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Small and Rural Hospitals Receive Lifeline From Digital Care Network

Wellstar Digital Care Network helps hospitals across Georgia treat complex medical conditions while keeping patients close to home.

Published on June 11, 2025

Last updated 01:18 PM June 11, 2025

A healthcare provider greets his patient online

Augusta, Ga. (June 11, 2025) -- Small and rural hospitals across the country too often struggle to survive, faced with the monumental challenges of providing specialized care to sparsely populated communities. Wellstar, in affiliation with Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia (MCG) Center for Digital Health, is working to change that. Through the Wellstar Digital Care Network, Georgians in rural communities are accessing crucial resources more quickly and conveniently than they could just a few years ago.

Twenty-four percent of rural critical access hospitals in Georgia take advantage of the Wellstar Digital Care Network to strengthen their local emergency departments and inpatient and critical care units. Through this network, they can access needed specialists remotely—experts who might otherwise be out of reach. Care includes adult and pediatric emergency room triage, inpatient and intensive care unit (ICU) support, and critical disease management.

“Our team’s digital care supplements the great work already being done at these rural hospitals,” said Dr. Matt Lyon, director of the MCG Center for Digital Health and a specialist in emergency medicine. “We do more than support these fantastic care teams as they treat their patients. We also uplift their communities by helping keep their healthcare local.”

About 70% of patients in the program remain at a nearby hospital for treatment—a dramatic reversal from when the digital care program started in 2019, when only 30% of patients remained in their local hospital.

“Small hospitals are often challenged to provide the infrastructure needed for specialty services, much less multiple types of specialty services,” said Dr. Hank Capps, executive vice president and chief information and digital officer for Wellstar Health System. “We’re using technology to help bridge these gaps so more Georgia physicians and their patients can access specialty care close to home when they need it most.”

The innovative program has helped some hospitals improve their financial outlook, avoid closure and even expand services to benefit their communities. In Metter, northwest of Savannah, Candler County Hospital went from facing likely closure—admitting an average of only two to three patients per day—to regularly caring for up to 25 patients at a time.

“We noticed that a high number of our patients would avoid care instead of driving farther distances to larger healthcare institutions. Because of the advanced care offered through the Digital Care Network, we were able to expand our existing services and offer more critical care, which enabled more people to receive care locally,” said Michael Purvis, former chief executive officer of Candler County Hospital and current chief executive officer of Dodge County Hospital in Eastman. “As a result, we decreased our transfers by 50% and were able to justify more acute inpatient days. We appreciate the team approach that the digital care leadership has established through this very meaningful program.”

A similar story unfolded east of Athens in Washington, Ga., where Wills Memorial Hospital was able to launch the state’s third long-term ventilator management program for patients who need daily mechanical ventilation for more than three weeks. While most patients get discharged before this point, this program provides a critical resource for people who need extended acute care to properly transition off respiratory support.

In addition to support from Wellstar doctors, rural hospitals in the network are sharing best practices and, when needed, transferring patients to one another to keep care as close to home as possible. For example, a patient who requires a higher level of ICU care might now be transferred to Dodge County Hospital.

“The best thing I ever saw was a helicopter bringing a patient to Dodge instead of taking a patient from Dodge,” said LaDon Toole, former chief executive officer of Dodge County Hospital and current chief executive officer of Memorial Hospital and Manor in Bainbridge. “We are proud to be a vital resource for not only our patients, but also for other communities.”

The Wellstar Digital Care Network’s collaboration with small and rural hospitals goes beyond emergency and critical care. In partnership with MCG, Wellstar also provides remote access to tele-stroke, cardiology, sickle cell, transplant and pediatric subspecialty services for physicians and patients across Georgia.

“Through real-time conversations about diagnoses and treatments, our care team is able to join these doctors in the trenches as they meet the emerging and often urgent needs of their patients,” Dr. Lyon said. “This network saves time, saves lives and even saves hospitals. I am so grateful for how Wellstar and MCG care for the people of Georgia.”

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Inclement Weather Update

January 25 at 10:25 AM

Urgent Care locations at Delk Road, East Roswell and Camp Creek will be closed Sunday, January 25th.

January 24 at 11:15 PM

All Urgent Care and Health Park locations will have a delayed opening at 10 AM on Sunday, January 25th.

Due to winter weather and the potential for icy road conditions beginning January 24, some Wellstar locations and care facilities may have modified hours to ensure the safety of our patients and team members. Please call ahead to confirm hours as conditions develop and use caution when driving.

Wellstar Urgent Care locations will close at 7 PM on January 24.

If you have an existing appointment at Wellstar, watch for messages from your care team and call ahead if you have questions or concerns.

We remain committed to meeting your care needs throughout this weather event. For your safety and convenience, Wellstar Care Now, our virtual urgent care, is open 24/7. Get started at wellstar.org/virtualcare.

We will continue to monitor the weather. There may be additional delays or early closures as local conditions develop.

Thank you for trusting Wellstar with your care.

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On January 15, 2026, Wellstar Health System marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day through a powerful systemwide streaming event, viewed across hospitals, health parks, practices and offices via in-person watch parties and virtual access. Thousands of team members paused together to reflect, learn and recommit to service through a shared experience designed to unite the system.

Anchored by the theme “Carrying the Torch, Expanding the Dream: The Enduring Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King,” the program centered on Coretta Scott King’s essential, and often underrecognized, leadership. Beyond her role as partner and strategist in the Civil Rights Movement, Coretta Scott King founded The King Center, helped secure the establishment of the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday and extended the movement globally through advocacy for peace, economic justice and human rights, including early and sustained support for LGBTQ+ equality. Her work underscored that the movement’s progress depended on courageous, collective leadership.

The streaming event featured a reflective musical performance by cellist Okorie Johnson and an interfaith prayer by Wellstar Director of Spiritual Health Rev. Sarah Murray. Wellstar President and CEO Ketul J. Patel offered opening remarks and kicked off a compelling conversation between Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center, and Monica Kaufman Pearson, former Atlanta news anchor and current host for Atlanta News First and Peachtree TV. Their dialogue explored the enduring relevance of both leaders’ teachings, emphasizing nonviolence as a guiding philosophy alongside unity, moral courage and action as essential to creating positive change. Wellstar Chief Human Resources Officer David A. Jones offered brief closing remarks as the executive sponsor of the event.

In keeping with the spirit of Dr. King’s legacy, Wellstar encourages team members to carry this work forward not only by participating in volunteer opportunities on MLK Day, but by engaging in service and advocacy throughout the year, reinforcing the ongoing commitment Wellstar has to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging across the communities it serves.

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The start of a new year is a great time to focus on your health. For many of us, that means setting resolutions to live a healthy, full life. While many people like to reset their health goals in January, Wellstar partners with patients year-round to help them feel their best.

By following tips from Wellstar health experts, you can create realistic resolutions and better your health—making healthy choices a lifelong habit rather than a short-term goal.

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When it comes to your wellness goals, staying healthy starts with a visit to your Wellstar primary care team.

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To check your health status and screen for potential medical issues, your clinician will take your Foundational 4 numbers, a few screenings that identify risk factors for some health conditions such as heart disease.

Blood pressure

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Blood glucose level

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“While primary care physicians help patients meet long-term wellness goals, we’re also here for you when you’re sick,” said Wellstar Primary Care Physician Dr. Georgia Forrest. “Your primary care provider is already familiar with your background and health needs, so we can seamlessly continue that care and help you get back on track when you’re ill.”

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With Wellstar Care Now, you can access care from your phone, tablet or computer whether you are at home, at work or on the go. This convenient and secure option is designed to fit into your life while delivering the same trusted care you expect from Wellstar.

Our team can evaluate symptoms, recommend treatment options and prescribe medication when appropriate. Virtual care is ideal for non-emergency medical needs and helps you get care faster, without waiting rooms or travel time.Wellstar Care Now supports a wide range of everyday health needs, including:

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Getting started is simple. Visit the Wellstar Care Now page to begin a virtual visit or schedule a same-day appointment.

In an emergency, such as if you are having trouble breathing or experiencing chest pain, call 911.

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