NGMC to hold community forums on development of new S. Hall hospital

BRASELTON - Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) has scheduled a series of community forums to give people a chance to learn more about about plans for the new hospital in South Hall, to be known as River Place, and to offer a chance for public input into the campus' development.

The forums are scheduled as follows:

Tues., Jan. 10, 2012Hall Co. Library Spout Springs Branch
Wed., Jan. 11, 2012Sugar Hill United Methodist Church, Buford
Tues., Jan. 24, 2012Town Hall Community Room, Braselton
Wed., Jan. 25, 2012Jackson EMC, Jefferson
Thurs., Jan. 26, 2012Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church, Dacula

All forums will be held from 6:00-7:30 and light refreshments will be served.

"The support from the Greater Braselton community was instrumental in our ability to obtain a Certificate of Need from the state for Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton," says Tracy Vardeman, VP of Strategic Planning and Marketing for Northeast Georgia Health System, "and our commitment throughout this process has been to give them the opportunity to provide input into the development of the River Place campus. This will be their community's hospital and healthcare destination, and we want to give them the chance to help make it their own."

The meetings will be facilitated by hospital staff and the hospital's chosen architect for the NGMC Braselton project, Hammel, Green and Abrahamson (HGA). HGA has extensive experience in helping communities and organizations achieve their vision and potential through responsive, innovative and sustainable design-achieved through knowledge sharing and community-based design investigation, says Vardeman.

For those unable to attend a community forum, NGMC is offering residents the opportunity to provide feedback through an online survey, which can be accessed at www.nghs.com/riverplace.

"Our hope is to get as much participation as possible from the Greater Braselton community," says Vardeman. "We know everyone is very busy, so perhaps the online option will allow some residents to participate who might not otherwise be able."