people and provides over $90 million in direct economic benefits to the area.
In 2016, Wilson Health provided over $7 million in care for patients who either had no means to pay or met the qualifications for charity care.
In 2016, Wilson Health provided inpatient care for 3,049 patients. The emergency department experienced high patient volumes and for the first time treated over 30,000 patients. Wilson Health also performed:
• 4,568 surgical procedures
• 16,571 occupational health patient visits
• 4,030 urgent care visits
• 37,231 cardiopulmonary and sleep lab procedures
• 57,475 imaging procedures
• 318,92 laboratory tests
• 28,223 home care and hospice visits
In addition, 701 babies were born in The Copeland-Emerson Family Birth Center.
Key providers join medical team
Wilson Health continually recruits physicians and other providers to grow and enhance its medical staff. This initiative is critical in meeting the needs of the community. In 2016, 8 key providers joined the medical staff in a variety of specialty areas:
• Rabia Akbar, Pediatrics
• Michael “Mick” Beyer, Family Medicine
• Chad Boberg, CNP, Occupational Medicine
• Ryan Clark, Cardiology
• Megan Hoying, CNP, Family Medicine
• Atiba Jackson, Orthopedics
• Dawn Macke, CNP, Family Medicine
• Rosemary McCarthy, Ob/Gyn
Wilson Health Medical Group
The Wilson Health Medical Group (WHMG) continues to grow. With 38 providers, the hospital-owned medical group offers comprehensive healthcare services in family medicine, internal medicine, OB/GYN, endocrinology, ENT, and pediatrics. The physicians and certified nurse practitioners of WHMG offer convenient care with offices located in Sidney, Fort Loramie/Minster, Jackson Center, Anna and Botkins.
In 2016, the Thomas Boecker Professional Building opened its doors. The 48,000 square foot medical building is the home to 21 Sidney-based family medicine, internal medicine, ob/gyn and pediatric Wilson Health Medical Group providers. The new medical building is located on the Wilson Health campus and was designed specifically with patients and families in mind.
In January, Wilson Health opened a new After Hours Clinic located in the Professional Building. The clinic is staffed by experienced medical providers of Wilson Health Medical Group and treats patients with minor illnesses and injuries. The After Hours Clinic is open Monday through Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. No appointments are necessary.
Establishing a healthier community
Wilson Health supports and works with a variety of like-minded community agencies and organizations to collaborate and impact the health needs in the community. Some of those organizations include:
• Shelby County School Systems
• Sidney Police Department
• Shelby County Sheriff Department
• Sidney-Shelby County YMCA
• Local Colleges/Universities
• Sidney-Shelby County Chamber of Commerce
• American Heart Association
• American Cancer Society
• Life Connection of Ohio
• County and Municipal Governments
• Area Churches and Faith Based Organizations
• Sidney-Shelby County Senior Center
• Shelby County Jobs and Family Services
• Sidney-Shelby County United Way
• POWER – Women’s Initiative
• Compassionate Care of Shelby County
• Women’s Center Sidney – Pregnancy Resource Center
• Shelby County Community Service Council
• Shelby County Counseling Center
• Samaritan Works Inc.
• Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services
• Community Blood Center- Community Tissue Services
The volunteers at Wilson Health are a wonderfully diverse group of people within the community who donate their time and talents to make a difference in the lives of patients and their families. In 2016, 120 Auxiliary members donated 15,048 hours of their time and $7,000 to the hospital. Sixteen Student Volunteers offered 147.75 hours of their time in patient care departments and assisted with several health/wellness activities and community related events. The Shelby County Ministerial Association and members of the Chaplaincy Program provided spiritual services. Forty-six Hospice volunteers provided over 2,000 hours of assistance to hospice patients and their families.
Progressing forward
The Wilson Health Board of Trustees has approved plans to move toward the establishment of a cancer treatment center. In 2015, Wilson Health acquired 24.5 acres of land along Vandemark Road in Sidney. With easy accessibility off of I-75, the land is an ideal location for future expansion including a potential cancer treatment facility.
In 2017, Wilson Health will focus their efforts on developing plans to offer cancer care services locally. For the past 2 years, Wilson Health conducted feasibility studies and determined there is a strong need and desire to provide cancer care services in the community. The mortality rate for lung, breast and colon cancers in Shelby County far outpaces the national rates and there are 300 new cases of cancer every year in the county.
We need to address cancer in our community. Now more than ever, our independence is critical in order to continue to provide value and the ability to make local decisions that impact the health and wellness of Shelby County and surrounding areas. Community support has allowed us to be where we are today, and continued support will carry us into the future.
