Dodge County Hospital and Bleckley Memorial Hospital are pleased to announce a new management agreement that strengthens collaboration between the two neighboring rural hospitals. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to ensuring continued access to high-quality, local healthcare for the residents of Dodge and Bleckley counties.
Dodge County Hospital is a Prospective Payment System (PPS), acute care hospital licensed for 94 beds, with 20 beds designated for inpatient adult geriatric psychiatric services.
Bleckley Memorial Hospital is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital, where outpatient, emergency, and sub-acute services are hallmark service lines and central to its mission of community-based care.
Under the agreement, Dodge County Hospital will provide management oversight and leadership support to Bleckley Memorial Hospital. The goal is to leverage each hospital’s strengths, enhance operational efficiencies, and expand access to essential healthcare services in both communities.
“This partnership represents a significant step forward for rural healthcare in our region,” said Michael Purvis, CEO of Dodge County Hospital. “By combining our resources and expertise, we can better serve our patients, attract and retain quality staff, and ensure the long-term sustainability of both hospitals.”
“Bleckley Memorial Hospital has been a cornerstone of our community for decades,” said John Roland, CEO of Bleckley Memorial Hospital. “This agreement allows us to remain locally governed while benefiting from the management experience and support of Dodge County Hospital. Together, we are stronger.”
John Paul Jones, Chairman of the Dodge County Hospital Authority, added, “Our board is committed to ensuring Dodge County residents have access to strong, sustainable healthcare close to home. This agreement strengthens both hospitals and helps secure that future for the communities we serve.”
Bill Cheek, Chairman of the Bleckley Memorial Hospital Authority, shared, “This partnership ensures that Bleckley Memorial Hospital remains a vital part of our community. By working together, our hospitals can share resources, strengthen services, and continue providing the quality care our patients depend on.”
Community members should expect the same compassionate care from the providers and staff they know and trust, now with the added benefit of stronger hospital partnerships working behind the scenes.
St. Joseph’s/Candler To Launch Medical Residency Program in 2027 $10 million grant awarded to the health system to help address the critical need for physicians in Georgia 1:44 pm
St. Joseph’s/Candler will begin a new physician residency program in 2027 aimed at bolstering the critical need for doctors in southeast Georgia and the state.
This represents a natural expansion for the largest health system in the region, which for years has been reaching into underserved areas to bring top-quality healthcare and technology closer to where people live and work.
This new residency program will initially be backed by a $10 million grant from the state of Georgia to assist with the startup costs of the program.
The two initial tracks of the new residency program will focus on the vital need for primary care physicians: Internal Medicine and Family Medicine. There will be a total of 48 residency slots at capacity. It will expand to other residencies, such as cardiology fellowship, increasing the number of residents to 60.
A nation-wide search for a Dean of the residency program has been underway and the new Dean will be starting in October.
St. Joseph’s/Candler anticipates the program will receive accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and see its first round of residents by July 1, 2027.
“This is a sentinel moment for St. Joseph’s/Candler to offer a residency program, the final and most important step in a physician’s education,” said Paul P. Hinchey, President & CEO of St. Joseph’s/Candler. “That is when a physician really hones his or her skills and commits to their chosen specialty. The health system has a wealth of experienced and expertly-trained physicians that can guide these new doctors into exceptional clinicians. We believe this program will make a significant dent in the doctor shortage Georgia is facing, incentivizing these physicians to stay in Georgia, giving our patients better access to care. I want to thank Speaker of the House Jon Burns, Chairman Butch Parrish and the whole Chatham County delegation for securing this grant to help SJ/C bring this important program to our community and our state.”
The future vision for this residency program is to have 60-70 resident slots a year across other medical specialties that are in high demand.
“Creating a physician residency program at St. Joseph’s/Candler is a historic step forward for healthcare in Georgia,” said Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns. “The House remains committed to increasing access to quality, affordable healthcare across the state—and that includes strengthening our healthcare workforce. This $10 million grant awarded to St. Joseph’s/Candler will help us move forward with our mission to educate more providers. St. Joseph’s/Candler’s partnership with our great state, and in particular Southeast Georgia, ensures we are able to attract, train, and retain the best and brightest to practice here in Georgia. These incredible accomplishments would not be possible without the dedication of leaders like Chairman Butch Parrish and Paul P. Hinchey who tirelessly champion healthcare initiatives in communities throughout the state.”
“The Georgia House has consistently led the way to pass measures that expand access to quality, affordable healthcare in every corner of our great state,” said Georgia State Representative Butch Parrish. “Attracting, training, and retaining a skilled medical workforce is a critical part of that work. These programs in Savannah at St. Joseph’s/Candler, the new dental school, and the new medical school will all be great partners in helping Georgia secure more healthcare providers to practice where their services are needed most.”
The Medical College of Georgia launched a new four-year medical school in 2024 and a new dental school has been announced, both located on the campus of Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong campus.
Hinchey added, “We are very grateful for the support of our local delegation, who backed this grant and were instrumental in helping move this project forward. Senator Ben Watson put in the grant funding in that chamber and we had the pleasure of meeting with each legislator individually. They were all very excited to help. Each one of them, in their own way, worked to ensure that this residency program came to life.”
WHAT IS A RESIDENCY PROGRAM?
A physician residency program is a post-graduate training program. Doctors who have just graduated from four years of medical school enter a nation-wide matching program for placement in residency programs. With the experience and skill of the physicians at St. Joseph’s/Candler, the system expects to be very competitive in the matching process.
Residents get supervised clinical training from experienced “attending” doctors who have worked at St. Joseph’s/Candler for years. Residents will have access to cutting-edge technology, a diverse patient population, and mentorship from these experienced physicians.
One of the strengths of this new residency program at St. Joseph’s/Candler is the long-standing collaboration with the Medical College of Georgia. For more than a decade, third- and fourth-year students have completed rotations in the system and last year MCG opened a full, four-year campus in Savannah.
“The mission of Augusta University and the Medical College of Georgia is to improve people’s lives and one way we do that is by ensuring people have access to the best health care possible, no matter their zip code,” said Dr. Russell T. Keen, president of Augusta University. “If we want more doctors to stay and serve Georgia’s communities, we have to train them here. Expanding graduate medical education represents a commitment to the health of our state. I am thankful to Paul P. Hinchey for understanding and stepping up to fill that commitment and the Georgia General Assembly for allocating the funding for additional residencies.”
“The Medical College of Georgia has the fourth largest medical school class size in the nation – but without expanded graduate medical education (GME) opportunities, our state continues to be a net exporter of medical students,” said MCG Dean David Hess, MD. “Georgia currently ranks 40th nationally in medical residents per capita, which demonstrates the tremendous need to grow our GME programs. St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System, particularly Paul P. Hinchey, has been a valued partner in educating our students for nearly 15 years. Their support made it possible to launch our third four-year campus in Savannah just last year, and this new residency program will be a critical step in ensuring more MCG graduates stay in Georgia to complete their training and eventually practice.”
WHAT IS AT STAKE?
Georgia does not have enough doctors, particularly primary care doctors. Only three out of Georgia’s 159 counties have the recommended amount of primary care doctors, according to the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. About a third of Georgians, or 3.3 million, live in an area with a primary care shortage, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Georgia’s population is both growing and aging, creating even more problems with access to physicians.
For more than a decade, physicians at St. Joseph’s/Candler have trained medical students who performed clinical rotations through the health system.
“This residency program is a fantastic development for our community and the health system,” said Dr. Spencer Adoff and Dr. Brian Raj, Chiefs of Staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Candler Hospital. “We have many highly-trained and experienced doctors who are excited to become attending physicians and mold the future of health care in Savannah and Georgia.”
During the last decade St. Joseph’s/Candler has made expanding access to healthcare a priority, creating new medical campuses in Pooler, Bryan County, Bluffton and practices in Liberty County, Wayne County and Bulloch County. With more physicians entering the profession, the system will be able to serve even more patients.
“When residency is over, many doctors will choose to stay near the area,” Hinchey said. “With the new St. Joseph’s/Candler residency program, we can keep more doctors in Southeast Georgia and give our patients better access to care. This is a win for our entire state and we are grateful and proud of the support of our state leadership in this endeavor. We are committed to making this a competitive and highly sought-after program for new physicians.”
Hamilton Medical Center among nation’s top performing hospitals for heart attack treatment 1:13 pm
Hamilton Medical Center (HMC) has received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2025 and recognized as a national leader. HMC is one of only 323 hospitals out of more than 6,100 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor.
The award recognizes Hamilton’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients and signifies that HMC has reached an aggressive goal of treating these patients to standard levels of care as outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations.
To receive the Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award, HMC has demonstrated sustained achievement in the Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry for two consecutive years (2023 and 2024) and performed at the highest level for specific performance measures. Full participation in the registry engages hospitals in a robust quality improvement process using data to drive improvements in adherence to guideline recommendations and overall quality of care provided to heart attack patients.
“It is an honor to award Hamilton Medical Center with the Platinum Performance Award for their valuable national leadership and dedication to meeting comprehensive performance measures in patient care,” said Michael C. Kontos, MD, FACC, chair of the NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Steering Subcommittee, and cardiologist at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. “The receipt of this award indicates thatHamilton remains committed to providing top quality, guideline-driven care for heart attack patients. Their success ensures patients are receiving the highest quality cardiovascular care.”
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that over 800,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. A heart attack occurs when a blood clot in a coronary artery partially or completely blocks blood flow to the heart muscle. Treatment guidelines include administering aspirin upon arrival and discharge, timely restoration of blood flow to the blocked artery, smoking cessation counseling and cardiac rehabilitation, among others.
Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry empowers health care provider teams to consistently treat heart attack patients according to the most current, science-based guidelines and establishes a national standard for understanding and improving the quality, safety and outcomes of care provided for patients with coronary artery disease, specifically high-risk heart attack patients.
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Hamilton Medical Center nationally recognized for commitment to providing high-quality stroke care 2:51 pm
Hamilton Medical Center (HMC) has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.
Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.
Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines – Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.
“Hamilton is committed to providing excellent patient care,” said Meagan Darnell, neurosciences manager. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. The end goal is to continue providing quality healthcare, ensuring more people in this area can experience longer, healthier lives.”
Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.
“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Hamilton Medical Center for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, MD, volunteer chairperson of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group and professor of neurology and director of fellowships of neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.”
HMC also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll awards. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.
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NORTHEAST GEORGIA HEALTH SYSTEM IS FIRST IN GEORGIA TO HAVE FIVE HOSPITALS RECEIVE NATIONAL AWARD FOR EMERGENCY CARE 1:31 pmA national nursing group now says people can trust they’re receiving the highest quality emergency care at any Northeast Georgia Health System hospital.
Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Habersham recently received the Emergency Nurses Association’s Lantern Award, which recognizes emergency departments that demonstrate exceptional and innovative performance in leadership, practice, education, advocacy and research. With this recognition, NGMC Habersham joins NGMC Barrow, Braselton, Gainesville, and Lumpkin as Lantern Award recipients – making NGHS the first healthcare system in Georgia to have five hospitals honored with this distinction.
“This award means people across our region can rest easy knowing their local hospital provides outstanding emergency care,” said Walt Wiley, NGHS executive director for Emergency, Trauma, Observation and EMS Services. “It also reflects the outstanding dedication of our physicians, nurses, and staff who work tirelessly every day to provide life-saving care in all the communities we serve.”
People can also now see actual wait times for each hospital’s emergency room on the health system’s website.
“No one wants to be in an emergency, but if it happens, our goal is to make the experience as smooth and efficient as possible,” said Wiley. “By providing wait times online, we’re giving patients the information they need to make the best decision for their care.”
Just visit nghs.com/emergency to view how long it will take from arriving at NGMC Gainesville, Braselton, Barrow, Habersham or Lumpkin emergency departments to when your care begins with a qualified medical professional. The wait times are estimations, as patients with life-threatening conditions are prioritized over those with less urgent needs. Actual wait times may vary depending on patient needs and emergency severity.
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SGMC Health Receives Georgia HEART Impact Award for Transformative Berrien Expansion Project 5:12 pmSGMC Health has been named the recipient of the prestigious Georgia HEART Impact Award by the Georgia HEART Hospital Program, recognizing the system’s extraordinary commitment to rural healthcare through its SGMC Health Berrien Expansion Project. This honor celebrates hospitals that demonstrate the transformative power of Georgia HEART tax credit contributions to improve access to healthcare and patient outcomes.
The award specifically highlights SGMC Health’s use of HEART funding to help build a state-of-the-art, 26,000-square-foot Emergency Department on its Berrien campus. The facility, which officially opened in December 2024, marks a new era of care for Berrien County and the surrounding rural communities.
The new Emergency Department replaced the former four-room facility with nine advanced treatment rooms, including larger trauma and specialty care rooms, enhanced monitoring systems, and upgraded support spaces, all designed to better meet the increasing demand for emergency services in the region.
“This recognition is a testament to the collective effort of our healthcare professionals, community leaders, donors, and supporters who made this vision a reality,” said Hilary Gibbs, Vice President of Support Services and Chief Development Officer. “The Georgia HEART Program allowed us to convert tax dollars into life-saving infrastructure that will serve generations of South Georgians.”
Since its inception, the Georgia HEART Hospital Program has provided a critical lifeline to rural hospitals across the state. For SGMC Health Berrien, contributions made through HEART were vital in funding the expansion, illustrating the profound impact of community-supported healthcare investments.
“Every gift has helped transform rural healthcare,” said Gibbs. “This award reflects the heart and soul of a community that came together for a common good.”
Since opening in 1965, SGMC Health Berrien has served as a cornerstone of its community, providing a full spectrum of medical care, including emergency services, inpatient and outpatient care, 3-D mammography, geriatric psychiatric care, and more.
Georgia HEART is a dollar-for-dollar state income tax credit that allows Georgians to choose where their tax dollars go, directly supporting rural hospitals like SGMC Health’s Berrien and Lanier campuses. Georgia HEART is currently accepting applications for 2025 tax credits. Completing the HEART tax credit application takes less than a minute. Credits are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so reserve your spot today by visiting www.georgiaheart.org.
SGMC Health Unveils FY2024 Annual Report Highlighting $1 Billion Economic Impact and Strategic Growth 4:57 pmIt received 5-star ratings for Quality of Care and Patient Experience at the Care Compare website at Medicare.gov. The site is an assessment tool from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for consumers to evaluate providers.
The Quality of Patient Care Star Rating measures patient improvements in mobility, bed transferring, bathing, shortness of breath, medication management, potentially preventable hospitalization and how quickly care is initiated. A 5-star rating is the mark of a high-performing organization.
“At Hamilton Home Health, we strive to offer personalized care in the familiarity of the patient’s own home,” said Blake Nelson, executive director of Post-Acute Care Services. “Our dedicated team will tailor the plan of care to promote recovery and enhance the patient’s quality of life. In the case of Hamilton Home Health, a patient is not only receiving medical assistance but gaining a partner in the journey toward better health.”
Home health care requires a doctor’s order and is typically issued for individuals who are unable to easily leave home. It brings medical care to patients’ homes to help them recover from acute injury or illness and provides services like medication management, wound care, physical therapy, occupational therapy and others provided by licensed individuals.
“This achievement is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our entire team,” Nelson said. “We take great pride in providing compassionate, high-quality care that helps our patients recover safely at home while maintaining their independence. This five-star rating reaffirms our mission to serve our community with excellence — every person, every time.”
SGMC Health Sleep Center Earns AASM Accreditation 3:20 pm