WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Houston Healthcare and Emory Healthcare have signed a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) to explore a potential partnership, with a formal agreement expected in 2025, the organizations said in a release.
The partnership aims to expand healthcare services in Central Georgia. Houston Healthcare, which operates two hospital campuses and several outpatient facilities, could gain access to Emory’s resources, including specialized care and medical expertise.
Locals in Warner Robins expressed optimism about the potential partnership. Kim Church, a Warner Robins resident, said the collaboration could reduce the need for long trips to Atlanta for specialized treatment.
"Emory has everything, and if they can bring even some of it here, it would be wonderful," Church said. “I think they'll just offer more things for us all.”
Shy Fountain, a former certified phlebotomist at the hospital, now works right next door. She believes the partnership could ease the burden on local hospital staff and reduce patient wait times.
"Sometimes the wait times are long, and everyone’s working hard. This could help with getting patients in and out faster," Fountain said. “I mean, it could be a good thing or a bad thing, but you never know until it actually happens.”
Other residents, like Precious Sturn, are hopeful the partnership will bring more doctors and expanded healthcare services to Warner Robins.
"I think it would be pretty awesome. You don't have to go all the way to Atlanta to get that type of healthcare when it's gonna be right here," Sturn said. “I actually had my daughter here. So expanding the doctors, the nurses, and health care itself can’t do nothing but help people here.”
Some weren’t as hopeful, another Warner Robins resident Shelia Dwight, was concerned what an expanded healthcare system could mean for the area.
“I like it and I don't like it because it'll make the hospital so much bigger, you're not gonna be able to find anything for anyone,” Dwight said. “So it's a positive and negative. They can get more work done. That's a positive. They have more specialists. That's a positive. All I have to say is good luck.”
The two health systems said in the release they are now entering a due diligence process to finalize the agreement, which will require regulatory approval before closing the transaction in 2025.