Saturday, August 18, 2007

Aug 15 2007

John Hanson introduced our guest and Lyman Whitehead gave us his normal very funny health and happiness. Lynn Richards gave us a Rotary Foundation update. Eddie Robinson introduced, our speaker, Thornton Kirby, the President and CEO of the South Carolina Hospital Association. Mr. Kirby attended Irmo High School. He received his undergraduate from University of Virginia and his Law Degree from the University of South Carolina. Mr. Kirby discussed the state of Healthcare in 2007. There are approximately 100 hospitals in SC of those 67 are acute care facilities and 33 specialty hospitals. The SC Hospital Association was founded in 1921 and currently has 33 employees. The member hospitals either directly or indirectly have a 10.7 Billion dollar impact on our state. The member hospitals employ directly and indirectly approximately 158,866 employees. The member hospitals pay approximately 435.1 million dollars in taxes to SC.

Currently there is a dramatic shortage of healthcare workers and the emergency rooms are overcrowded. South Carolina hospitals hire 3000 nurses per year and half of all those come from out of state.

A few questions were asked and then President Bailey dismissed our club.


Ray

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