Exceptional healthcare,
community focus
The name has changed, but the commitment to quality healthcare
and services at Memorial Health Meadows Hospital remains.
For more than 60 years, Memorial
Health Meadows Hospital has provided
high-quality healthcare for the people of
Toombs County and the surrounding area.
Now, as a part of the HCA Healthcare
family, Meadows joins one of the nation’s
leading providers of healthcare services.
On May 1, Meadows Regional Medical
Center joined HCA Healthcare’s South
Atlantic Division. The hospital was
renamed Memorial Health Meadows
Hospital, keeping the proud Meadows
name while also aligning it with Memorial
Health University Medical Center in
Savannah to reflect HCA Healthcare’s
presence in the region. HCA’s scale enables
them to conduct leading-edge research,
share best practices and most importantly
– deliver the type of care patients need,
when and where they need it.
Meadows Hospital has rich history of
caring for its community. The name honors
the region’s first physician, whose son
donated land for a hospital. Over the years,
Meadows brought new medical services
to the region including an 8-bed ICU,
behavioral health center, and the area’s
first MRI. In 2001, cardiologists performed
the first heart procedure in their new
cardiac catheterization lab. As Meadows’
impressive growth continued, hospital
leaders recognized the need for a larger
facility. Their new hospital building opened
in February 2011; the $100 million facility
was nearly 50% larger than the original
hospital and boasted 20 emergency rooms
and six operating suites. CEO Alan Kent
stated at the time, “Everything is state-ofthe
art.” These advancements established
Meadows as a major player in the regional
healthcare community.
To secure the hospital’s long-term
future, the Board and Hospital Authority
began seeking a strategic partner in 2018
and HCA Healthcare expressed immediate
interest in having Meadows join its
growing network in southern Georgia.
“As a part of HCA Healthcare, Memorial
Health Meadows Hospital will
be able to expand its innovative
and patient-focused care,”
said Kent. “We chose HCA
Healthcare because, like us, they
are committed to high-quality,
community-based hospitals and
are focused on serving patients
and giving back in a meaningful
way to the Vidalia area.” The
company lives out its mission,
“Above all else, we are committed
to the care and improvement
of human life,” through its
commitment to its patients,
communities and colleagues.
Clinical services will
grow stronger by implementing
industry best practices and
investments. HCA Healthcare
has already committed to invest
$10 million over the next five
years. The community should
expect new technologies and treatments
for patients. Also, HCA provides millions
of dollars in healthcare for the uninsured
and underinsured populations; the Georgia
hospitals in the South Atlantic Division
provided $130 million in charity care in
2020.
To improve the health and well-being
of the citizens of Vidalia and surrounding
communities, HCA Healthcare will create
a new $30 million Meadows Foundation
to directly benefit the community. The
foundation will also contribute $250,000
over a 5-year period for community
initiatives. Vidalia and Toombs County will
also benefit from taxes paid by Meadows
Hospital. In 2020, the division’s Georgia
hospitals paid $43.5 million in state
and local taxes to benefit infrastructure,
schools and more.
Meadows Hospital employees will
also receive attractive benefits as HCA
Healthcare colleagues. The company offers
competitive salaries and benefits plans;
this was especially evident during the
COVID-19 pandemic when HCA offered
a pandemic pay program, hotel rooms
(for colleagues treating COVID patients)
and more. HCA also offers an employee
stock purchase program, educational
opportunities, tuition reimbursement
and scholarships for colleague’s children.
And, as a national healthcare company,
the company has a vast number of
opportunities for colleagues who wish
to grow their career or move to a new
location.
Hugh Tappan, President of the South
Atlantic Division, said, “By becoming
part of HCA Healthcare, Meadows can
continue to care for its community just as
it always has but with the support, scale
and resources of HCA behind Meadows.”
Memorial Health Meadows Hospital looks
forward to providing exceptional care for
our friends and neighbors in Toombs and
surrounding counties.
HEALT H l o c a l c a r e
22 TOOMBS COUNTY MAGAZINE