Unequaled Access to Care

“This podcast was created to meet our community where they are—online, on the go, and looking for credible health information,” said Erika Bennett, Vice President of Marketing & Network Development at SGMC Health. “By creating an approachable space for open conversations with trusted healthcare experts, we’re helping people better understand their health and feel empowered to take the next step.” 

The impact of What Brings You in Today? extends beyond audio alone. Short video clips and digital content amplify key messages, making it easy for listeners to engage, share, and revisit important health topics.

Together, these conversations reflect SGMC Health’s broader goal: to educate, connect, and support the community—one meaningful discussion at a time.

SGMC Health’s medical staff growth—from 300 providers in 2019 to nearly 700 today—reflects more than workforce expansion. It represents a health system intentionally built to increase access, deliver advanced care close to home, and improve the long‑term health of the communities it serves. 

In just two years, SGMC Health added more than 200 providers, including highly specialized physicians in cardiovascular care, orthopedics, neurosurgery, women’s health, and more.

This growth has directly increased patient access across the region. Annual clinic visits now surpass 400,000, marking a 112% increase in patient encounters in four years.

Primary care visits have risen 46%, surpassing 100,000 visits annually, while specialty visits have grown 156%, nearing 300,000 visits—ensuring patients can receive both preventive and advanced care without leaving the region. 

As clinical capabilities have expanded, SGMC Health has evolved into a regional referral center for high‑acuity, time‑sensitive care.

Emergency room transfers from surrounding hospitals more than doubled—from 1,471 in 2022 to 3,104 in 2025—a clear signal of growing trust from regional providers and EMS partners. 

This confidence is grounded in recognized clinical excellence. SGMC Health is the region’s only Level III Trauma Center, a Level I Emergency Cardiac Care Center, and a Primary Stroke Center designated by the Georgia Department of Public Health.

As a result, front‑door volumes continue to rise, with Emergency Department visits surpassing 104,000 and Urgent Care visits approaching 32,000 annually, reinforcing SGMC Health’s role as the region’s safety net. 

Progress is sustained by a culture that attracts top medical talent and a strong commitment to education.

A transformation is taking shape at SGMC Health’s main campus—one designed around access, experience, and the evolving needs of South Georgia.

The health system’s largest investment to date, a $150 million main campus expansion, continues to move forward and remains on track for completion in late 2026, when the doors will open to welcome patients into a new era of care.  

Emergency and trauma services are also expanding to meet rising demand.

The new Emergency Department is designed to support up to 90,000 annual visits and includes a Level III Trauma Center, strengthening SGMC Health’s ability to deliver advanced, time‑critical care to patients across the region. 

Beyond clinical services, the project redefines how patients and visitors experience the campus. A new main entrance on Woodrow Wilson Drive improves traffic flow, wayfinding, and overall accessibility, creating a clearer and more welcoming front door to care. 

From the first moments of life to life‑saving emergency care, the main campus expansion reflects a clear focus on access, quality, and experience—ensuring SGMC Health is prepared to meet the needs of the region for generations to come.