Oconee Regional Health Systems and Oconee Regional Medical Center in Milledgeville along with Central Georgia Health System and The Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon today announced their intent to enter a partnership that will allow the two entities to jointly develop healthcare services for the benefit of Milledgeville and its seven surrounding counties.

 “This partnership will allow our health system to keep its identity intact while greatly enhancing the patient-focused healthcare we have provided our local residents for so many years. Central Georgia Health System and The Medical Center of Central Georgia have excellent reputations, and their leadership and added resources will result in greater opportunities for local healthcare,” said Jean Aycock, President and CEO of ORHS and ORMC.  

The purpose of the partnership is focused on two specific areas.

“The primary goal of this partnership is to improve the value of healthcare for patients, providers and payors. Secondly, Oconee Regional Health Systems and Central Georgia Health System will provide the community with joint service focused quality, as well as increased service offerings for those in the Milledgeville area,” said Dr. Ninfa Saunders, President and CEO of CGHS and MCCG.

David Groseclose, ORMC Board Chairman, said the idea for an alignment with CGHS and MCCG is not new. Discussions between the healthcare entities have been underway for several months.

“We are excited about the opportunities that will be provided by this partnership - including increased coverage for our patients along the entire continuum of care, enhanced outpatient services and enhanced physician recruitment - while allowing greater cost savings through shared resources,” said Groseclose.  

Due to dramatic changes in the healthcare industry, alliances among healthcare providers have become a positive and necessary trend.

“As the face of healthcare continues to change, strategic alignments with community partners will ensure the viability and longevity of healthcare providers. Alliances like this increase a community hospital’s capabilities while keeping quality healthcare close to home,” said Starr Purdue, Chairman of CGHS’s Board of Directors.

Dr. James O. Smith, Jr., owner of a family practice in Milledgeville and an ORMC board member for 15 years, stated “in the new order of healthcare, smaller, not-for-profit community hospitals like ours can continue to thrive and grow when best practices and other resources are shared.” Aycock concurred.  

“At the end of the day, what matters most is not the corporation, but the patients,” said Aycock.

CGHS and ORHS, along with MCCG and ORMC, are members of Stratus Healthcare, a strategic nonequity network of health systems, hospitals and physicians that was formed in July 2013. The new partnership between CGHS, MCCG, ORHS and ORMC will allow the healthcare entities to work together in a more formal manner. CGHS is the parent company of MCCG, a national healthcare leader.