2018 Annual Report

The GBMC HealthCare System is designed to meet the needs of the people in our community. When we see a need, we change to meet that need. As an example, in April 2018, when a local community hospital closed its pediatric department and child abuse assistance program without warning, GBMC stepped into the breach. Laura Clary, RN, FNE-A/P, SANE-A, CPEN, Clinical Program Manager for GBMC’s Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) and Domestic Violence (DV) programs, took immediate action: ensuring two forensic nurses from her team were on call always – including one certified to treat pediatric cases; increasing community education, including with EMS services to ensure they knew where to take patients in an emergency; and accelerating our timeline on formalizing a child protection program.

None of these changes were part of our annual strategic plan. We didn’t have these increased costs factored into our budget. But we immediately assumed the added costs because the children in our community had a need. We provide care to our community not based on profitability, but based on need. 

This year, we built a new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to improve care for our tiniest patients and their families and we built a new Kroh Center for Gastroenterology to improve care for those undergoing procedures. We also added behavioral therapists and addiction specialists at our advanced primary care offices, removing barriers to treating the whole patient – mentally and physically. GBMC’s commitment to redesigning the system of care for our community is based on a promise that we will treat everyone the way we want our own loved ones treated. Often, this is not easy, but it is the right thing to do. 

 

This fall, GBMC received an ‘A’ in the Leapfrog Group’s Hospital Safety Grades, a measure of how well hospitals protect patients from errors, injuries and infections. The Leapfrog Group rates more than 2,600 hospitals across the nation, including 40 in Maryland. GBMC was one of only 8 Maryland hospitals to achieve the ‘A’ rating. 

We did not achieve this by wishing and hoping. It was only through intentionally driving toward our vision every day and creating systems and partnerships that made it happen. In these pages are the people who make our work possible and we are proud to have you among them. The design of this year’s report features characters from animation videos we released talking about our work together. Please visit the GBMC website or social media channels to view them and learn about how you impacted care and helped your neighbors. 

Loyal supporters like you are the reason we can do this. Your partnership in philanthropy is essential. Thank you for thinking of your community and helping GBMC achieve our vision.