WellStar Columbia County Medical Center cleared for opening; county manager cites 90-day timeline

Columbia County Manager Scott Johnson said the WellStar Columbia County Medical Center has its certificate of occupancy and is roughly 90 days from admitting its first patients, a step he described as a ‘‘game changer’’ for local health-care access and the county’s economy.

Johnson told listeners the six-story facility at 5000 Gateway Boulevard near Grovetown sits on about 22 acres purchased by Augusta University and includes a roughly 254,000-square-foot hospital and an adjacent 92,000-square-foot medical office building. "This is a 100-bed hospital," he said, adding that rooms are designed to flex between medical-surgical and ICU-level care.

Why it matters: Johnson said the new hospital will shorten emergency transport times, reduce pressure on regional facilities in Augusta and keep more health-care spending local. He estimated the project will create more than 200 clinical and support jobs and cited integrated telehealth and digital tools that will let specialists consult in real time across the WellStar–Augusta network.

Background and approvals: Johnson traced the project to an initial RFP process begun about 2010–2011. He said the county pursued a ‘‘sole community provider’’ approach under Georgia’s certificate-of-need rules so a hospital partner could locate in Columbia County. He said the project faced legal challenges but eventually secured state approval in the mid-2010s, which allowed construction to proceed.

Financing and voter authorization: Johnson recalled that an early estimate required the county to provide about 30% of the then-estimated project cost (he characterized that commitment as roughly $30 million of an initial $100 million estimate) and that voters authorized capital funds to cover that pledge. He said the county and its newly formed hospital authority ultimately issued bonds and that the county is not responsible for ongoing hospital operating costs or indigent-care obligations.

Services and technology: Johnson said the hospital will open with a 17-bay emergency department, critical care, a level-two trauma designation at opening, six operating rooms, interventional radiology, cardiac catheterization labs, inpatient and outpatient imaging, endoscopy suites and pharmacy services. He added that each private patient room includes high-resolution cameras and touchscreen monitors to support telehealth and family communication.

Next steps: Johnson said furniture is being installed, staff are finishing preparations and the county expects a community open house ahead of an anticipated mid-to-late August opening. "If you need to be, they'll be ready for you," he said.

Attribution: Quotations and factual claims in this article are from Scott Johnson, county manager, as presented on the County Compass podcast.