The founder of the nation’s largest human resource company for small and medium businesses has made a $50 million investment in the Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia (WCHOG).
The investment by Tom Golisano, founder of Paychex, brings WCHOG into a national consortium of children’s hospitals.
“Children’s hospitals are essential to the health and future of our communities, and each one serves families with unique needs and challenges,” said Golisano in the news release announcing the investment. “The team at Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia has a deep commitment to advancing pediatric care, expanding access, and investing in innovation.”
Doctor Valera Hudson told ABD that WCHOG has become the 12th member of the Golisano Children’s Alliance. Each of the hospitals remains independent as part of their individual health system.
“What the vision for Mr. Golisano is that by connecting and by creating a network of children’s hospitals throughout the country, across states, that we will be able to have collaboration across those hospitals and be able to accelerate improving health care for children,” she explained. “This is not a business partnership. This is a network of children’s hospitals to promote communication and sharing of best practices and innovations in providing health care for children.”
Hudson was part of the group working with Golisano, developing the plan. Still, she said, when the final decision was announced, the team sat in stunned silence.
“Mr. Golisano has the heart of a pediatrician. He has a long legacy of caring and investing in a wide variety of areas that impact the health and wellbeing of children and establishing the Golisano Children’s Alliance is just a next iterative step in his desire to make an impact on the health care that’s provided for children and ultimately, the thriving and wellbeing of children in our across our Country,” she said.
One advantage of the investment is that it will accelerate the expansion of programs and buildings that are already being planned. The result will be the ability to move more quickly to provide care at WCHOG.
“Thanks to the power of philanthropy, we can expand the lasting impact of compassionate, innovative care to more children and families across Georgia and far beyond, today and for generations to come,” Ketul Patel, president and CEO of Wellstar Health System, was quoted in the news release.
While the financial boost will accelerate advances in treatment and facilities, it will also be felt in the department that directly touches the hearts of the patients and their families, in addition to their health.
Hudson said the Child Life program, which provides WCHOG’s therapy dogs and helps patients just be children, will benefit.
“One of many factors that distinguishes a children’s hospital is that intentionality around supporting children, supporting families through what is always a very stressful time if you’re in a hospital environment,” said Hudson. “We’re very mindful and intentional as we are growing and adding different services and programs that we are expanding Child Life Support and facility dogs as well.”
There will ultimately be an outward sign of WCHOG’s membership in the Golisano Children’s Alliance when a new sign is erected on the building.
WCHOG is the only member hospital in all of Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The other members are Arkansas Children’s in Little Rock, Arkansas, the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Buffalo (NY), the Golisano Children’s Hospital in Fort Myers, Fla., Penn State Health Children’s Hospital in Hershey, Pa., the University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital in Lexington, Ky., and the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital in Baltimore, Md.
