NGHS invites public to learn more about plans for new hospital in Lumpkin County

Now that it’s settled its protracted contract dispute with Anthem insurance, Northeast Georgia Health System is looking ahead to its future in Lumpkin County.

The health system will hold a series of community forums on its construction plans for Northeast Georgia Medical Center Lumpkin.

The first forum is scheduled from 6-7 p.m. on Jan. 13 at the Lumpkin Parks and Recreation building in Dahlonega. Four other forums are scheduled in succession through Jan. 17 in Dawson, Forsyth, Hall, and White counties. (For a complete list of locations and times, see below).

Gainesville-based Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) is the region’s largest health care provider. It owns hospitals in Gainesville and Braselton and acquired the former Chestatee Regional Hospital in Dahlonega in 2018.

In June of last year, NGHS reopened Chestatee as a scaled-down facility offering an emergency department, inpatient care, and other services. NGHS announced its plans to replace the reopened facility with a new hospital 5 miles outside of Dahlonega at the endpoint of GA 400.

NGHS continued its expansion in 2019, entering into a 5-year deal to purchase Habersham Medical Center in Demorest. Under the terms of the two-part agreement – Asset Purchase Agreement (APA) and Option to Purchase Agreement (OPA) – NGHS committed $15 million toward capital improvements at HMC over the next five years with an option to acquire the property at the end of that term for no additional cost.

Community Forums on NGMC Lumpkin

Feature photo: NGHS