WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Washington County Regional Medical Center will be getting a new look soon to better service its patients.
Derick Durdern is the county administrator. He said the county commissioners want to keep their hospital's heart beating.
"The commission understands the importance of the hospital in the community. They want to see it succeed," Durden said.
The county is investing $15 million in bonds to renovate the hospital. Hospital CEO Pam Stewart said they have a list of changes.
"With that money we're going to be able to build a new emergency department, renovate in patient rooms, renovate our extended care facility rooms for the residents," Stewart said.
Right now, the emergency room has eight beds. Four of them sit in a bay area separated by a curtain. Stewart said patients need more privacy, especially in a small town.
"Most everybody knows everyone so if you have a patient in bed one and a patient in bed four, bed four knows who's in bed one because it's a friend of theirs and they can hear everything there is to know about their medical condition," Stewart said.
The hospital plans to break ground for the emergency room later this year. The hospital also wants to add separate space for pediatric emergencies. They'll use new equipment from Children's Health Care of Atlanta.
Another room will be reserved for patients with mental health complications to protect staff and patients.
When management partners, Alethia, started working with Washington County last year Kerry Trapnell said they talked with the county about selling it.
"I think the board was very open in saying they would do whatever it took to keep this hospital open and we wanted to a part of that passion as well," Trapnell said.
Larry Smith has used the hospital's rehab facility after having surgery out of town. He said the county would struggle if the hospital flat lined.
"This hospital is vital to this community. We need it desperately as all communities do but it saves lives because it's convenient," Smith said.
Other goals for the hospital include working toward a level four trauma designation. Stewart said the hospital will also replace it's MRI machine after 20 years.
The upgrade will allow them to perform post COVID-19 cardiac studies making them one of two hospitals in the state working on that.
Stewart believes the changes will get the hospital performing at a top level again.
"We are going to be a phenomenal hospital again," Stewart said.