On November 25, 2013, St. Mary’s Good Samaritan HospitalSt. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital officially opened its new Lake Oconee location, less than one half mile from the Reynolds Parkway entrance to Reynolds Lake OconeeReynolds Lake Oconee.
The facility, a 25-bed acute care critical access hospital, is guided by its parent company, St. Mary's Health Care System, which is a member of Catholic Health East and accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.
“On behalf of Reynolds Lake Oconee, we are so pleased to welcome St. Mary’s to their new location here at Lake Oconee,” says Rabun Neal, president of Reynolds Lake Oconee. “A lot of hard work and generosity was exhibited by all those involved in helping this vision become a reality.”
St. Mary’s offers a wide range of services including general surgery, cardiology, medical imaging, women’s’ services, rehabilitation programs, stroke care, swing bed program and 24-hour emergency services, all provided by a network of board certified physicians.
“Driven by our mission, we strive to provide you with the most complete continuum of care possible, from emergency cardiac and stroke care to extended rehabilitation after an accident or illness,” says Montez Carter, president of St. Mary’s Good Samaritan. “I am grateful to our staff and physicians for their continual quest for excellence. It’s a quest that we consider never finished, as our patients deserve the best care possible.”
The official ground breaking of the $40 million facility took place in August of 2012. A crowd of more than 300 residents, political leaders and St. Mary’s board members and executives assembled at the 24-acre site to witness the historic occasion.
Over the months ahead, Collins Project Management oversaw construction of the design created by Earl Architects, while Brasfield & Gorie served as general contractor. In November 2013 the hospital held a ceremony conducted by Rev. Wilton D. Gregory, Archbishop of the Diocese of Atlanta, blessing the new facility. An official opening would occur just weeks later, well in advance of the originally-projected opening date.
“Like the hero of the Biblical story for whom our hospital is named, we strive to always remember that those we serve are more than ‘cases’,” notes Carter. “You are our friends, our families, our neighbors and deserve the best care we can provide, delivered with compassion. We are truly proud to be a part of this community.”
The hospital joins a number of established medical practices and specialty clinics concentrated in the area surrounding Reynolds Lake Oconee. “Over the past several years, Lake Oconee has steadily grown to include medical facilities of a caliber typically found only in much larger communities,” says Neal. “A top quality hospital was the final piece of the puzzle, and solidifies the area as a regional leader in healthcare.”
Having an advanced facility headed by an organization with the reputation of St. Mary’s Health Care System is expected to enhance the lives of residents and employees of the entire Lake Oconee region for generations to come.
