St. Mary's Health Care System generated more than $440.2 million in revenue for the local and state economy in 2014, according to a recent report by the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA), the state’s largest hospital trade association.

The report, in which GHA analyzed the most recent information available, also found that, during the same time period, the three hospitals in St. Mary's Health Care System provided approximately $11.4 million in uncompensated care while sustaining nearly 4,400 full-time jobs throughout Northeast Georgia and the rest of the state.  

The report revealed that St. Mary's had direct expenditures of more than $192.7 million in 2014. When combined with an economic multiplier developed by the United States Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, the total economic impact of those expenditures was more than $440.2 million. 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. Economic multipliers are used to model the resulting impact of a change in one industry on the “circular flow” of spending within an economy as a whole. 

“This report highlights the enormous positive impact St. Mary's has on the economic well-being of the communities we serve," said Don McKenna, St. Mary's President and CEO. "We are driven by our mission and core values to provide compassionate, high quality care to all who need our services. Our heartfelt thanks go out to the community for their support of St. Mary's and our healing ministry. 

According to GHA:

• St. Mary's Hospital in Athens generated a total economic impact of nearly $333.8 million on $146.1 million in direct expenditures. The hospital supported 3,417 full-time jobs in the Athens area and across the state while also providing more than $6.8 million in community benefits, including charity and uncompensated care.
• St. Marys' Sacred Heart Hospital, which was Ty Cobb Regional Medical Center during the 2014 reporting year analyzed by GHA, generated a total economic impact of more than $75.7 million on $33.1 million in direct expenditures. The hospital supported 583 full-time jobs in the Franklin County area and across the state, while also providing more than $4.4 million in community benefits, including charity and uncompensated care.
• St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital in Greensboro generated a total economic impact of more than $30.7 million on $13.5 million in direct expenditures. The hospital supported nearly 400 full-time jobs in Greene County and across the state, while providing more than $1.2 million in community benefits, including charity and uncompensated care.

Statewide, GHA said Georgia hospitals in 2014 generated nearly $43.6 billion for the state’s economy, provided nearly $1.8 billion in uncompensated and charity care, and supported more than 364,800 full time jobs.