State officials have approved Northeast Georgia Health System's (NGHS) application to develop a new surgery center on the Braselton campus.
The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) notified hospital officials on Monday, March 25 that the plans for the ambulatory surgery center can move forward. According to information released by NGHS, ambulatory surgery centers typically provide less complex procedures compared to hospitals, which can result in lower costs and patients going home the same day as surgery.
"We have invested in healthcare services in the Braselton area for more than a decade, and we strongly believe we’re in the best position to provide this service to improve care efficiency in our community,” said Louis Smith, president of Acute and Post-Acute Operations for NGHS. “We’re excited that the state agrees, and we look forward to next steps.”
The state allows other health systems 30 days to appeal the DCH application approval. If no appeals are filed, NGHS will work toward a tentative timeline to open the ambulatory surgery center.
Plans right now call for the surgery center to be located inside a new building, called Medical Plaza 2, on Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Braselton’s campus. The surgery center would occupy the first floor of the building and feature four operating rooms, two procedure rooms and 25,000-plus square feet of space. The other two floors of the building would house physician offices.
"We want to thank the hundreds of physicians and other healthcare providers who expressed their support through letters to the Department of Community Health, as well as the thousands of local residents, businesses, and civic leaders who voiced their desire for NGHS to develop the surgery center,” said NGMC Braselton President Anthony Williamson in a press statement. "We believe that support played a tremendous role in the state’s decision."
Williamson also said NGHS has made a six-percent indigent care commitment for the future ambulatory surgery center and anticipates exceeding that commitment. To that end, he said, the project has received support from nearly a dozen community organizations focused on providing care for the underinsured and uninsured.
NGMC Braselton is located just off Friendship Road east of SR 53 in Braselton.
