Saint Joseph’s East Georgia continues to expand medical, surgical and diagnostic services at its renovated hospital facility near downtown Greensboro.

Saint Joseph’s East Georgia President, Mike Huff, announced that an additional 15 area physicians have recently joined the hospital staff. The medical staff now totals approximately fifty physicians, working with the hospital management team, Cassie Syme, director of operations, and recently hired Director of Nursing, Celia Covington.

Since March of 2008, Saint Joseph’s has invested approximately $1 million at the facility, adding the latest medical equipment and technology.

“Saint Joseph’s Health System has an international reputation for superior patient care. Our objective is to provide the same level of award winning service to the residents of Greene County and the Lake Oconee region,” said Mike Huff. Huff joined Saint Joseph’s this past January to oversee growth and improvements in the Lake Country.

Remodeling has been completed in the operating room, patient rooms, lobby, patient registration and emergency room areas. With the technology improvements, Saint Joseph’s East Georgia is now a primary provider of outpatient radiology services including MRI, mammography, ultrasound, bone densitometry and echocardiograms. Saint Joseph’s also offers an extensive menu of in-patient and out-patient surgical services and procedures including colonoscopy, eye surgery, urological surgery, vascular and orthopedic surgery. The hospital is also the source for a wide range of physical and occupational therapy programs, respiratory therapy including EKG, and radiology and laboratory services.

“People need high quality medical services located where they live,” states Huff. “Our goal is to provide that care now and into the future.” Huff noted that hospital services are also supported by the physicians and technology of Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta.

The local Board of Directors of Saint Joseph’s East Georgia plans to transition to a new 100,000 sq. ft. hospital building to be located on Highway 44 and Old Linger Longer Road. Focused on opening in late 2011 or early 2012, the plan incorporates advanced hospital-of-the-future features with the latest diagnostic, surgical and outpatient systems. The new building will include modern “green” design features that blend with the rural landscape plus state of the art surgical suites and patient rooms built for efficiency, comfort and safety.

A community philanthropy campaign is now being planned to provide furnishings, equipment and endowment for the new hospital. This important program is being co- chaired by Saint Joseph’s East Georgia board member, John Hoffner, and Dick O’Toole, both Greene County residents. The campaign is expected to run through the third quarter of 2009.