CLAYTON, Ga. (August 10, 2026) — Wellstar Health System and Mountain Lakes Medical Center (MLMC) today announced that Wellstar has completed its acquisition of the northeast Georgia-based hospital, following the conclusion of regulatory requirements and customary closing conditions.
Mountain Lakes Medical Center is a 25-bed critical access hospital serving Rabun County and surrounding northeast Georgia communities. With the completed acquisition, MLMC is now Wellstar Mountain Lakes Medical Center and the 12th hospital in Wellstar’s integrated health system.
“From our earliest conversations, it was clear that Mountain Lakes Medical Center was a special organization with a talented team, deep community roots and tremendous potential,” said Wellstar President and CEO Ketul J. Patel. “Completing this acquisition marks an important milestone in our shared commitment to build on the hospital’s strong foundation and create new possibilities for patients, clinicians and communities in the region.”
Wellstar Mountain Lakes Medical Center is a full-service, 25-bed acute care hospital with a Level IV Trauma Center that is staffed by highly trained medical professionals who are passionate about improving healthcare and redefining how their community thinks about health and wellness.
Patel said the completed acquisition reflects Wellstar’s broader vision of enhancing patient care across Georgia and the Southeast.
“At Wellstar, we’re building a connected healthcare ecosystem that links community hospitals, physicians, specialists, advanced clinical programs and digital capabilities into a seamless experience for patients. The Mountain Lakes team has an important role to play in that future.”
Patients will continue to have access to the clinicians and care teams they know and trust as Wellstar takes a phased and thoughtful approach to integrating patients, clinicians and team members into the Wellstar system.
As part of Wellstar, patients in the region will gain access to broader clinical expertise, advanced clinical programs, technology resources and operational support. Over time, patients and clinicians will also benefit from Wellstar’s Digital Care Network, which connects local care teams with specialists and advanced clinical programs across the system in real time, helping accelerate diagnosis, treatment planning and coordinated care.
Additional information and updates will continue to be shared with team members, clinicians, patients and the community as integration progresses.
About Wellstar Health System
Wellstar Health System is one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the Southeast and a growing destination for care across Georgia and beyond. Guided by its PeopleCare culture, Wellstar is advancing a bold vision to deliver exceptional quality, safety and patient experience while expanding access to world-class medicine.
Today, 35,000 team members, one of the region’s largest physician networks and 12 hospitals serve communities through more than 400 care locations, including cancer centers, rehabilitation facilities, urgent care centers and a digital care network that extends specialty expertise to community and rural hospitals. Wellstar’s nationally recognized programs span cardiology, neuroscience, oncology, orthopedics, pediatrics and other specialties, bringing advanced treatment closer to the people who need it.
Through partnerships that include Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia, Wellstar helps educate future clinicians, accelerate discovery and translate research into real-world impact. Recognized as one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For, Wellstar combines clinical excellence, innovation and collaboration to improve the health and well-being of every person it serves.
