John A. Ferguson Jr., who guided Northeast Georgia Health System as it transitioned from a small community hospital to a large regional health system serving all of Northeast Georgia, died Sunday. He was 82.
In his 40 years in leadership of the health system, Ferguson developed a primary care network that brought physicians to counties across Northeast Georgia, brought neonatal intensive care services to the area and opened Laurelwood to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment.
In 1986, Ferguson led NGMC through corporate reorganization, which enabled the organization to expand health care services across county lines and improve health care for residents throughout northeast Georgia. And Ferguson helped lead the fight to overturn a state decision which banned NGHS from beginning open heart surgery.
Ferguson not only helped the system with innovative technologies, but he is also credited with shaping the health system's culture of mutual and genuine respect.
While CEO at NGHS, he planned weekend getaways with hospital leadership to strengthen their bonds to one another and regularly made rounds to every area of the growing organization to see what
employees needed to care for their patients and to stay connected to the people who
cleaned the hallways, laundered the linen, provided bedside care.
Ferguson was also devoted to his family, his friends and his community. He made sure he made it home to see his youngest enjoy his first snow day. Ferguson was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and trusted friend.
Ferguson served on many community and civic boards including United Way of Hall County, the board of Lakeview Academy and was in the second class of Leadership Georgia. He has been honored by many local civic organizations including the Hall County Chapter of the American Heart Association, Junior Achievement, and the naming of the NGHS Board Room at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. He was an
active member of Gainesville First Methodist Church where he served in various leadership positions.
Ferguson attended Georgia Tech on a football and baseball scholarship and earned a master’s degree in engineering. In 1964, John came to the then-Hall County Hospital as the first hospital engineer in the state. Within four years of joining the organization, he became the youngest hospital administrator in
Georgia, at the age of 28.
A celebration of life will be held Friday, January 28 at 3:00 PM at Gainesville First United Methodist Church. The NGHS Foundation and Auxiliary will host a reception in his honor at the Chattahoochee Country Club immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the following: Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center, 2150 Limestone Pkwy #222, Gainesville, 30501; John Ferguson Scholarship Fund, NGHS Foundation, 2150 Limestone Pkwy #115; Gainesville First United Methodist Church, 2780 Thompson Bridge Rd, Gainesville, 30506; Alzheimer’s Assn, 41 Perimeter Center E #550, Atlanta, GA 30346
