8 Changing demographics
Part 7: County Care- Union General Hospital
By KATHLEEN McKEVITT Sentinel Writer

Rebecca (Becky) Dyer, Union General Hospital Chief Executive Officer, said, "As a native, it's hard to believe the population explosion in Union County."

How the local growth in population has affected and is likely to effect the demographics in Union county is the topic of this series of articles. It is worth noting that the growth in the last decade has, indeed, seemed like a population explosion to those who were here before Home Depot, Zaxbys, Ingles and myriad other businesses, new schools, homes, and thousands of new people.

Truth is, the "population explosion" according to the last census and latest statistics, Union County, alone, has grown by 4,300 people, some are non-residents who own homes and the rest live here, the children are in churches and schools and their cars are on the interstate and the city roads built to accommodate less than half of what the county is now experiencing, especially in the summertime. More, many more, are coming.

As to the medical population: where once, not all that long ago, there was only a small clinic, there stands now one of the most technologically-up-todate and professionally-staffed hospital.

Dyer reports that at this moment there are 75 part-and full-time physicians (some of whom are consulting physicians here 1-2 days a week).

There are new doctors: two OB/GYNs, an anesthetist, and a new family practitioner, just in the last several months, and Becky Dyer points out that you can find all of the physicians in the area listed in the front of the phone book.

What some people may not know is that the Union General Hospital is the largest employer in the county. Typically, the organization writes 508 paychecks, and that doesn't include the Hiawassee hospital personnel.

At present, 45 percent of those who use the Hospital services are on Medicare; 15-20 percent are covered by the State of Georgia and Medicaid, 10 percent are non-pay, and the rest are insurance.

More and more, according to Dyer, the hospital is admitting an aging population, of 65 and older. Partly for this reason the EMS part of the hospital services has added an additional truck, so now there are two full time trucks, and one half day truck in operation. According to David Dyer - EMS Director, most of the calls are older people needing nursing home, recovery or emergency care.

The EMS services realized a 10 percent increase in 2003- 2004, and a 15 percent increase in 2002-2003, and a continuing smaller increase in the last two years between 20-25 percent in the last four years. Dyer says that there is always a "huge increase" in call volume during the summertime, and with more motorcycle wrecks, and more people coming into the area, call volumes are a concern considering that "getting through the city is more of a challenge all the time."

Asked what would happen if the population increased from the foreseen 4-5 percent to 6 or 7 percent, she said, "then if the patient populating goes over 70 percent for at least one year, we will go to the state regulatory office and ask for additional beds which would be made possible by adding another floor to the existing facility.

"Insurance companies are going more and more to outpatient care, and 23-hour observation care which can be done in the Nursing Home (also owned by the Union General Hospital). Dyer says, "We are part of a growing geriatric business, and this is also bringing in more physicians who deal with geriatric care. Other doctors are coming because it's a great place to raise a family. We're a great institution with a great staff ready to serve the community."