Augusta, GA
What will AU-Wellstar hospital merger mean for you?
AUGUSTA, Ga. – A deliberate partnership between Augusta College Well being and an Atlanta-area well being care system displays a pattern of hospital mergers throughout the nation and within the Peach State.
Augusta College Well being mentioned Tuesday it signed a letter of intent to affix the Marietta-based nonprofit Wellstar Well being System.
It will be a part of a sequence of hospital mergers in Georgia and nationwide, as standalone hospitals turn into giant sufficient programs to afford huge investments in digital report programs — and now have the market energy to barter extra profitable cost agreements with insurers.
However how will it have an effect on well being care choices for CSRA residents.
College, Wellstar and state leaders are hailing the plans, and we have now but to listen to from anybody opposing it.
Any deal is way from remaining although, and spokespeople mentioned they may not reply key questions, together with how a lot Wellstar may pay to take over the system’s hospitals.
Atlanta-based Piedmont Healthcare took over College Well being primarily based in Augusta earlier this yr, pledging to speculate greater than $1 billion in upgrades and expansions over the subsequent 10 years. Regardless of the title, College wasn’t affiliated with AU.
AU Well being runs the 478-bed Augusta College Medical Middle and the 154-bed Youngsters’s Hospital of Georgia. It additionally has regulatory approval to construct a 100-bed hospital in rising Columbia County. The system additionally runs the Georgia Most cancers Middle in Augusta, and Roosevelt Heat Springs Rehabilitation and Specialty Hospitals in Heat Springs.
AU mentioned the deal might assist pay for the Columbia County hospital and improve different AU Well being System amenities.
“That is excellent news for the Augusta area and for well being care throughout our state,” Gov. Brian Kemp tweeted. “It means extra medical doctors and medical service suppliers, extra choices for well being care and better innovation on this discipline are coming to Georgia communities.”
Within the 2021 fiscal yr, AU Well being misplaced $28 million on $1.06 billion in income — which is the latest yr for which a state audit is obtainable. Income included $30 million in state appropriations. The system has misplaced $63 million general since 2017, audits present.
AU Well being has been in search of a accomplice since 2019.
The 2 sides say that the deal might additionally end in an additional growth of the Medical School of Georgia by creating a brand new regional campus at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta. The medical faculty already operates a separate four-year campus in Athens, in addition to three two-year campuses for upper-division medical college students in Rome, Albany, Savannah and Brunswick.
The announcement additionally mentioned Augusta College and Wellstar would work collectively to develop on-line well being care to “create extra handy entry to care and supply extra individualized care no matter location.”
Wellstar runs 9 hospitals in suburban Atlanta, principally concentrated within the northwest suburbs.
Nonetheless, the system has confronted intense criticism in latest months after it shuttered Atlanta Medical Middle close to downtown Atlanta and Atlanta Medical Middle South in East Level this yr.
Wellstar mentioned it misplaced $122 million on the two hospitals in 2022. However critics mentioned Wellstar pulled out with out giving native officers an opportunity to save lots of the hospitals, eliminating one in all solely two top-level trauma facilities within the Atlanta space. This decreased obtainable medical take care of poor and principally Black sufferers, and shifted burdens onto remaining hospitals, regardless of its obligation to supply care as a nonprofit system.
Gov. Brian Kemp despatched $130 million in federal pandemic funds to Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta’s publicly owned hospital, to assist offset the affect of the closure.
The College System of Georgia Board of Regents must approve any remaining settlement between AU Well being and Wellstar.
“By becoming a member of forces and dealing collectively, we will leverage Wellstar’s medical platform and modern programs to assist sufferers whereas offering extra alternatives for college students to study, prepare and take care of residents in native communities throughout Georgia,” College System Chancellor Sonny Perdue mentioned in an announcement.
A assessment would even be required by Georgia Legal professional Common Chris Carr and is topic to a public listening to. The Federal Commerce Fee additionally evaluations hospital mergers. Accrediting businesses must approve an growth of the Medical School of Georgia, nevertheless it wasn’t instantly clear in the event that they must approve Wellstar taking on the hospitals.
Copyright 2022 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
New Orleans mass killer spent years in the CSRA
THOMSON, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The New Orleans attacker once lived in Thomson, where he was married to a woman before they divorced after three years.
It was during a time when he served in the Army, and we’re working to confirm he worked at Fort Eisenhower, which was then known as Fort Gordon.
ISIS-inspired attacker Shamsud-Din Jabbar steered around a police blockade and plowed into a crowd of New Year’s revelers before exiting the truck and shooting at people on Bourbon Street. He was shot dead by police, but not before killing at least 14 people.
Authorities said Thursday they believed he acted alone, yet they’re seeking additional potential suspects in the attack that happened as countless Georgians were in New Orleans to see the Bulldogs play in the Sugar Bowl.
Jabbar and Tiera Symond Whitfield were married in Augusta on Sept. 15, 2013, after receiving a marriage license in McDuffie County, according to court records.
They divorced in DeKalb County 2016 over irreconcilable differences and stating that there was no hope they would get back together, according to news reports.
Online records showed Jabbar lived on Holt Street in Thomson for a time, apparently during the marriage.
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When we asked the Thomson police chief about a connection between Jabbar and the city, we were referred to the FBI.
The FBI told us: “We are following up and doing interviews with relatives from Georgia in that area.”
News 12 also contacted Fort Eisenhower to learn whether he’d ever been at the post when he was in the Army.
Fort Eisenhower referred us up the chain of command to the Pentagon, where an Army spokesperson told us:
“Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar was in the regular Army as a Human Resource Specialist (42A) and Information Technology (IT) Specialist (25B) from March 2007 until January 2015 and then in the Army Reserve as an IT Specialist (25B) from January 2015 until July 2020. He deployed to Afghanistan from February 2009 to January 2010. He held the rank of Staff Sergeant at the end of service.”
Although the Army wouldn’t directly confirm he’d served at Fort Eisenhower – then known as Fort Gordon – the service periods released by the Pentagon do match up with the time he lived in Thomson.
Meanwhile, authorities are investigating possible connections between Jabbar and another soldier who died in another apparent attack attempt Wednesday.
Active-duty soldier Matthew Livelsberger died in a Tesla Cybertruck packed with explosives outside a Trump hotel in Las Vegas. Seven people were injured.
Authorities say they don’t believe the Las Vegans and New Orleans incidents were related.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Augusta Concrete Co Earns 2024 Excellence in Customer Service Award
Augusta, GA – Augusta Concrete Co [https://augustaconcreteco.com/], a leading provider of concrete construction services in the Central Georgia region, is proud to announce its recognition as the recipient of the 2024 Excellence in Customer Service Award by the Georgia Construction Alliance. This prestigious accolade underscores the company’s unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences alongside industry-leading concrete solutions.
The award was presented on December 28 during the annual Georgia Construction Summit, where Augusta Concrete Co was celebrated for their dedication to timely communication, high-quality craftsmanship, and a client-focused approach. The selection committee highlighted the company’s proven ability to exceed customer expectations in both residential and commercial projects.
A representative for Augusta Concrete Co shared, “This award reflects our team’s mission to not only provide durable and aesthetically pleasing concrete work but to ensure that every client feels heard, supported, and valued throughout the process. We’re grateful to our loyal customers and talented staff who make this recognition possible.”
With services that include concrete driveways, patios, foundations, retaining walls, and decorative concrete finishes, Augusta Concrete Co has built a reputation for reliability, precision, and innovation. The company’s stamped and stained concrete offerings, in particular, have become a sought-after choice for clients seeking functional yet visually appealing solutions.
Over the past year, Augusta Concrete Co has garnered consistent five-star reviews for their punctuality, transparent pricing, and dedication to keeping projects on schedule and within budget. Beyond their technical expertise, the company regularly updates clients on project progress and works closely with homeowners and business owners to tailor solutions to their unique needs.
This latest recognition reinforces Augusta Concrete Co’s standing as a customer-first contractor in the competitive concrete industry. Moving forward, the company plans to expand their services and incorporate sustainable materials to further benefit their customers and the community.
About Augusta Concrete Co
Augusta Concrete Co is a premier concrete contractor serving Augusta, GA, and surrounding areas. Offering a range of services from residential driveways and patios to commercial concrete foundations and retaining walls, the company combines superior craftsmanship with unmatched customer service. Augusta Concrete Co is committed to enhancing the durability, functionality, and aesthetic appeal of every project they undertake.
For more information, visit http://www.augustaconcreteco.com
Media Contact
Company Name: Augusta Concrete Co
Contact Person: Grayson Labonte
Email:Send Email [https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=augusta-concrete-co-earns-2024-excellence-in-customer-service-award]
Country: United States
Website: https://augustaconcreteco.com
This release was published on openPR.
Augusta, GA
Lions Fall to Augusta 67-56
Augusta, GA – The Emmanuel Women’s Basketball team traveled to Augusta, GA to take on the Augusta University Jaguars today in non-conference play. The Lions came out of the gate strong, outscoring the Jaguars 15-14 in the first quarter, but a strong second quarter for the home team gave Augusta a 34-23 lead going into the break. The Jaguars continued to control the pace of the game the rest of the way, coming away with a 67-56 victory. With the loss, the Lions fall to 4-9 on the season. The game was a competitive one from the start, with multiple…
Read more at Emmanuel University (Ga.)
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