VALDOSTA — South Georgia Medical Center has purchased and renamed a local urology center. 

Previously, the private practice was owned by Dr. Jacek Sosnowski.

Sosnowski approached SGMC about purchasing the practice, said Jeff Edwards, chief development officer. The sale was finalized December 31, 2017.

Edwards said the purchase is in line with the hospital’s goals to serve the community and with a national trend of health care consolidations. 

“Statistical data demonstrates that the Valdosta-area community as a whole is underserved from a physician standpoint across multiple specialties,” he said. “While SGMC does not feel the need to purchase all local, independent medical practices, our desire is to retain current physicians in the market as well as to continue to recruit new physicians to the market. 

“Medical practices have been, and are continuing to be, consolidated into hospitals around the country due to the economic and regulatory stresses of operating an independent medical practice as well as physicians are looking for a way to transition the care of their patients to successor physicians as they move toward retirement.”

Edwards said that while SGMC isn’t actively purchasing private practices, it is always willing to consider incorporating private practices into its business if the practice fits the SGMC strategy and augments services. 

“SGMC is open to the acquisition of medical practices that meet our strategic model and that helps keep local physicians in the market,” he said.

Since the purchase, SGMC has added an additional urologist to the practice: Louis C. Remynse, III, MD. Remynse is a board certified urologist.

Remynse comes to Valdosta from Johnstown, Pa. where he worked for CPG Urology. He was an active surgical staff member at Conemaugh Health System in Johnstown.  

Both Sosnowski and Remynse are experienced urologists providing clinical and surgical treatments for urological issues. Remynse is trained in robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy and will offer this procedure at SGMC.

The 2,500 square feet practice will remain in its current location at 2922 N. Oak St. until it can be relocated to the SGMC main campus.

SGMC currently does not have a definitive timeline for when the practice will relocate.

“We are continuing to plan out the physician building buildout and will be incorporating space for the urology clinic as part of finishing the overall development of the building’s buildout,” Edwards said. “However, we are anticipating having urology on campus within the next 12-18 months.”

 

Jason Smith is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1257.