Augusta, GA
Wellstar agrees to takeover of Augusta University hospitals
Georgia officers have accepted the takeover of the Augusta College hospitals related to the state’s solely public medical college.
The state Board of Regents on Friday accepted agreements to switch management of the hospitals to Marietta-based Wellstar Well being System, saying the deal could take impact in late summer time.
Augusta College President Brooks Keel stated in an internet press convention that Wellstar would take over because the controlling authorized entity of the well being system, which is able to now be often known as Wellstar MCG Well being. The precise particulars of the switch, first introduced in December, remained unclear. Neither facet instantly supplied a duplicate of the related contracts.
The partnership, introduced in December, has turn out to be a political soccer in latest months as a result of Wellstar earlier closed Atlanta Medical Heart and Atlanta Medical Heart South in East Level, and since Wellstar opposed a push by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones to permit hospitals to be in-built rural counties with out getting a required state allow.
However Gov. Brian Kemp and College System Chancellor Sonny Perdue pushed laborious to conclude the deal, pushed by issues over the monetary struggles of the Augusta College Well being System, which runs the 478-bed Augusta College Medical Heart and the 154-bed Kids’s Hospital of Georgia, each in Augusta.
“There is not any doubt in my thoughts that this new partnership is a win for our state, and a win for numerous households throughout our state,” Kemp stated Friday in an internet information convention.
The Augusta College Well being System additionally has regulatory approval to construct a 100-bed hospital in Grovetown, within the rising Columbia County suburbs of Augusta. The system additionally runs the Georgia Most cancers Heart in Augusta, and Roosevelt Heat Springs Rehabilitation and Specialty Hospitals in Heat Springs and owns doctor practices.
Wellstar runs 9 hospitals in suburban Atlanta, principally concentrated within the northwest suburbs. It stated it has pledged to speculate practically $800 million in AUHS amenities, together with greater than $200 million for the principle Augusta College Medical Heart, plus constructing the brand new hospital in Columbia County and related amenities.
Wellstar additionally stated that it might spend further cash on the implementation of a brand new medical data system that the state is spending $105 million on. Jones derided that cash as a “giveaway” to Wellstar.
The transfer is one among many hospital mergers in Georgia and nationwide, as standalone hospitals mix into massive programs. That helps them afford large investments but in addition offers them the market energy to barter extra profitable cost agreements with insurers.
Atlanta-based Piedmont Healthcare took over a three-hospital system primarily based in Augusta final yr, pledging to speculate greater than $1 billion in upgrades and expansions over the subsequent 10 years. That nonprofit group was named College Hospital, though it wasn’t managed by Augusta College.
Within the 2021 funds yr, AU Well being Programs misplaced $28 million on $1.06 billion in income — which is the latest yr for which a state audit is accessible. Income included $30 million in state appropriations. The system has misplaced $63 million general since 2017, audits present. AU Well being Programs has been in search of a accomplice since 2019.
The 2 sides stated in December that the deal may additionally lead to an extra growth of the Medical Faculty of Georgia by creating a brand new regional campus at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta. No specifics of that potential growth had been talked about Friday, though Wellstar CEO Candace Saunders and others talked about growth typically.
“This partnership will prepare extra physicians at Medical Faculty of Georgia to assist tackle a big scarcity of clinicians in our state,” Saunders stated. “These physicians will be taught on the MCG, lots of them will prepare at WellStar.”
The state and Wellstar once more touted alternatives to make use of telemedicine to increase medical care and scientific educating to rural elements of the state. How that will work is unclear.
Keel stated that Augusta College sought within the course of to “be certain that our workers are going to be protected to the easiest that we probably can. Wellstar has made that dedication.”
Perdue stated the agreements can be filed subsequent week with Georgia Legal professional Basic Chris Carr for evaluation, topic to a potential public listening to. The Federal Commerce Fee additionally critiques hospital mergers.
Augusta, GA
Lucy C. Laney Museum teaching MLK’s ties to Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are once again being celebrated across the nation today.
The civil rights icon is the only non-president with a federal holiday named in his honor.
On Monday, we learned the Lucy Craft Laney Museum is working to teach that history.
King was assassinated in April of 1968 when he was just 39 years old. He would be turning 96 this month.
King’s home congregation was in Atlanta – and just a few hours away, Augusta is full of history and ties to MLK as well.
History – we’re surrounded by it.
“One of the great things about Augusta is that we have a long legacy of civil rights here,” said Corey Rogers, a historian at the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History.
Names like reverend C.S. Hamilton and Lucy Craft Laney. Then there’s one name connected to Augusta in more ways than one.
“His entire family would often come here to Augusta for different Baptist conventions and different conferences that were being held here,” said Rogers.
Growing up, Dr. King and his family would stay at the Bohler House on Phillips Steet.
Far from his last stay here.
“Dr. King came here in 1962 with other civil rights leaders like Wyatt Walker, and they came here to talk about voter registration and voter education,” said Rogers.
Fast forward six years later.
“His return trip was geared around the second march on Washington, which was being framed as the poor people’s march,” said Rogers. “So he was crisscrossing Georgia, rallying people. Rallying the grassroots, getting them ready for this second march on Washington. Unfortunately, about a week and a half after leaving Augusta, he would be assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.”
Times have changed since – but one thing remains constant.
“Connecting people with their civil rights roots, telling them about the richness of Augusta and how the students at Paine College, the preachers in Augusta, the students from Augusta, came together and affected change in our city,” said Rogers.
Ensuring generations to come remember those who came before.
“It’s incumbent upon us to dig a little bit deeper,” said Corey Rogers, a historian at the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History. “Find out those connections between Dr. King and other civil rights leaders in those respective towns and share those stories because everybody, every town, every city has a very unique story to tell as it relates to civil rights and Dr. King.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Winter Storm Watch across Georgia beginning Tuesday. How much snow is in the forecast?
Inaugurations moved by weather: Trump joins the list
From blizzards to downpours, weather has shaped inaugurations. Donald Trump’s ceremony is the second time cold temperatures have moved the president-elect inside.
Ever since earlier this month, Georgians have been worried about another winter storm coming in. The forecasts are not looking favorable in this respect.
The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Watch on Monday for most of the central and southern Georgia areas. It will go into effect Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning.
How much snow will Georgia get?
Snowfall projections are varied depending on where you live. In the Atlanta and Athens area, there’s a 40% chance of snow Tuesday after 1 p.m. with less than half an inch accumulation.
In Macon, there’s a chance of flurries before 11 a.m. Tuesday then snow is likely after 4 p.m. The chance of precipitation is 60% with less than half an inch of snow accumulation.
Savannah is looking at snow and sleet Tuesday, becoming all snow after 1 a.m. The chance of precipitation is 90% with 1-2 inches of snow accumulation. There’s also a 30% chance of snow showers on Wednesday before 10 a.m.
Will Georgia get ice?
Current ice accumulation maps by NWS indicate the major concern is in the south with less than one-tenth inch in the Albany area, up to 0.25 inches in the Valdosta and Savannah areas.
Will it freeze in Georgia?
While areas like Augusta have not been issued a winter storm watch, whether snow or ice is expected, freezing or near-freezing conditions are practically everywhere. Here’s a look at some of the incoming temperatures:
- Athens: Tuesday high of 37 degrees, low of 17 degrees. Wednesday high of 38, low of 18.
- Atlanta: Tuesday high of 34 degrees, low of 16 degrees. Wednesday high of 36, low of 21.
- Augusta: Tuesday high of 40 degrees, low of 22 degrees. Wednesday high of 38, low of 20.
- Macon: Tuesday high of 40 degrees, low of 19 degrees. Wednesday high of 41, low of 19.
- Savannah: Tuesday high of 40 degrees, low of 27 degrees. Wednesday high of 37, low of 25.
Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on X and Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.
Augusta, GA
Local group holds supply giveaway after kids return to school
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Now that kids are back in school after the holiday break, many organizations are giving supplies away for free.
On Saturday, Purvis Huggins Realty partnered with Greater Young Zion Brotherhood to give students the opportunity to restock.
They say by the time January rolls around, students are likely out of supplies.
“I spoke with someone about it a year ago. It was one of the teachers I know, and she was telling me that by the time the school season starts, they have a lot of materials. But by the time they get to the middle of the year, they’re out,” said Purvis Huggins, owner of Purvis Huggins Realty.
In each bag, students got paper, pencils, notebooks and other items based on their grade.
Students were also able to get a haircut and snack while at the event.
Huggins says they plan to do a supply giveaway twice a year.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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