Ten  at the Top (TATT), hosted the second Our Upstate Vision Forum of 2015 on June 2nd on the widely popular topic of Healthcare and how as time goes on, the picture of what healthcare looks like and how patients are treated continues to develop.

Keynote speaker, Thronton Kirby, President & CEO of the South Carolina Hospital Association clearly laid out the healthcare system and how we can continue to adapt and change.

We have to know where we have been in order to know where we are going. Kirby provided a brief history of how the healthcare system was formed following the Second World War. 

Along with discussing the differences between healthcare in the United States versus other nations, Kirby mentioned the three things that Americans want from their healthcare system:

1. American's want the best care in the world
2. American's want someone else to pay for it
3. American's do not want to have to change their behavior

Because of these three desires and other factors the healthcare system in America has structural flaws like affordability, access, reliability, and behavior and rural health challenges. Fundamentally, there are struggles but South Carolina is making strides to change the trends of healthcare. The quality of patient care is the highest priority, SC has gone from 46th to 42nd in the health status and continues to advance, and our hospitals and physicians are focusing more on keeping patients healthy. 

With change comes feelings of uncertainty but why should we be optimistic about the future of healthcare? Kirby reminded us that the leaders of South Carolina are focused on driving healthcare forward to be better and the current generation is jumping at the opportunity to reshape the system and provide better care. The most exciting way, collaboration. Hospitals, physicians and many other partners are working together to increase services and provide quality care.
 

In addition to Thronton Kirby, two expert panels including physicians form many of the Upstate's leading hospital systems, medical technology innovators, and researchers came together to discuss the care process and innovation.

The first panel, moderated by Jim Shew from BlueCross BlueShield of SC discussed the improvement of medical care and the recent advances in the process of treating patients. The second panel, moderated by Angel Rodriguez from Genesis Surgical Solutions - a company in the Upstate devoted to innovation of technology, discussed many advances in medical sciences from technology to genetics research.

If you missed the forum, check out the video recap to the left and then visit our YouTube Channel to stream the whole discussion.

Ten  at the Top (TATT), through a funding commitment from Phil Hughes and Hughes Investments Inc., is now accepting applications for the 2015 Hughes Investments ELEVATE UPSTATE (EU) Community Vibrancy Grants. 

The purpose of the ELEVATE UPSTATE Grants is to identify and provide initial funding support for community based programs that promote community and economic vibrancy in local areas across the Upstate. 

The initiative started in 2013 and annually awards two grants of up to $5,000 each to entities including neighborhood associations, civic or community based organizations, non-profit organizations or local governments that are committed to developing and implementing programs designed to increase local vibrancy in communities within the Upstate.

The 2015 Application is available now. Interest forms due by August 1st and completed applications due September 15th

This year, Habitat Greenville is celebrating its 30th anniversary.  As part of the celebration, construction of our 330th home will begin on June 25.  The ministry's mission statement sums up its goal:  Putting God's love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Habitat's fundamental belief is that affordable homeownership is foundational for creating family stability, ensuring academic success for children and eliminating generational poverty. 

The zero-interest home mortgages provided by Habitat, along with volunteer-based home construction, enable families with low income to attain homeownership.  The Habitat model provides an opportunity for people to help themselves and has been designed to ensure successful outcomes.  As they pay their mortgage, each family develops equity in their home. This helps to change their financial trajectory, breaks the generational cycle of poverty, and creates more secure families and responsible citizens. 

What began as a grassroots organization has become one of the largest non-profit organizations in Greenville.  Habitat supporters - donors and volunteers - continue to be the backbone of the organization. 2014 saw 2,060 volunteers contribute 22,146 hours to build Habitat homes, including hundreds of companies, organizations, churches and individuals in Greenville County. The work of Habitat Greenville was recognized with the 2015 Nonprofit Excellence Award, given by the SC Association of Nonprofit Organizations (SCANPO). The award recognizes Habitat Greenville for exemplary governance and management and excellence in implementation of SCANPO's Guiding Principles and Best Practices. In addition, Habitat also received the 2015 Max Heller Neighborhood Improvement Award at the annual meeting of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce.

Habitat Greenville will continue the celebration of its 30th anniversary and showcase its accomplishments at its 3rd Annual "No Place like Home- a Ruby Slipper Event" on Monday, September 14, at TD Convention Center.  The evening will include a silent auction, seated dinner and entertainment by the Phillis Wheatley Repertory Theatre as well as a guest appearance by the Edwin McCain Acoustic Trio.  Individual tickets are $75.  A table for ten is $500, and sponsorship is available.  For complete information, visit habitatgreenville.org or call 864-370-1458.