Union County Hospital Authority

What it reported doing in 2024

Union general hospital (ugh) is a 501(c)(3) healthcare organization that takes a proactive approach designed to meet community health needs and meet its tax-exempt requirements. The organization is committed to providing high-quality, cost-effective health care and promoting wellness in the community through its mission statement and policies supporting same. The vision is to be the "first choice" provider of comprehensive medical services in the area. We value our patients and believe they are our most important responsibility. We shall always seek to meet the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of our patients and their families. We value our medical staff and will seek ways to help them improve professionally and facilitate the practice of medicine. We value our employees and shall treat each other with courtesy, fairness, respect, and integrity. We shall work as a team to do our best to promote our mission and fulfill our vision. We value our community and are committed to the treatment and care of our patients and promotion of wellness in our community. We will confront all ethical and moral health-related issues necessary to enhance the quality of life in our community. Ugh is the only acute care hospital in union county, Georgia. Ugh is licensed for 45 acute and intensive care medical/surgical beds for short- term inpatient care. The beds also qualify for "swing bed" status for short-term skilled nursing care. Outpatient services include radiology, laboratory and other diagnostic services, surgical and rehabilitation services, and 24/7 emergency medical services. Ugh (along with union general ambulance service, inc., a controlled tax-exempt entity) also operates the county ambulance service, one of the very few hospitals doing so in Georgia. This includes the wages and benefits for its emergency medical technicians and paramedics, medical and other supplies, acquisition and maintenance for emergency transport vehicles, and facilities for base operations. Due to the mountainous area, the twisting mountain roads attract bicyclists and motorcyclists throughout the spring, summer and fall seasons. These activities sometimes result in medical emergencies, some very serious, to which the emergency medical services of ugh must respond. Ugh provides non-emergency transport under contract with the state of Georgia to community residents who are without transportation to routine scheduled doctor and other medical appointments. Ugh provides its helipad to support air ambulance services. The union county nursing home (ucnh) is the only nursing facility in the county providing skilled and intermediate levels of long-term care. Ucnh is licensed for 150 beds and consistently has a waiting list for admissions. A majority of the residents of ucnh are medicare and medicaid beneficiaries. The organization promotes wellness in the community by sponsoring health fairs, diabetes awareness clinics, an affordable fitness center, and educational and testing opportunities for the general public. The organization provides for housing for patient's families when patients are hospitalized for an extended period of time through its glenda gooch house.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 72.4%; rating input score 72
• Program expense ratio: 83.9%; rating input score 84
• Fundraising efficiency: $824.37 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 95; 95th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
• Grant itemization coverage: Scored; rating input score 0
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 78
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 10.8%; rating input score 74; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.82; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.07; rating input score 87; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.8%; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 8.8% per year; rating input score 100; 69th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 8.5% per year; rating input score 100; 70th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 8.8% per year; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings