2021 started with a “shot of hope” as COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as boosters, were made available to our community and staff. Even so, our organization continued to face new COVID-19 challenges throughout the year as new variants of the disease emerged.
Our more than 18,000 Norton Healthcare Heroes have continued to show what courage looks like. Throughout the pandemic, they set us apart as a health care system people can rely on and look to for guidance during uncertain times. Through the expansion of our hospital campuses to the opening of new facilities, from increased services and innovative care options to new community partnerships, our team members provided thoughtful leadership, care and guidance.
Our Norton Healthcare family truly is why more people look for the “N” over any other health care system in our market. On behalf of the board of trustees and our senior leadership team, we want to thank our employees for their tireless efforts in offering compassion and creating great human interactions while providing high-quality, safe care for our community. These past few years have not been easy, and we know it has taken a toll on so many. However, their commitment through it all has allowed us to remain steadfast in our pursuit of innovation and healing.
We invite you to review this edition of the Report to Our Community with that same feeling of hope from the beginning of 2021. Our team has proven we can weather whatever comes our way — even a global pandemic — together. As you scroll through the report, know that our honors and achievements have even greater significance because they were accomplished while overcoming the continued challenges of COVID-19 for a second year.
2021 was a year we will remember for the resiliency and support of our staff. 2022 is a year we are proud of as we extend the commitment of health access to our community with the announcement of building our new Norton West Louisville Hospital. We invite you to stay tuned for additional updates on this great project as well as the many more initiatives and achievements to come.
Stay Safe. Keep the Faith.®
Russell F. Cox
President
Chief Executive Officer
Michael W. Gough
Executive Vice President
Chief Operating Officer
HIGHLIGHTS
Vaccines provide a shot of hope
Norton Healthcare began administering COVID-19 vaccinations to our front-line staff in December 2020. By mid-January 2021, all Norton Healthcare employees qualified for the COVID-19 vaccination under the commonwealth of Kentucky’s Tier 1a guidelines. Throughout the year, Norton Healthcare stayed steady on rolling out vaccinations to our community, partnering with other organizations, faith communities and health care systems to provide a shot of hope.
In June 2021, Norton Children’s Research Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, announced it would participate in a phase 2/3 clinical trial of the Pfizer COVID-19 investigational vaccine for healthy children ages 6 months to 11 years. It is one of 100 participating sites around the world and the only site in Louisville offering the trial. The study evaluates safety, tolerability and immune response in this age group.
Institute for Health Equity opens
Norton Healthcare celebrated the grand opening of the Institute for Health Equity, a Part of Norton Healthcare, at The Village @ West Jefferson in late November 2021. The institute’s opening fulfilled one of Norton Healthcare’s five imperatives announced in 2020 to address internally the health and racial inequities in the communities we serve. The institute is focused on:
- Investing in access to primary care for everyone
- Providing health prevention and wellness outreach and resources
- Offering support for chronic diseases
- Expanding resources for mental health and substance abuse
- Empowering individuals to make health decisions
- Engaging with our community and faith partners to eliminate barriers to health care and life-enhancing services
Expanding innovation and access
Norton Healthcare continues to make investments to not only grow, but also enhance its services to our community through new construction and innovative services.
In May 2021, Norton Healthcare opened the newly renovated CPA Lab located on Breckenridge Lane. This 46,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility consolidates clinical and anatomical pathology services from throughout the organization under one roof. The facility was designed with future growth in mind, as laboratory testing volume has increased by 100% in the past five years.
In June 2021, a new Norton Neuroscience Institute facility opened on the Norton Brownsboro Hospital campus, providing comprehensive, multidisciplinary neuroscience services with leading-edge technologies and enhanced research and outreach efforts. Norton Neuroscience Institute – Brownsboro comprises more than 48,000 square feet and supports patients with many types of neurological conditions, including brain, spinal and nervous system tumors; stroke; epilepsy; migraine and headache; dementia; and memory disorders. It also is home to Norton Neuroscience Institute Cressman Parkinson’s & Movement Disorders Center and Norton Neuroscience Institute Cressman Neurological Rehabilitation.
In December 2021, Norton Community Medical Associates – La Clínica Preston, Norton Healthcare’s first 100% bilingual practice, opened in the Okolona area of Louisville. The staff and providers all speak English and Spanish and understand the unique concerns of Louisville’s Latinx community and families.
COMMUNITY BENEFIT
Our community also benefited from the support of our two foundations
The Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation and Norton Healthcare Foundation raised $24.5 million in support of care at Norton Children’s Hospital and its sister facilities and Norton Healthcare’s adult-service facilities in 2021.
Grants totaling more than $15.2 million were invested in our facilities to improve access to care and spur innovation in services. The grants supported a wide range of initiatives to expand our workforce, enhance facilities, establish new programs and provide state-of-the-art facilities.
- A virtual reality balance assessment system, driving simulator, robotic-assisted therapy and more at Norton Neuroscience Institute – Brownsboro, a new facility in northeastern Louisville
- Three Biotronik Zero-Gravity units purchased for Norton Brownsboro Hospital
- Upgrades and equipment for Norton Heart & Vascular Institute
- Renovation and modernization of one of our mobile units to establish Norton Prevention & Wellness Mobile Primary Care, a medical facility on wheels
- Expressive therapists for the Norton Cancer Institute Pat Harrison Resource Center
- Fellowship director for Norton Leatherman Spine
- The Heel, Dog, Heal facility dog program across our facilities, including 11 trained dogs and their handlers
- Purchase of the Philips EPIQ Elite Diagnostic Breast Ultrasound System
- Operational funding for the Norton Children’s Prevention & Wellness team, including Safety City and No Kid Hungry, as well as additional education and outreach
- Clinical research nurse at Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine
- “Just for Kids” Transport Team ambulance
- Research and workforce in the development of CAR T-cell therapy for high-risk childhood cancers
- Pediatric endocrinology fellowship, child life specialist and community health worker for the Wendy Novak Diabetes Center
- Developing food pantries throughout the community
- Giraffe Warmers for the neonatal intensive care unit at Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) training simulators in the Jennifer Lawrence Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
To learn more about how you can help, visit HelpNortonChildrens.com and NortonHealthcareFoundation.com or call (502) 629-8060.
Download a PDF of Norton Healthcare’s Community Benefit for 2021.
MILESTONES, HONORS AND OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Norton Healthcare was named the Top Workplace in the large business category (over 500 employees) for the Louisville region by the Courier-Journal as part of a national survey conducted by Energage, an independent research company. Russell F. Cox, president and CEO, was recognized for leadership in the large business category.
Norton Women’s Care, with childbirth services at Norton Hospital and Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital, was recognized as High Performing in Adult Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy) by U.S. News & World Report. This was U.S. News & World Report’s first time publishing a list of Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.
MISSION
Norton Healthcare’s purpose is to provide quality health care to all those we serve, in a manner that responds to the needs of our communities and honors our faith heritage.
VISION
We will be the region’s most comprehensive, strongest and preferred health care organization, setting the standard for quality and caring.
VALUES
At Norton Healthcare, we will:
- Respect every person
- Set the standard for quality and caring
- Continually improve care and service
- Demonstrate stewardship of resources
- Accept accountability for results
- Succeed with integrity
FAITH HISTORY
Norton Healthcare’s faith history includes its founding organizations and other faith communities: the Episcopal Church, United Methodist Church, United Church of Christ, Presbyterian Church and Roman Catholic Church.