Health Facility Partners (HFP) recently received
its Women Business Enterprise certification for the State of TN. This designation assists and protects the
interests of smaller businesses, especially when bidding on state government
work or local corporate contracts. It
preserves free enterprise and fair business practices and maintains and
strengthens the economy of our nation.
They are working on their next certification, TDOT, a federal
designation and Georgia certification as well.
At HEALTH FACILITY PARTNERS (HFP), Tracey Ingram
and Mike Splawn believe it is important to give back to the communities where they
live. When HFP was formed, a decision was made once we completed our first
project, to offer a free interior building evaluation for a medical space. Both Tracey and Mike understand rural
lifestyles, both having grown up in rural communities. They located their
business in eastern Tennessee in order to serve rural healthcare providers and
communities in the region.
HPF asked the staff at GRHA to identify a member clinic
who needed a
careful evaluation of their interior space. Georgia Mountain Health
in Chatsworth, Georgia was selected. HPF's
evaluation looked at the building from the patient's perspective: how they
check in/out, the waiting area, exam rooms, how and where the staff are located,
and staff efficiency in the space where they are located.
HFP evaluates a building's interior/exterior design
in regards to operational efficiency, and prescribes a plan of action; possibly
saving significant amounts of time, money and effort. If a space is laid out well, operationally
costs are going to be lower, with patients and staff happier. Also, HFP considered emergency planning, fire
egress and safety issues. HFP is happy to
report Georgia Mountain Health is doing a great job, and they were very
impressed that GMC has implemented electronic medical records to better serve
patients and providers.
Find out more about Health Facility Partners at
www.healthfp.net and Georgia Mountain Health
at
http://gamtnhealth.org/index.php 
Honor a champion of rural healthcare by nominating them for a GRHA Award of Excellence. Recipients will be recognized during the GRHA Awards Reception on Monday evening, September 20 at Brasstown Valley Resort.
GRHA is surveying communities across the state to compile a database reflecting best practices we all can use to improve rural health. Designed with your time in mind, the components of the brief survey include who is offering the program, what the program goals are, who the program serves, why it is offered, the impact it has in the community/state, and staff contact information. 
sed by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.
Deer ticks, which feed on the blood of animals and humans, can harbor
the bacteria and spread it when feeding. 