NGHS takes ownership over HMC

July 1^st marked the official day Habersham Medical Center would become Northeast Georgia Medical Center Habersham.

As WNEG News previously reported, The Hospital Authority of Hall County & the City of Gainesville, the Hospital Authority of Habersham County and Habersham County Government entered a five-year agreement to secure the future of HMC back in 2019.

That agreement called for the Hospital Authority of Hall County & the City of Gainesville to invest $3 million per year – for a total of $15 million over five years – in capital improvements to enhance and expand HMC’s services.

The first $3 million investment helped establish HMC’s Rehabilitation and Orthopedics Center.

The second and third investments funded renovation of Habersham Home (HMC’s senior living facility). The fourth $3 million investment was just issued in November.

The five-year agreement also included options for the Hospital Authority of Hall County & the City of Gainesville to assume ownership of HMC, in exchange for the total $15 million investment, at the end of the agreement in 2024 or earlier.

On Saturday, July 1^st, Habersham Medical Center officially became Northeast Georgia Medical Center Habersham and joined Northeast Georgia Health System.

Kevin Matson, who has been with NGHS since 2000, was recently named vice president of regional hospitals for NGHS. This role includes the day-to-day oversight of NGMC Habersham.

Hospital officials says patients can expect their care to remain the same, with the same providers and staff they’ve come to know over the years, as a number of Habersham specialty practices became Northeast Georgia Physicians Group during the transition.

Habersham Medical Group Internal Medicine and Geriatrics Rural Healthcare Clinic is now NGPG Internal Medicine; Habersham OB/GYN is now NGPG OB/GYN; Habersham Medical Group Orthopedics of North Georgia is now NGPG Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine; Habersham Medical Group Surgical Services is now NGPG Surgical Associates.

NGMC Habersham will host a free event to celebrate the transition, called Habersham Jam, on Saturday, July 15, from 6 to 9 p.m. Parking will be available at Piedmont University’s Mize Athletic Center, located at 428 laurel Avenue, in Demorest, with a shuttle service running every 15 minutes. Guests will be able to enjoy live music, food, games, touch-a-truck and more.

For additional information visit nghs.com/habersham.