1. Healthmatters

10 Years of the Gill Affiliate Network: Georgetown Community Hospital

UK HealthCare
Employees of Georgetown Community Hospital gathered for a photo celebrating heart health.

The Gill Heart & Vascular Institute Affiliate Network launched in 2014 to better connect community hospitals across the Commonwealth with the expertise and resources available at UK HealthCare. Throughout 2024, UK HealthCare is highlighting achievements by the 23 members of the Gill Affiliate Network as part of the network’s 10th anniversary celebration.

Georgetown Community Hospital became the third Gill Affiliate Network member on Sept. 1, 2014. An acute care hospital with 75 beds, it serves thousands in Central Kentucky.

What are key aspects of your cardiovascular program that people should know about?

In 2023, we received multiple re-accreditations and re-certifications that indicate the level of professionalism and attention to detail for which we strive when caring for heart patients:

  • Chest Pain by the American College of Cardiology (ACC)
  • Stroke  by the American Heart Association (AHA)
  • Cardiac Rehabilitation by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR)

We recently welcomed an additional full-time cardiologist, Dr. Mahmoud Abulalayem. Our hospital is also partnering with Georgetown/Scott County EMS to work toward gaining cardiovascular “Partners in Care” certification from the ACC . We are also aiming for AHA re-certification in Heart Failure.

Staff of Georgetown Community Hospital pose for a photo following a CPR event.

Since 2014, Dr. Joe Thomas has provided cardiology support for the Georgetown community through a professional services agreement with the Gill Heart & Vascular Institute. This means that you have a UK physician embedded in your hospital and community full time. What  has been the impact of this collaboration?

Dr. Thomas is a tremendous asset to Georgetown Community Hospital and Scott County. The ability for patients to receive cardiovascular care close to home is highly valued. Dr. Thomas is very active in providing community education geared toward improving cardiovascular health. Through his relationship with Gill, Dr. Thomas has immediate access to state-of-the-art research and helps us more easily interface with UK HealthCare when patients require more advanced care. 

Without Dr. Thomas’ daily presence and multi-faceted leadership, we would be much more limited in the services we could offer our patients.

"Our providers have the option to easily access and transfer patients who require advanced cardiac care seamlessly to UK Chandler Hospital," Dr. Thomas said. "And once they are discharged, these patients receive close follow-up, locally within their community in close collaboration with the team at the Gill Affiliate Network."

How has being part of the Gill Affiliate Network influenced how you are able to care for your community?

Our providers have confidence that when a patient requires more advanced care or needs resources we don’t have, the network  will go above and beyond to deliver. They are equally confident they’ll receive reciprocal collaboration when that patient returns to them, so they can stay close to home for follow-up care and know they’re receiving the best possible treatment.
 
“Improvement of clinical care and quality is foundational and a non-negotiable goal of our cardiovascular program, and our relationship with the Gill Affiliate Network is a signal to our patients and providers that we will never lose sight of that.” — Cliff A. Wilson, III, CEO of Georgetown Community Hospital and Market President for Lifepoint Health in Central Kentucky
 
Employees of Georgetown Community Hospital pose for a photo with their hands shaped into hearts.
This content was produced by UK HealthCare Brand Strategy.

Topics in this Story

    Heart Health