Wiregrass plans $25 million health-care building

Published 10:00 am Thursday, May 18, 2017

VALDOSTA — A $25 million health-care building is planned for a South Georgia campus.

Hospital Authority of Valdosta-Lowndes County Chair Sam Allen announced the Wiregrass Georgia Technical College plan to construct a new $25 million building for its health-care department.

Wiregrass President Tina K. Anderson said the school had completed designs for the building.

“Our goal is to raise $5 million locally,” said Ben Copeland, hospital authority member. “I’m confident that it will be built. It’s a need.”

Copeland said the authority has pledged $1 million to the project.

“Dr. Anderson, you certainly have our support,” Allen said.

Anderson praised South Georgia Medical Center for working closely with its health-care services program.

“A third of what we do is health-care services,” Anderson said, “We’ve designed it (the new building) so it meets the needs you’ve asked for.”

Anderson said Wiregrass’ last three students of the year were health-care services students.

The authority voted to approve new rooftop air handler units to replace outdated units, one for about $243,000 and one for about $215,000.

The authority also voted to approve a $1.5 million extension for the professional building to accommodate incoming new hires.

“We are really developing some ideas for how to keep the emergency department waiting room empty,” said Irene Sheppard, director of the SGMC emergency department.

Sheppard said SGMC needed more skilled nurses to improve service. She said “skilled nurses” were nurses with at least two years experience.

Richard Huth, administrator of SGMC’s Berrien and Lanier campuses, said, “I had six people come up and tell me how pleased they were with the Berrien Hospital.”

“It wasn’t that long ago we were talking about closing the Berrien campus,” Allen said.

The authority recognized Latosha Wells, Genise McGee, Bobbie Royals and Dr. Julio Menendez for their work saving a patient with heart trouble.

The authority went into executive session for about one hour and 15 minutes to discuss legal matters.

After the session, the authority voted to adjourn.

The Hospital Authority meets regularly 8 a.m., the third Wednesday of each month at the hospital’s executive board room. The authority will hold a special called meeting Tuesday, May 23, to make an announcement about CEO finalist Ross Berry.

The meetings are open to the public.