Announcing SGMC Health

South Georgia Medical Center and its campuses and affiliates will operate under a new health system name, SGMC Health, beginning Nov. 1. Opening as Pineview Hospital in 1955 and known as South Georgia Medical Center (SGMC) since 1971, the evolvement of the health system name to SGMC Health is a result of the organization’s continued growth and commitment to creating unequaled access to care through the expansion of needed healthcare services and locations across the region.

According to SGMC Health President and Chief Executive Officer Ronald E. Dean,

Operating as a 501c3, non-profit organization, SGMC Health paves the way for expansion and the future of healthcare for our region. SGMC Health employs and independently contracts with over 3,100 team members and is privileged to have a medical staff of 600+ providers. The health system generates an economic impact to the region of over $1 billion annually.

SGMC Health Board Chairman Sam Allen shared that this change has been contemplated for many years. “We believe now is the time for our name to reflect the organization we have grown into over the years,” said Allen.

SGMC Health provides an array of inpatient, outpatient, and ambulatory services in a variety of locations including four hospitals: SGMC Health Main, SGMC Health Smith Northview, SGMC Health Berrien, and SGMC Health Lanier. The system also operates a growing network of specialty care centers and services with regional prominence including heart, vascular, stroke, neurosciences, trauma, cancer, orthopedics, surgery, women and infants, long-term care services, and emergency medical services.

SGMC Health operates the SGMC Physician Network, an expansive physician network with locations in Lowndes, Berrien, and Lanier counties. This network includes more than 100 specialists in family medicine, internal medicine, cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, endocrinology, gastroenterology, general surgery, infectious disease, interventional physiatry, neurology, neurosurgery, occupational medicine, orthopedics, pain management, pulmonology, wound care, oncology, and women's health.

SGMC Health and its affiliate organizations, the South Georgia Medical Center Foundation and South Georgia Health Alliance, support the philanthropic services of the health system and operate Langdale Place, a 103-resident personal care facility and Hospice of South Georgia and Langdale Hospice House which encompasses a 15-bed inpatient hospice facility and regional in-home hospice care services.

SGMC Health, in affiliation with Mercer University School of Medicine, provides graduate medical education opportunities for physicians through residency training programs and medical student clinical site rotations. Fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation while helping to attract and retain healthcare professionals to South Georgia, this partnership aims to expand the number of high-quality physicians interested in providing healthcare in our region.

To learn more about SGMC Health, visit sgmc.org.

Trauma Center Designation

SGMC Health announced its main campus’ designation as Georgia’s newest Level III Trauma Center in June 2023. The trauma program is equipped with 24/7 coverage by skilled surgeons and specialized staff to care for patients at a moment’s notice.

Smith Northview Reopening

SGMC Health celebrated the grand reopening of its Smith Northview hospital in January 2023 as the second fully operational hospital in Lowndes County. The hospital features 12 additional emergency care beds, 45 acute inpatient care beds, an expanded gastroenterology suite, and a nearby urgent care center on the campus.

Berrien Expansion

SGMC Health kicked off the expansion of its Berrien County hospital with a groundbreaking ceremony in May 2023. The $15 million project includes a new two-story emergency room addition that is expected to be completed in Fall 2024.

Residency Program

In partnership with Mercer University School of Medicine, SGMC Health launched its Internal Medicine Residency Program in 2021 and has since welcomed two classes of resident physicians and opened a continuity clinic to provide increased access to primary care. The program trains the next generation of physicians and works to enhance physician recruitment and retention efforts.

Heart & Vascular

SGMC Health has drastically raised the level of heart and vascular care available since 2022, becoming South Georgia's most comprehensive program, offering open heart surgery, a structural valve center, and cardiac electrophysiology services. Because of these expanded services, patients can receive cutting-edge procedures close to home.

Physician Network

Over the past 5 years, SGMC Health has grown its Physician Network to include 80+ employed physicians in a variety of specialties and a vast network of more than 600 affiliated providers. This makes SGMC’s Physician Network the most comprehensive and most specialized group in the region.

Why change to SGMC Health?

What does this mean for patients?

Changing our name from South Georgia Medical Center to SGMC Health primarily reflects a brand and identity update, and it does not have a direct impact on patient care. We remain fully committed to providing the same high-quality healthcare services and personalized care that our patients have come to expect.

This transition to SGMC Health represents a positive change for our region. It signifies our commitment to offering comprehensive healthcare services beyond the traditional hospital setting. While we are still the same trusted institution, our new name better reflects our expanding range of healthcare services that go beyond inpatient care.

Is my current doctor a part of SGMC Health or will I need to find a new one?

Will this name change affect how I am billed? What about outstanding current bills, payments, or refunds?

Will this name change affect my insurance coverage or Medicare benefits?

Will signage change for all SGMC Health locations?