1. 68 We Are Clayton Magazine • www.weareclayton.com • FEB 2012 | MAR 2012 FEB 2012 | MAR 2012 • HEALTH ISSUE 69
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, healthcare and social
assistance fields are the fifth largest economic sector in
Clayton County. More than 7,200 people are employed in
this sector, with a total payroll in 2009 (2010 estimates are
due out shortly) of nearly $314 million.
From Southern Regional Medical Center in Riverdale, to the
Kaiser Permanente Southwood Medical Center in Jonesboro,
to Children’s Healthcare in Morrow, we are truly blessed to
have quick and ready access to world-class healthcare. Pockets
ofmedicalofficesarealsodottedthroughoutClaytonCounty,
with larger concentrations in Riverdale, Morrow, Forest Park
and Jonesboro.
Higher education is also taking advantage of our medical
concentration. Clayton State University attracts students
from around the globe to its graduate nursing and dental
hygiene programs. Special partnerships with our public
schools and Southern Regional ensure a steady pipeline of
students and work-study opportunities.
Southern Regional Medical Center
At the core of healthcare in Clayton County is Southern
Regional Medical Center, with its main Riverdale campus,
and new outpatient surgery center in Jonesboro. Southern
Regional is known for, among other things, its nationally
accredited chest pain center, an advanced primary stroke
center, and the Women’s Life Center, whose staff have
delivered a staggering 44,105 babies over the past ten years!
Celebrating 40 years of caring for the community, Southern
Regional is the third largest employer in Clayton County
with nearly 1,700 employees. Using a conservative economic
impact multiplier of 2, these 1,700 jobs help support an
additional 3,400 jobs in our region. The 2011 annual payroll
is in excess of $110 million! These salaries are typically
circulated several times through the local economy as well.
Southern Regional also provides a tremendous amount of
indigent care…nearly $80 million in free healthcare in 2011.
District 4 County Commissioner Michael Edmondson,
who represents the Jonesboro/Lake Spivey area, adds “the
recent addition of the Spivey Station outpatient surgical
center on Hwy 138 near Lake Spivey is a great example of the
type of economic growth in the life sciences and healthcare
fields we have seen in Clayton County over the past several
years, despite a challenging national economy.”
More Than Just Medicine…Movies!
Clayton County is economically benefiting in more than
one way from our medical amenities. In the past year alone,
Southern Regional has been the site of filming for three major
motion pictures. Most recently, Cameron Diaz and Matthew
Morrison were in Clayton County shooting several scenes for
the upcoming movie “What to Expect.” Scores of extras were
hired to supplement the primary casts, and local services were
used. Be sure to look for your hometown hospital on the big
screen next year!
Shop Locally for Your Medical Care
While we have become accustomed to relying on excellent,
close-by care, it is likewise incumbent upon us to support
our hospital and our entire medical community. The “shop
local” movement extends beyond traditional retail. Choosing
to have your healthcare needs managed in your local
community is a must if we want to continue to have access
to such incredible care. Together, we can ensure that future
generations of Clayton County residents enjoy the benefits
of one of the state’s finest medical and healthcare networks.
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF
HEALTHCARE IN CLAYTON COUNTY
by GRANT WAINSCOTT,
Clayton County Director of Economic Development
In this edition of We Are Clayton, we continue to look at
the major economic drivers for the county, focusing on the
community and economic impact of one of our largest sectors –
healthcare. It is vitally important as a region to have an adequate
supply of medical facilities. As our population continues to age,
communities across the country are struggling to provide access
to quality healthcare. In fact, access to healthcare has become
so important, that when companies are looking to locate or
expand, they often take into account the types and accessibility of
healthcare available to their employees. Fortunately, in Clayton
County, we are blessed with an abundance of primary and
secondary medical facilities, doctors, clinics, specialists and social
assistance agencies.
Michael Hightower, Atlanta native
and former Fulton County Com-
missioner, continues to broaden his
footprint in Atlanta and beyond. As
founder and managing partner of The
Collaborative Firm LLC, Hightower
and his diverse team of planning, engi-
neering and public involvement profes-
sionals have partnered with nearly ev-
ery county in the Metro Atlanta region,
to provide premier urban planning,
architecture support, program manage-
ment, public involvement, and develop-
ment services.
The Firm’s private-public partnerships
have improved the quality of public
service and impacted the economic
growth of countless municipalities, in-
cluding Clayton County. Instrumental
in improving over-all development,
The Firm successfully protected desig-
nated rural areas, simultaneously, and
was chosen to lead the update to the
Clayton County Zoning Ordinance.
In addition, The Firm coordinated with
County officials and citizens to estab-
lish six new overlay districts along the
Highway 138, Highway 42, Highway
54, and Tara Boulevard Corridors, as
well as in the Cherry Hills and Panhan-
dle areas. The Firm is currently creating
design guidelines for the new overlay
districts in an effort to encourage rede-
velopment in the area.
The partnership also provides support
to the Clayton County Housing and
Community Development Program in
its administration of its Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG),
HOME, and Neighborhood Stabiliza-
tion Programs. The Firm is currently
working to adopt a CDBG Capital
Improvement Program, which will
result in infrastructure improvements
throughout Clayton County.
Boasting an extensive list of govern-
mental and public and private sector
clients, The Collaborative Firm advo-
cates strong policy and initiatives that
will have a positive and lasting impact
on the county and beyond. The Firm is
committed to fostering growth in the
South Metro area and established the
South Metro Development Outlook,
an annual event that brings together
planning, development, finance and
real estate and local government profes-
sionals to discuss the often-overlooked
South Metro counties of Atlanta:
Clayton, Coweta, Douglas, Fayette,
Henry and South Fulton. South Metro
Outlook is the only event of its kind
held in the South Metro Region, and
has grown to welcome more than 500
attendees per year.
Recently, the firm celebrated 10 years
of service in the Metro Atlanta region,
with plans for further expansion on a
local, regional and global scale.
Save The Date
Tuesday,February 15, 2011
7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Georgia International Convention Center
College Park, Georgia
The Collaborative Firm
Paving a Path of Infrastructure in Clayton County
By Michelle Henson, The Collaborative Firm
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