GE Foundation Gives $350,000 Grant to Southside Medical Center

The GE Foundation, through its Developing Health program, announced a $350,000 grant to the Southside Medical Center of Atlanta on March 28 to increase access to quality healthcare to the greater Atlanta community. In addition to the grant, SMC will receive skill-based support from GE employee volunteers. This is the second round of grants the GE Foundation has awarded SMC in the last two years and marks the two year milestone of their partnership.

Developing Health funds matched with the expertise of local GE teams brings operational improvements and improved clinical care to underserved communities through partnerships with nonprofit community health centers. These health centers often are the only available means of access to primary and preventive care for millions of uninsured and underinsured Americans across the country.

“We are delighted to provide this additional grant and extend our volunteering partnership for another three years for the benefit our greater Atlanta metro neighborhoods," Denise Cullinan, a marketing vice president at GE Capital, said in a statement.

Last year, GE Volunteers provided support for the SMC portfolio project. To date, more than 100,000 medical records have been digitized involving over 200 GE volunteers. The project reduces defects, minimizes the duplication of information, and streamlines the workflow.

“We are committed to being a leader in organizing, providing and supporting affordable health care to the public and with GE’s continued support, we are delivering on our vision and core values of compassion, accountability, respect, excellence and service,” David M. Williams, SMC's chief executive said in a statement.

“In addition, we are delighted to name GE as our Collaborative Community Partner of 2012.”

Previous GE Foundation grant funding has been utilized to launch the health center’s Obstetrics Prenatal Care Program, expand the Family Dentistry program and the Diabetes Clinic.