Augusta’s three main hospitals are all waiting for the Georgia Department of Community Health to decide whether they will be permitted to build free-standing emergency departments in Columbia County.
Augusta University Health, Doctors Hospital and University Hospital all filed applications in 2020. All were approved by DCH, but all three approvals were appealed by the other applicants.
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Katrina Keefer, CEO of Augusta Health, said, “Our certificate of need had a change in the hearing officer. We’re still waiting to have that person named and a hearing to be scheduled.”
AU Health still wants to build on property it owns at the corner of Knob Hill Farm and Washington Roads. Its proposal is to build a 19,500-square foot facility at a cost of $15 million.
“Absolutely. It will service the far western area of Columbia County,” Keefer said. “Even with our hospital in Grovetown, it will be very complementary to our services.”
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The application Doctors Hospital submitted was approved in June 2020.
“We are still planning to build a free-standing emergency department in Columbia County,” according to Communications Director Kaden Jacobs. “Our request for a certificate of need was approved by the state and then appealed by AU and University. Currently, our request is back with the commissioner to decide whether to grant the CON or not.”
Jacobs said they anticipate a decision in a month or two.
That plan calls for 12,760-square foot facility with 12 beds. It would be built at 464 North Belair Rd. in Evans.
“For many years, Doctors Hospital has been the provider of choice for our friends and neighbors in Columbia County, and we look forward to expanding their access to care,” Doctors Hospital President and CEO Doug Welch said.
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University Hospital also applied in 2020 to build a free-standing emergency department.
“Our plan to build a freestanding emergency department in Columbia County is in the hands of the state while appeals are being sorted through. Our intent has not changed — we’re just in a holding pattern for now,” said Rebecca Sylvester, director of corporate communications for University Health Care System.
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University Hospital proposed a 17,500-square foot facility at 4200 University Pky., in Evans.
“We look forward to serving the healthcare needs in Columbia County in bigger and better ways as soon as we can move forward,” she said.
She said they have not been given a timeframe for when the decision will be made.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
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