SGMC Health celebrates opening of state-of-the-art emergency department at Berrien campus
Published 1:04 pm Monday, December 9, 2024
[L-R] Hayden Hancock, Ronald Dean, and Sam Allen cut the ceremonial ribbon for the news expansion.
Ronald Dean, President and CEO of SGMC, shares his excitement for the advanced emergency department, emphasizing its role in delivering top-tier healthcare to rural Georgia.
Guests explore the newly expanded lobby, admiring the enhanced features of the state-of-the-art facility.
Hayden Hancock, City Manager of Nashville and SGMC Health Foundation Board Chairman, speaks to attendees about the importance of the new facility for Berrien County and the surrounding communities.
Sam Allen, Chairman of the SGMC Board of Trustees, reflects on the collaboration that made the new emergency department possible.
Hilary Gibbs, Vice President and Chief Development Officer at SGMC, addresses the audience at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, celebrating the $15 million investment in the new 26,000-square-foot emergency department.
NASHVILLE — A significant milestone in rural healthcare was celebrated on Friday as South Georgia Medical Center unveiled its new, $15 million emergency department at the SGMC Health Berrien campus.
Community members, local leaders, and healthcare professionals gathered at the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the two-story, 26,000-square-foot facility.
The expansion, replacing the original four-room ER with a modern nine-room emergency department, was emphasized during the festivities as a transformative step for healthcare access in the region. The new facility includes trauma and specialty care rooms, upgraded clinical spaces, and advanced monitoring systems.
Hilary Gibbs, SGMC’s vice president and chief development officer, opened the event by highlighting the historical significance of the project. She reflected on the hospital’s beginnings in 1965 and the similarities between that era and today, noting the shared sense of “pride, progress, and possibilities.”
Gibbs praised the dedication of those who brought the project to life, emphasizing its purpose: “Serving the healthcare needs of our friends, families, and neighbors across rural Georgia with excellence and compassion.”
Hayden Hancock, Nashville’s city manager and chairman of the SGMC Health Foundation Board of Trustees, followed Gibbs, emphasizing the collaborative efforts that brought this vision to life.
Hancock said the expansion symbolizes what can be achieved when a community and its leaders unite for a shared goal, celebrating not just the building itself but also the commitment it represents to the people of Berrien County and beyond.
Ronald Dean, SGMC’s president and CEO, reinforced the significance of the facility for rural healthcare, stating, “Rural Georgia deserves the same thing as urban Georgia. Why should rural Georgia have fewer facilities, less capability, and less access?”
In summation, SGMC Board Chairman Sam Allen spoke about the hospital’s ongoing commitment to the community and its resilience during challenging times. He acknowledged the collaborative leadership that guided the project, emphasizing the importance of aligning shared values and goals.
Allen also reflected on the determination to keep the hospital operational during uncertain times and highlighted the significance of this new addition as a testament to the community’s progress and dedication to quality healthcare.
Following the speeches, the ribbon was officially cut, marking the opening of the new facility. Guests and community members were then invited to enter the state-of-the-art addition to tour the spacious emergency department, admire the advanced equipment, and experience the newly designed environment firsthand.
The doors will officially open to patients on Tuesday, ushering in a new era of healthcare for Berrien County and the surrounding areas.
