The latest branch of Piedmont Augusta is opening next week, and the occasion was celebrated with a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, May 31.
The facility on Appling Harlem Road will officially open on June 6 and will house a prompt care and occupational therapy clinic. In honor of this opening, the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting where local officials and Piedmont executives spoke about what it means for the facility to open in that area of the community.
“It is my honor and pleasure to be here welcoming you all out here to the occupational medicine and prompt care facility by Piedmont of Augusta,” said Russell Lahodny, president and CEO of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce. “…On behalf of the Columbia County Chamber, we just thank you guys for investing in our community, obviously we are a growing community and as things grow that growth tends to kind of shift out this direction on the county, so having services like this are important for this part of the community.”
Dr. Lily Henson, CEO of Piedmont Augusta, said this new facility is the third Piedmont location in Columbia County, with the other two located on North Belair Road and in Grovetown. She also called it the “first facility of its kind in the Piedmont system.”
“It’s particularly exciting because not only are we allowing families, but also industries and companies to be able to access excellent care close to where folks work and live,” Henson said. “So, the idea of providing prompt care as convenient, accessible high-quality care quickly, and then for occupational medicine is making sure that we help companies take care of their employees so they’re able to make their companies successful and again be able to provide services to our community.”
Piedmont has 13 campuses through the CSRA that provide primary care, prompt care, occupational medicine and specialty care, Henson said.
“People of my generation like to have primary care physicians to take care of them, but the younger generation wants quick accessible care right now,” Henson said. “So, being able to provide care for folks of all ages with different preferences and different needs is something we at Piedmont take very seriously and want to make sure we’re providing services to people of all generations based on their services.”
Dr. Bozeman Sherwood, medical director of prompt care and occupational medicine, told attendees they were excited for the facility, which has been a long time coming. He talked about the different services offered through the facility.
For the prompt care side, they can see everything from sore throats, cold or the flu to sprains, strains or lacerations. Sherwood added walk-ins are welcome to stop by the clinic.
“If we can’t treat it definitively, then here we make sure it goes where it needs to go, be it to a specialist or the E.R., we have a good back up plan for that. So come here for your medical care needs, we can take care of you,” Sherwood said.
On the occupational health side, Sherwood said they focus on preventative medicine and keeping employees healthy, along with helping employees who have received an on the job injury.
“We’re here and we’re well staffed, well equipped to meet all your needs on both sides, occupational medicine and prompt care,” Sherwood said.
County Chairman Doug Duncan reiterated what Lahodny said about welcoming the new facility and how it will be a great asset to the community.
“In Columbia County quality of life matters, especially in the greater Pumpkin Center area and Harlem,” Duncan said. “In this area, quality of life is going to begin with good health care, and we’re just very thankful to Dr. Hanson for the investment you’ve made… we’re just thankful for the investment and close proximity this is to the area and the healthcare it will give.”
Harlem Mayor Roxanne Whitaker was also excited for the new facility to open, calling it a “big plus” to the community.
“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for our citizens to get medical care within five to 10 minutes of their home,” Whitaker said.”
The new Piedmont Augusta is located at 1331 Appling Harlem Road, Harlem, GA 30814 and will be open open Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Stephanie Hill is a staff writer covering Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com
