Hospital earns S.C. Governor’s Quality Award
November 24, 2010
Self Regional Healthcare has received the state’s highest award for quality, earning the South Carolina Governor’s Quality Award.
The award recognizes organizations for their progress toward achieving the standards for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which is the only formal recognition of performance excellence given by the President of the United States to both public and private organizations. It recognizes performance excellence in the business, healthcare, education and nonprofit sectors.
Jim Pfeffier, President and CEO of Self Regional, said earning the South Carolina Governor’s Award substantiates the claim that patients come first at the Greenwood medical center.
“Five years ago, Self Regional made the commitment to take the level of care we deliver to our patients to the next level,” he said. “This journey to excellence has been both exciting and rewarding, and we consider our organization earning the Governor’s Quality Award to be a monumental achievement.”
“Self Regional’s quest for quality has helped lead to success in numerous other areas for our medical center, including global recognition by the Gallup Organization as one of the world’s top workplaces,” Pfeiffer added. “It is important to note the real winners in this are our patients, for quality and safety are especially important when it comes to addressing the health needs of others. Winning this Governor’s Quality Award would not have happened without the commitment and hard work of our 2,300 team members, physicians and volunteers. I applaud each of them for their efforts.”
The award is presented under the auspices of the South Carolina Quality Forum, an affiliate of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. The forum was organized in 1991 to recognize and encourage improvements in quality and productivity by organizations across the state.
“I am elated to learn of Self Regional Healthcare winning the South Carolina Governor’s Quality Award,” said Sen. Floyd Nicholson (D-Greenwood). “I think this speaks very highly of the quality of healthcare Self Regional provides here not only for our community, but also for the surrounding area. It is a milestone and something in which our entire area can take pride. Healthcare is one of the top issues not just in our community, but also in our nation and the world. This goes to show how important it is that Self Regional recognizes the importance of good, quality healthcare.”
The award also reflects the strong financial performance of Self Regional, which recently saw its long-term rating and underlying rating improve from “A” to “A+” under Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services. The rating applies to Greenwood County’s $157.6 million series 2009, 2004A, 2004B, 2001 and 1998A bonds, all issued for Self Regional Healthcare.
The strong financial ratings reflect Self Regional’s dominant market share, overall balance strength and solid financial results for the 2010 fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. Hospital management has successfully positioned Self Regional as a regional referral center in recent years and also completed several major capital projects that have lowered the average age of the hospital plant.
Specifics that helped lead to the improved financial ratings include:
* Solid pro forma cash flow coverage of maximum annual debt service (MADS) of more than six times
* Favorable liquidity metrics of 285 days’ cash on hand and 1.6 times unrestricted cash and investments to long-term debt
* A solid market share of more than 90 percent in Greenwood County and 43 percent in the primary seven-county service area
* A solid reputation for clinical achievement and quality, as well as a capable and experienced management team
* Capital investments which give the hospital plant a relatively young average age, equal to just over nine years
A delegation of Self Regional team members accepted the award at the South Carolina Quality Forum’s annual conference held recently in Columbia. Over the previous three years, the hospital also earned the Quality Forum’s Silver Award twice and the Explorer Award once.
Jatco CEO is honored for bringing jobs to Greenwood
November 24, 2010
by Chris Trainor/ Index Journal
Local economic development firm Partnership Alliance works each year to recruit new industries to Greenwood County and help support the industries that are already here.
On Thursday, Partnership’s staff and board of directors took time to honor one of the newest industries to announce its intent to do business in Greenwood.
Partnership board chairman Jim Pfeiffer presented Jatco Inc. CEO Paul Appelblom a certificate of appreciation during Thursday night’s board meeting. It was announced earlier this year that Jatco, a leader in plastic molding and manufacturing, would be opening a facility in Greenwood.
Appelblom said Jatco has been renovating the building at 210 Bond Avenue and the business is set to be up and running in early 2011. Jatco, which is a supplier to Velux, is making a $2 million investment in the property and will bring nearly 40 new jobs to the area.
Partnership CEO Mark Warner lauded Appelblom and Jatco, not only for bringing new jobs to the community, but for refurbishing and making an investment in the long ignored building on Bond Avenue.
“It is creating a good number of jobs and it’s a good investment,” Warner said. “I think the story about the building that Paul purchased and what he’s done with it is a big part of the story.”
Appelblom, who is from California, said he has been very pleased with the business-friendly environment in South Carolina.
“Coming to South Carolina and dealing with the Department of Commerce here is like a breath of fresh air,” Appelblom said. “You just can’t believe how anti-business California is.”
Appelblom said he is ready to get rolling in Greenwood.
“We look at this as a wonderful opportunity,” he said. “We are custom molders. There are many companies out there that use plastic parts, but most of them don’t use enough of them to have their own molding business. So, we support those companies. We design for it. We mold parts, we assemble parts, we package parts, we ship parts for them. We’re looking to expand on those possibilities here on the eastern seaboard.”
Greenwood Genetic Center receives NIH grant
November 18, 2010
The Greenwood Genetic Center recently received a grant from the National Institutes of Health that will enable its researchers to continue studies into the causes of intellectual disabilities.
The grant totals $2.17 million in funds over the next five years, and is provided by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of NIH.
This award is the second renewal of the project that began in 2000 under the direction of Anand Srivastava, associate director of the Center for Molecular Studies of the J.C. Self Research Institute of Human Genetics at Greenwood Genetic Center. Srivastava’s study focuses on identifying genes that cause intellectual disability.
Collaborating on the project is Peter Penzes, a neurophysiologist from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
Intellectual disability, previously known as mental retardation, affects approximately 2% of the population. A specific cause can be found in only about half of patients. Undiscovered alterations affecting the genes are believed to be important in many of the remaining patients.
“While we have a better understanding of how alterations on the X chromosome lead to intellectual disability in males, changes in genes on other chromosomes, or autosomes, which affect both males and females, are thought to be far more prevalent,“ said Roger Stevenson, MD, director of the Greenwood Genetic Center. “To date, however, very few autosomal ID genes have been identified.”
Through work funded by the grant, Srivastava hopes to identify more of these genes to better understand their role in brain development and cognitive and behavioral functions, improve diagnosis and ultimately develop strategies for preventive and curative therapies.
“This grant will allow us to continue making progress towards understanding the molecular basis of intellectual and behavioral disabilities for those in whom the cause has yet to be identified,” Srivastava said. “The discovery of genes involved in intellectual disability will provide immediate benefits for patients and their families through improved diagnoses and risk counseling and is an essential first step toward developing treatments and cures.”
The Greenwood Genetic Center, founded in 1974, is a nonprofit organization advancing the field of medical genetics and caring for families impacted by genetic disease and birth defects.
Ascend to expand in Greenwood County
November 18, 2010
Ascend Performance Materials will expand its Greenwood County operations, investing $3.25 million and generating up to 32 jobs over three years, the S.C. Department of Commerce, Greenwood County and the Upstate S.C. Alliance announced today.
“Our Greenwood facility plays an important role in our company’s production of nylon fiber, and this expansion will help us grow our market share. Greenwood County provides us with an excellent business environment and strong workforce,” said Larry Hammond, plant manager for Ascend Performance Materials.
Ascend Performance Materials’ Greenwood plant produces nylon industrial fiber used in applications such as airbags, tire cord and military products. The company will expand the operations with additional capacity to accommodate market demand. The company expects to have the expansion completed by March.
Job seekers can check the company’s website. Jobs will be posted as they become available.
Ascend produces nylon, plastics and synthetic fibers found in thousands of commercial and industrial products, including carpet, tires and apparel, as well as agricultural products, animal feed and personal care products. The business has integrated manufacturing facilities that enable it to develop new products from its core technologies, and provides flexibility to respond to the expanding needs of its customers.
Robbie Templeton, chairman of Greenwood County Council and board member of Greenwood Partnership Alliance, acknowledged the partnership that helped make the announcement possible, including Greenwood County Council, Greenwood Partnership Alliance, Duke Energy, Advance SC and the Commerce department.
“Today’s announcement that Ascend Performance Materials will expand and create 32 new jobs in Greenwood County is another sign that efforts to focus on the business fundamentals such as keeping taxes and regulatory burdens low are working to attract new investment. This announcement is also a reminder that manufacturing continues to play a critical role in our state’s economy and growth in this sector and the advanced materials sector are a positive reflection of our state’s skilled workforce and an indication of future opportunities,” said Joe Taylor, secretary of Commerce.
