Wellstar Community Health Programs

Wellstar Columbia County Medical Center is nearing completion and is scheduled to open Aug. 26. The six-story, 100-bed hospital is located at 5000 Gateway Blvd. in Grovetown.

“It’s phenomenal to get to this level of substantial completion with construction because it means we’re that much closer to increasing access to care across the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA),” said Ralph Turner, president of Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center.

The new medical center expands healthcare services already offered in Augusta for more rural counties like McDuffie and provides additional learning opportunities for students at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. Students will train using the latest technologies in healthcare.

“This is 12 years of a dream that began with a commitment to better serve this community,” said Augusta University President Russell Keen. “What’s being built here is an investment in the CSRA as well as an important part of strengthening the healthcare workforce across Georgia through Wellstar MCG Health, Augusta University and the Medical College of Georgia.”

Wellstar Columbia County will feature new technologies that improve the way healthcare is delivered. While the hospital will have dedicated intensive care unit (ICU) rooms, every patient room is acuity adaptable and can function as an ICU room, with minimal investment, if the need arises.

Patient rooms will also include cameras, enabling patients to access telehealth visits with specialists or family members.

“That is the pivotal piece of the telehealth technology at a community hospital. We’ll be able to digitally connect specialty providers at Wellstar MCG Health in downtown Augusta with patients and their care team in Columbia County without having to be in the building,” said Tammy Moore, chief nursing officer of Wellstar Columbia County.

A digital whiteboard will display the patient’s name and medical history, allowing greater visibility between patients and their care teams. It will also help ensure care teams have the most up-to-date medical information when making diagnoses or medical decisions at the bedside.

In addition, the hospital was built with larger windows to incorporate more natural light, which has been proven to have a positive effect on patients’ overall well-being.

A 92,000-square-foot Medical Office Building—adjacent to the hospital and featuring 11 outpatient clinics—remains under construction and is scheduled to open later this fall.

Whether you’re planning to grow your family, expecting a baby or navigating the early days of parenthood, Wellstar Cobb Medical Center supports women and families across Cobb County with expert, compassionate maternal care.

The Women’s Center at Wellstar Cobb is a Level III Maternal Care Center designated by The Joint Commission and the Georgia Department of Public Health. Families have access to comprehensive services including OB/GYN care, maternal-fetal medicine, labor and delivery, a dedicated Obstetric Emergency Department and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for premature and critically ill newborns. The Women’s Center also features recently refreshed spaces designed to enhance comfort and privacy, elevating the patient experience.

By combining advanced technology, family-centered care and personalized support, Wellstar Cobb is committed to helping mothers and babies thrive.

OB/GYN care

The OB/GYNs at Wellstar Cobb provide personalized care for women through every stage of life. Our team offers a range of maternal services, including:

• Family planning and sexual health
• Prenatal care and delivery
• High-risk pregnancy care
• Postpartum care and support
• Infertility evaluation and treatment

Beyond pregnancy and postpartum care, OB/GYNs also support women’s long-term health through preventive screenings, gynecologic care, menopause care and wellness services tailored to individual needs.

Maternal-fetal medicine

Maternal-fetal medicine specialists care for women experiencing high-risk pregnancies. These experts work closely with OB/GYNs to monitor both mother and baby, helping families navigate complex conditions with clarity and confidence.

At Wellstar Cobb, our maternal-fetal medicine team treats women with high-risk factors such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, infectious diseases and multiple births. Specialists also use advanced imaging, genetic screening and fetal monitoring to help identify and manage complications as early as possible.

Labor and delivery

Wellstar Cobb offers maternity services designed to help mothers and babies stay safe and comfortable throughout labor, delivery and recovery. Because every birth experience is different, care teams prioritize shared decision-making and support birth plans that include midwives and doulas.

Labor and delivery teams work closely with NICU specialists whenever advanced support or monitoring is needed. The onsite Level III NICU allows newborn specialists to provide immediate care for mothers and babies.

“Our team is equipped to care for both routine and high-risk deliveries, including babies born as early as 22 weeks,” said Megan Kemp, NICU nurse manager at Wellstar Cobb.

Families can expect private, comfortable rooms designed to encourage bonding and recovery after delivery. Wellstar Cobb’s compassionate, family-centered approach promotes skin-to-skin contact and helps minimize separation between parents and babies whenever possible.

Lactation consultants and specially trained nurses offer breastfeeding guidance throughout the hospital stay.

Obstetric Emergency Department

The Obstetric Emergency Department at Wellstar Cobb provides 24/7 specialized care for patients who are 20 weeks pregnant through six weeks postpartum. Patients are evaluated directly by board-certified obstetric providers, who work closely with maternal-fetal medicine experts, anesthesiologists, neonatologists, nurses and midwives to deliver coordinated care.

Services include rapid diagnosis and treatment for urgent pregnancy concerns, fetal monitoring and ultrasound, and care for pregnancy-related or postpartum complications. Specialists also provide emotional guidance and resources for families, including support during high-risk pregnancies or loss.

“Pregnancy can bring moments of uncertainty and having immediate access to obstetric experts can make all the difference,” said Dr. Jessica Williams, OB/GYN medical director at Wellstar Cobb. “The Obstetric Emergency Department allows us to respond quickly, provide clarity and help families feel supported from the moment they walk through the door.”

NICU

Wellstar Cobb is home to a Level III NICU providing advanced care for premature and medically complex newborns. The care team includes neonatologists, neonatal nurses and respiratory therapists specially trained to care for critically ill newborns.

“Having a Level III NICU in Cobb County means families can access advanced neonatal care close to home during some of the most critical moments of their lives,” Kemp said. “This allows families to stay near their support systems while their baby receives specialized care.”

Recent NICU updates reflect Wellstar Cobb’s commitment to high-quality care for mothers, babies and families across Cobb County. Designed to create a bright and welcoming environment, the renovated space helps families feel more comfortable and connected during a challenging time. Parents have access to 24-hour camera streaming so they can securely check in on their baby remotely.

Lactation services and breastfeeding education are available in the NICU and across the Women’s Center. The hospital also supports a milk depot program that helps provide donor milk for premature and medically fragile infants in the NICU.

Throughout the NICU stay, care teams partner with parents in their baby’s care. “Our team encourages bonding through skin-to-skin care, breastfeeding support and involvement in the baby’s care whenever possible,” Kemp said. “We want every mother to feel informed, supported and connected throughout her journey.”

Resources and support

Wellstar Cobb offers educational resources and programs for patients before, during and after pregnancy.

My Pregnancy Journey includes trimester-specific guidance on topics such as physical and emotional changes, nutrition, wellness and medication safety. Women and families can also connect with classes on childbirth, breastfeeding and newborn care, along with mental health and parenting resources.

“Many families are surprised to learn that they can access such advanced neonatal and maternal care close to home at Wellstar Cobb,” Kemp said. “From specialized NICU care to lactation and family support resources, our goal is to care for the entire family every step of the way.”

Learn more about maternal care services at Wellstar Cobb.

Annual lung cancer screenings are recommended preventive screenings—much like mammograms and colonoscopies. Yet in Georgia, fewer than 14% of patients who are eligible for lung cancer screenings get them.

Why the hesitation?

According to Dr. Daniel Fortes, a board-certified thoracic surgeon at Wellstar, the reasons for hesitation may include:

• Guilt: “I smoked. If there’s a problem, I caused it.”
• A lack of awareness about screening and insurance coverage
• Fear that screening will find something abnormal

It's important for current and former smokers age 50 and older to champion their health and stay up to date on lung screenings. When caught early, lung cancer is more treatable and likely curable.

“Wellstar puts our patients at the center of their care,” Dr. Fortes said. “We do everything to minimize patient anxiety and maximize the speed at which they travel through the system, so that we can get them to their treatment as quickly as possible.”

What is lung cancer screening?

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women. For many years, most cases were not detected until the disease was already advanced.

That began to change about 20 years ago. Research revealed that screenings with low-dose CT scans were finding cancer earlier, at a stage that is far more treatable. Today, we know that annual low-dose CT screenings for individuals at high risk have been shown to reduce lung cancer deaths by about 20%.

“That was a breakthrough,” Dr. Fortes said. “It was the first time we knew that there was something we could do to decrease the mortality of lung cancer proactively.”

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a government agency, added annual lung cancer screenings to its list of recommended screenings. Medicaid, Medicare and most private insurance plans began covering the costs for patients over 50 whose smoking histories put them at risk.

The screening is painless and fast. Sometimes, the CT scan reveals a lung nodule, or a small, round growth. But not all nodules are cancerous. Old infections, scarring or inflammation can cause benign (non-cancerous) nodules. If the scan is abnormal, the patient will be referred to a Wellstar STAT Clinic for Lung Cancer.

Shorter time from diagnosis and treatment

At Wellstar, STAT Clinics (short for Specialty Teams and Treatments) provide dedicated guidance and help shorten the time from diagnosis to treatment. Within the STAT Clinic for Lung Cancer, the multidisciplinary care team may include a surgeon, pulmonologist, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist and a nurse navigator.

Before a patient visits the STAT Clinic, their team meets to review their scan and develop an initial plan. The patient and their family then meet with the appropriate team members on the same day. Their nurse navigator provides education, support and advocacy from diagnosis through treatment and recovery.

“This takes away a lot of anxiety from patients who are running from one office to another without an answer,” Dr. Fortes said. “They have a defined plan, and we expedite everything. Things happen much faster. Our average is about four to six weeks total from when we first identify a problem to the time a patient receives treatment. That’s compared to four months nationwide—and we’re trying to decrease the time even more.”

Advancements in lung cancer treatment

For patients with early-stage lung cancer, surgery to remove the affected portion of the lung and surrounding lymph nodes is often the center of the treatment plan.

“Many patients with early-stage cancer are candidates for minimally invasive techniques, either by video techniques or robotics,” Dr. Fortes said. “These techniques require small incisions in the chest without much disruption or trauma to the chest wall.”

As a result, patients have less pain after surgery and recover faster. They often leave the hospital after a day or two.

“There have been so many advancements that have changed lung cancer care,” Dr. Fortes said. “When we find lung cancer at the earliest stages and patients have surgery, they have up to an 85% chance of being cured.”

Who should get annual lung cancer screening

If you are 50 or older, currently smoke or smoked in the past, ask your healthcare provider if you should have lung cancer screenings.

The American Lung Association and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend annual screening for adults 50 to 80 who have a 20 pack-year smoking history. That could mean one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years.

The guidelines apply whether you still smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. You do not need to have symptoms to be screened.

Remember: Finding cancer early, when no symptoms are present, increases your chances of being cured or living longer with lung cancer.

Take the next steps toward screening

• Learn more about lung cancer screening at Wellstar.
• Call (470) 793-4AIR to learn more about eligibility, financial assistance or to schedule a screening.
• Read about a patient whose lung cancer screening results showed cancer in an early stage.
• Need a doctor? Find a Wellstar provider and book an appointment.