It’s the end of one era and the start of another as Northeast Georgia Medical Center officially takes the reins of Habersham Medical Center.
The Hall County and Gainesville Hospital Authority now owns the Demorest hospital and its assets. The newly named Northeast Georgia Medical Center Habersham will be run by Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) based in Gainesville.
Low-key affair
The official transfer of ownership occurred at midnight Saturday, July 1. There was no ceremony to mark the occasion. In fact, members of the media and two NGHS communications officials who showed up Saturday morning for the new signs’ unveiling were disappointed to find the signs were uncovered before they arrived.
NGHS released an announcement stating, “The next era of health care for people in Habersham County and surrounding areas is here.”
The news release included a quote from NGHS Vice President of Regional Hospitals Kevin Matson, whose job includes the day-to-day oversight of the health system’s newest hospital.
“We’re excited to continue caring for the people of this community – many of whom already know and love NGHS,” Matson said. “We’re growing the greater good one step at a time, but this feels like a pretty big leap.”
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Same providers, different names
According to the new owners of Habersham County’s 70-year-old hospital, patients can expect their care to remain the same, with the same providers and staff they’ve come to know through the years.
The hospital wasn’t the only name change. A number of Habersham specialty practices became Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) practices during the transition:
- Habersham Medical Group Internal Medicine and Geriatrics Rural Healthcare Clinic is now NGPG Internal Medicine.
- Habersham OB/GYN is now NGPG OB/GYN.
- Habersham Medical Group Orthopaedics of North Georgia is now NGPG Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine.
- Habersham Medical Group Surgical Services is now NGPG Surgical Associates.
Recent changes
Under a management services agreement with Habersham Medical Center signed earlier this year, NGHS guided Habersham’s Hospital Authority through a series of cuts. The hospital “paused” ICU admissions, scaled back its operating schedule from five to three days a week, stopped on-call surgeries, and removed from its books the hospital-run fitness facility – Total Fitness.
The efforts were aimed at stopping the hospital’s financial bleeding. As of March 31, Habersham Medical Center was operating at a loss of $3,873,218 (unaudited) for the current fiscal year.
It’s unclear what, if any, of those previously reduced services will be restored, but it is clear the hospital is forging ahead. NGHS has recruited three additional physicians for NGMC Habersham – general surgeon Joseph Rondina, cardiologist Alan Opsahl, and OB/GYN Amy Howard.
“NGMC Habersham also now uses Epic – the same electronic medical record as other NGHS hospitals and offices,” Matson said. “This should improve their experience and overall care coordination across all locations.”
Transition celebration
NGMC Habersham will host a free event to celebrate the transition, called Habersham Jam, on Saturday, July 15, from 6 – 9 p.m. Parking will be available at Piedmont University’s Mize Athletic Center, located at 428 Laurel Avenue in Demorest. Shuttle service will run every 15 minutes.
Guests will be able to enjoy live music, food, games, touch-a-truck, and more.
