Tanner Urgent Care for Kids, the region’s only urgent care clinic created exclusively for children, has received a certification in pediatric urgent care from the Commission on Ambulatory and Urgent Care Quality (CAUCQ).

This national recognition represents the facility’s completion of a rigorous application process to validate its scope of service and demonstrates Tanner Health’s continued commitment to safety, quality and continuous improvement.

“Being certified by CAUCQ is a tremendous honor,” said Steven Eubanks, MD, medical director for Tanner Urgent Care for Kids and a board-certified pediatrician with Tanner Healthcare for Children. “The application process involves both the capabilities of the facility and the competencies of the staff, and every member of the Tanner Urgent Care for Kids team should be proud of what they’ve accomplished.”

Created in 2025 as an affiliate of the Urgent Care Association (UCA), CAUCQ establishes standards for quality care and patient safety across the country. Together with similar organizations, including the Urgent Care Foundation and the College of Urgent Care Medicine, CAUCQ works to continually improve and showcase the exceptional work of urgent care organizations.

To qualify for CAUCQ certification or accreditation, a healthcare facility must meet specific criteria according to its specialty. For urgent care, baseline standards include having a MD, DO, NP or PA onsite during all posted hours, completing various laboratory services and testing, offering X-rays and electrocardiograms (EKGs) onsite, administering a variety of medications and immunizations and performing minor procedures like sutures and splinting.

After applying for certification, the practice must submit supporting documentation to prove that it complies with each of the criteria for its scope of service. The documentation is then reviewed by the CAUCQ team, which can take up to 60 days. If granted, the certification is valid for three years.

“Receiving this certification means a lot to our team,” said Brooke Lewis, CPNP-PC, a pediatric nurse practitioner at Tanner Urgent Care for Kids. “It’s a testament to our skills and the wide range of services that we provide for our patients, and I hope it makes parents across west Georgia and east Alabama feel even more comfortable bringing their children to our practice for treatment.”

Tanner Urgent Care for Kids provides weekend and after-hours care for maximum convenience. Families seeking care can use the Tanner MyChart app to view current wait times and save their spot in line. Learn more at TannerUrgentCareForKids.org.

Hamilton Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) recently received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS^® Gold achievement award for its commitment to offering rapid and research-based care to people experiencing the most severe form of heart attacks and strokes, ultimately saving lives.

Emergency medical services staff can begin treatment when they arrive – much sooner than if someone goes to the hospital by car. HEMS staff are also trained to provide resuscitation efforts to someone whose heart has stopped.

Mission: Lifeline EMS^® is the American Heart Association’s national initiative to advance the system of care for patients with high-risk, time-sensitive disease states, such as severe heart attacks and strokes. The program helps reduce barriers to prompt treatment – starting from when 911 is called, to EMS transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge. Optimal care for heart attack and stroke patients takes coordination between the individual prehospital providers and health care systems.

“Arguably the most important link in the chains of survival for acute stroke and cardiovascular emergencies is emergency medical services and pre-hospital professionals,” said Kacey Kronenfeld, MD, FAEMS, chair of the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Taskforce. “Early condition identification, stabilization and prehospital interventions and initiation of actions within the regional systems of care provide patients with the best chance for receiving expedient definitive therapies leading to optimal outcomes and maximized quality of life. The American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline EMS awards are an important way to recognize the crucial roles and performances of EMS personnel in stroke and cardiac patients’ care.”

The Mission: Lifeline EMS achievement award focuses on agencies’ on-scene care, bringing to the forefront the collaboration and contributions to patient care for pre-hospital healthcare providers.

HEMS was also recognized on the American Heart Association’s Target: Heart Attack Honor Roll, focused on the system of care for patients. This award highlights the collaboration and contributions of both pre-hospital and hospital providers. To qualify for this recognition, agencies must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s first EMS medical contact to hospital arrival and treatment with primary percutaneous coronary intervention or thrombolytic therapy.

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GREENSBORO, Ga. – July 21, 2026 – Leaders from St. Mary’s Health Care System and the community it serves broke ground Monday for the St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Pavilion, a $45.6-million, 3-story addition to the hospital that will expand access to high-quality primary and specialty care in the greater Greene County and Lake Oconee area.

“This Pavilion is more than a building. It’s an expansion of our healing ministry to provide vitally needed, whole-person care for Greene County and the Lake Country region,” said Stonish Pierce, President and CEO of Trinity Health Georgia, in remarks to a standing-room-only audience that overflowed the giant tent set up beside the hospital.

“We often hear anecdotally that the clinical care and service delivery at St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital is second to none, ‘But I wish they could do more!’” he said. “Well, investing in the Pavilion is our first step in ‘doing more’ and delivering on our long-term desire to best serve this community.”

Moments before, in her welcoming comments, St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital Director of Administrative Operations Bria Brown touched on a similar theme: “This moment is about much more than bricks, steel, and concrete. It is about people,” she said. “It is about ensuring that families have access to exceptional care close to home. It is about creating spaces where healing begins, where lives are saved, and where compassionate caregivers can continue their mission of serving others with excellence.”

Russell Dawson, Chair of St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Foundation, emphasized how important the hospital is to the community, at one point asking everyone who had received care at St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital to raise their hand. Nearly everyone did.

“What would it be like here if this hospital wasn’t here?” he asked. “I couldn’t imagine it.” He went on to note that St. Mary’s and its parent ministry, Trinity Health, are making a $35.6 million investment in the health of the community.

“This is a remarkable investment,” he said. “They are looking for our community to come alongside with a $10 million investment. Every gift helps ensure that people throughout Greene County and the Lake Oconee region can receive exceptional care close to home for years to come.”

Highlights of services that will be provided at the Pavilion, which will attach to the south end of the existing hospital at 5401 Lake Oconee Parkway, include:

• Expanded inpatient pharmacy and a retail pharmacy
• Expanded outpatient rehabilitation services, which will free up space inside the hospital for cardiac rehabilitation
• Expanded non-oncology infusion services, increasing the number of infusion chairs from three to nine
• Convenient laboratory and imaging services
• A Community Education and Conference Center
• 13,000-square-feet dedicated to St. Mary’s Medical Group providers, including such specialties as primary care, breast health, cardiology, general surgery, gastroenterology, neurosurgery, orthopedics and rheumatology.

“As we break ground today, we are not simply starting a construction project,” Brown concluded. “We are building a stronger future. We are creating new opportunities for healing, advancing healthcare, and improving the quality of life for countless individuals and families throughout our region. Thank you for being part of this historic day and for helping us build something that will make a difference in our community for generations to come.”

Northside Hospital and Georgia Perinatal Consultants announce expanded access to highly specialized care for high-risk pregnancies through the Northside Hospital Center for Advanced Fetal Intervention, in partnership with Georgia Perinatal Consultants, a new collaboration designed to bring advanced fetal treatment closer to home for families across Georgia.

The program brings together nationally recognized expertise in maternal-fetal medicine to care for some of the most complex pregnancies, including conditions such as twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a rare, life-threatening complication that affects 10%-15% of identical twin pregnancies sharing one placenta. TTTS occurs when shared blood vessels in the placenta create an imbalance of blood flow between the twins. Without treatment, it can result in the loss of one or both babies in more than 90% of cases.

Doctors at the Northside Hospital Center for Advanced Fetal Intervention treat TTTS using selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation. This minimally invasive surgery uses a laser to seal abnormal blood vessel connections in the placenta and restore balanced blood flow between the twins.

Northside Hospital Atlanta is the only fetal therapy center in Georgia offering this treatment.

By offering comprehensive fetal therapy services locally, the program allows families across Georgia to remain close to home while receiving advanced care that previously required travel out of state.

The Northside Hospital Center for Advanced Fetal Intervention, in collaboration with Georgia Perinatal Consultants, provides advanced diagnostic, medical and surgical care for fetal conditions. A multidisciplinary team — including maternal-fetal medicine specialists, neonatologists, pediatric subspecialists and specially trained nurses — works together to coordinate care from diagnosis through delivery and beyond.

“The Center expands what we can do for Georgia’s most medically complex pregnancies,” said Dr. Noelle Breslin, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Georgia Perinatal Consultants and medical director of the Center for Advanced Fetal Intervention.“Through a multidisciplinary approach that integrates fetal intervention, maternal care, neonatal expertise and advanced imaging, we are able to offer therapies that can significantly improve outcomes for both mothers and babies.”

“This initiative represents a significant step forward in expanding access to specialized fetal care in our region,” said Kelly Inoue, chief nursing officer at Northside Hospital. “Our goal is to ensure that families facing complex pregnancies can access the highest level of care right here at home, without the added stress of traveling out of state.”

The fetal therapy team at Northside Hospital has deep expertise in managing complex pregnancies. Patients from across Georgia and the Southeast seek its specialized care.

Northside Hospital Atlanta delivers more babies annually than any other hospital in the United States and is widely regarded for its expertise in high-risk obstetrics and maternal care. It was the first hospital in the country to receive Maternal Levels of Care Verification from The Joint Commission and the first in Georgia to earn a Level IV Maternal Center Designation from the Georgia Department of Public Health.

A national group’s latest report shows that people in northeast Georgia who need surgery for lung cancer can count on receiving some of the best care available in the United States from Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS). The lung cancer resection surgery program at NGHS recently earned top ratings from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, placing it among the highest-performing 5% to 10% of thoracic surgery centers nationwide.

The report, drawn from STS’ General Thoracic Surgery Database, includes data from 2023–2025. NGHS’ program scored “Better Than Expected” in the “Overall” category as well as a separate category that tracks the absence of major surgical complications. The STS “Better Than Expected” designation is a rare achievement attained by only 32 hospitals in the United States.

“The accomplishment is a testament to NGHS’ investment in pioneering robotic surgery so that our patients can have access to the highest-quality, most advanced care available,” said Karen Gersch, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon with Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery. “It also reflects the tremendous teamwork required to deliver exceptional thoracic oncology and robotic thoracic surgery care, including the contributions of nursing, anesthesia, operating room staff, pulmonology, interventional pulmonology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, administration and perioperative services.”

The lung cancer resection surgery program at NGHS is led by Dr. Gersch. Since June 2023, Dr. Gersch and her team have performed 100% of lung resection surgeries using a robotic surgical system. Among centers nationwide, only about 68% of these surgeries are performed robotically.

“By combining advanced technology with a highly coordinated approach, we’re able to precisely target and remove lung nodules or tumors through minimally invasive robotic surgery – resulting in less pain, smaller scars and faster recovery for our patients,” said Dr. Gersch

For more information about robotic lung cancer surgery or to schedule an appointment, call 770-219-7099, or visit nghs.com/thoracic-robotic-surgery.

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ABOUT NORTHEAST GEORGIA HEALTH SYSTEM

Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) is a non-profit on a mission of improving the health of our community in all we do. Our team of more than 1,500 medical staff members representing more than 60 specialties cares for more than 1 million people across the region through seven hospitals and dozens of other locations and practices. Our acute care hospitals, Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC), have a total of more than 1,000 beds across a Level I Trauma Center in Gainesville and other locations in Braselton, Winder, Dahlonega and Demorest. NGHS’ specialty hospitals also provide individualized rehabilitation programs for medical conditions and injuries through The Rehabilitation Institute in Gainesville, as well as inpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment at Laurelwood on the campus of NGMC Gainesville. Learn more at nghs.com.

ABOUT NORTHEAST GEORGIA PHYSICIANS GROUP

Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) brings together over 700 talented physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, midwives and other clinical staff at more than 50 locations across north Georgia. As the state’s sixth-largest physician group, we always have a practice nearby to offer you expert care in more than 40 specialties. See the full list of specialties and locations – and meet our providers – at ngpg.org.

NGPG is affiliated with Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS), a non-profit which serves more than 1 million people in 19 counties. As part of NGHS, patients of NGPG have a direct connection to Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s seven hospitals and dozens of other locations and practices across the region. Learn more at nghs.com.

May 20, 2026 – St. Mary’s Health Care System today announced it will build a 42,000-square-foot Pavilion adjacent to St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital to transform access to vital health services across the greater Lake Country region.

“St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Pavilion will improve access to care and reduce the burden of travel for people across the communities we serve,” said Stonish Pierce, President and CEO of Trinity Health Georgia. “As part of Trinity Health, this investment reflects our shared commitment to deliver faster, more convenient access to care, shorter wait times and improved patient outcomes for essential services such as cardiology, primary care and surgery.”

Initial site grading began recently with a groundbreaking ceremony planned for July.  The Pavilion is expected to open in fall 2027. All current inpatient and outpatient services at St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital will continue without interruption while construction is in progress.

The $45.6 million facility, which will attach to the south end of the existing hospital at 5401 Lake Oconee Parkway, will enhance local access to:

• Cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation services, creating a seamless transition from inpatient care to outpatient recovery
• Gastroenterology care, creating more capacity for diagnosis and treatment of digestive issues, from acid reflux to colon cancer
• Non-oncology infusion services expansion, allowing more patients with chronic and complex conditions – such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Crohn’s disease and multiple sclerosis – to receive safe, hospital-based infusion care close to home
• Pharmacy services, including expanded inpatient services, a new “meds-to-beds” program for inpatients at discharge, and a new retail pharmacy open to the community
• Primary care, bringing providers on-site, with immediate access to associated services such as laboratory testing and imaging
• Rheumatology care, providing local access to treatment for patients experiencing reduced quality of life due to the pain and inflammation caused by autoimmune diseases
• Expanded surgical services, with future growth providing enhanced access to general surgery, neurosurgery and other surgical specialties
• Laboratory draw station, providing easy access to outpatients who need samples collected
• Community Education and Conference Center, including a 3,200-square-foot classroom and catering kitchen

In addition, St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital will relocate several existing services into larger space in the Pavilion, including outpatient rehabilitation, infusion and administration. Current spaces for these functions will be re-purposed so that services can be added or expanded within the hospital.

“Few rural communities are blessed with the high-quality, compassionate care that St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital already provides, but there are still many needs we cannot meet locally,” said Dr. Dave Ringer, Chief of Staff. “The Pavilion will be a tremendous step forward for everyone who lives, works and plays in this region.”

In conjunction with the start of the project, St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation announced the launch of a $10 million community fundraising campaign to maximize the impact of the new Pavilion. Combined with Trinity Health’s $35.6 million commitment, the Pavilion will represent a $45.6 million investment in the health of the greater Greene County region.

“The Pavilion represents more than just an expansion of our facilities. It is an investment in the health, well-being, and future of our community,” said Russ Dawson, Chair of St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation. “As Lake Oconee continues to grow, so does the need for accessible, coordinated, and high-quality care close to home. This project ensures we are prepared not just for today, but for generations to come.”

The Pavilion is part of the largest expansion project in St. Mary’s history, with a total investment of nearly $100 million to improve access to care across the region. Other components of the project include the development of St. Mary’s Center for Heart, Vascular and Neurosciences  in Athens, new medical office buildings, the addition of a second MRI suite in Athens, creation of a Center for Wound Healing at St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia, expansion and modernization of the Center for Wound Healing in Athens, development of the St. Mary’s Community Pharmacy in Athens and more.

More details about the projects will be shared with the community as planning continues. Ongoing updates will be available soon at www.stmarys-health.org.

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Hamilton Medical Center ranked a top Georgia heart hospital 6:18 pm

Hamilton Medical Center (HMC), part of Vitruvian Health, is ranked as a top heart hospital in Georgia in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals” issue.

The designation comes from the American College of Cardiology and recognizes HMC’s commitment to optimizing cardiovascular care and patient outcomes. Ateet Patel, MBA, MD, FACC, Vitruvian Health – Heart & Vascular chief of cardiology said the ranking is a tribute to the hospital’s dedication to patient-centered care.

“The best cardiac treatment combines advanced technology with skilled, compassionate care that addresses not just the patient’s heart condition, but the whole person,” Patel said. “This recognition is a testament to Vitruvian Health’s commitment to providing world-class heart and vascular services close to home.”

The ACC recognizes more than 2,000 hospitals, health systems and centers participating in NCDR and/or ACC Accreditation Services.

Hamilton was also recognized for multiple registries and accreditations, including CathPCI Registry, Chest Pain – MI Registry, EP Device Implant Registry, left atrial appendage

occlusion procedures (LAAO) Registry, Transcatheter valve therapy procedures

(STS/ACC TVT) Registry, Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation, Chest Pain Center

Accreditation, and Electrophysiology Accreditation. HMC is a HeartCARE Center and received the Chest Pain – MI Registry Award Platinum.

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Athens, GA – The Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership Internal Medicine Residency Program (IMRP) at St. Mary’s Health Care System celebrated Match Day on Friday, March 20, as the program matched its eleventh class of residents.

“We are honored once again to have received so many truly exceptional applicants to our program,” said Dr. Lela Ward, program director for the IMRP. “The supportive medical community, dedicated volunteer faculty, exceptional staff, and commitment of St. Mary’s Health Care System to quality care truly make this an excellent program to learn and to train physicians in Northeast Georgia.”

The IMRP Class of 2029 and the schools at which they completed their medical education are:

• Edem Ankudey, MD – St. George’s University School of Medicine
• Grant Capps, MD – Mercer University School of Medicine
• Sristi Das, DO – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Nicholas Kostromin, MD – Mercer University School of Medicine
• Niyati Patel, DO – Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Ashley Pineiro, MD – University of Medicine and Health Sciences, St. Kitts
• Lourdes Quintana Acevedo, MD – Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
• Naga Reddy-Mallu, MD – St. George’s University School of Medicine
• Kayla Rojics, DO – Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Oudhay Sohal, MD – American University of the Caribbean
• Helena Traverso Frankel, MD – San Juan Bautista School of Medicine
• Noah Woford, DO – Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

The program also matched a preliminary year intern, Edwine Coulanges, MD, from the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University.

“This is another exciting year in the history of the Internal Medicine Residency Program,” said Stonish Pierce, president and CEO, Trinity Health of Georgia, which includes St. Mary’s. “We are confident this next class will continue the tradition of compassion and excellence demonstrated by their predecessors. St. Mary’s is proud to be an integral part of the IMRP and its success in bringing more physicians to Georgia and the Northeast Georgia region.”

The new residents will begin practicing at St. Mary’s Health Care System on July 1.

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NORTHEAST GEORGIA HEALTH SYSTEM HOSPITALS WIN STATEWIDE PATIENT SAFETY AWARDS 1:39 pm

• Introducing a “No Pass Zone” to ensure no staff member walks past any type of alarm without responding.
• Charge nurses review all high‑risk patients at the start of each shift to ensure a Fall Prevention kit is available for patients who are at a higher risk of falling. The kit includes a yellow gown, yellow socks, yellow armband, bed/chair alarms, a gait belt for walking support and a virtual monitoring device.
• Discovering the root cause of most falls came from patients trying to use the restroom without assistance. So, the hospital placed bedside commodes in the Emergency Department.