Montez Carter, interim President of Saint Joseph’s East Georgia (SJEG), and Larry Kurlander, SJEG Board member, presented plans for the new St. Mary’s hospital at the New Springfield Baptist Church on Wednesday, October 26. They explained the benefits from and the services that will be offered at the new hospital, which will be located in Greene County.

Pastor Roi Johnson offered opening remarks in support of the new hospital, stating, “We are delighted to welcome St. Mary’s to our community. Their mission of providing outstanding, compassionate health care for all is well known in this region. We look forward to that same level of care, and to features such as enhanced services for stroke and cardiac care, as well as expanded digital imaging capabilities, which will be offered.”

Mr. Carter addressed the many accomplishments St. Joseph’s has made since purchasing the hospital three and a half years ago, including receipt of the 2010 Chairman’s Award from the Georgia Hospital Association, awarded to only 22 hospitals in the state, and the 2010 Gold Seal of Approval by The Joint Commission. He also mentioned that St. Mary’s was awarded the 2010 Georgia Large Hospital of the Year distinction for the second time in four years.

Mr. Kurlander added that, “The new hospital, which is scheduled to break ground in the second quarter of next year, will not only significantly improve the quality of care for residents of Greene County and surrounding communities, but it will also have a significant positive impact on our local economy.”

Construction of the new hospital is anticipated to cost between $35-40 million and will be entirely funded or financed by St. Mary’s Health Care System. It is expected to provide 18-20 months of salaries and benefits to local construction crews, as well as create approximately 60 new jobs within the hospital and 60 new jobs throughout the community. Its opening is anticipated sometime in early 2014. The 80,000 square foot facility is estimated to deliver approximately $30 million of annual incremental economic benefits to Greene County and the community within four years of opening.

St. Mary’s is seeking an additional $640,000 of annual support from the County to help cover the hospital’s more than $2.5 million of uncompensated care for the indigent and underserved. This request amounts to a tax increase on the average residential property in Greene County of about $84 per year, or $7 per month.

In addition to the direct funding of indigent care, the additional support will also be used to help control increases in indigent care costs by proactively offering new programs related to preventative medicine, women’s health, and wellness care initiatives.

Carter said he hopes that residents will support the requested increase in light of the significant improvements to health care provided by the new hospital, the substantial increase in economic benefits to the County, and St. Mary’s funding of the $35-40 million construction costs.