St. Mary’s Health Care System was named Hospital of the Year by the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals during its 35th annual convention held October 10 through 12, 2018, at the Ritz-Carlton, Reynolds, Lake Oconee.  The health system was chosen for the award based on its commitment to the preservation of Georgia’s network of community hospitals as well as the future of medicine.

“With so much news about hospitals that are struggling, it is good to have the opportunity to celebrate a health system that not only is thriving, but has taken the extraordinary step of investing in two hospitals that would have otherwise closed and left thousands of patients without local access to critical care,” said Dr. Ninfa Saunders, CEO of Navicent Health and chair of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals.  “Not only is St. Mary’s addressing today’s healthcare needs – they are also looking to the future through their new residency program.”

“We are proud of the positive impact we continue to make not just a hospital, but a health care ministry focused on compassionate, high-quality care that meets the needs of our patients and their families.  It is an honor to recognized in this way by our peers in Georgia’s not-for-profit community and we will continue to strive to live up to this wonderful recognition,” said Montez Carter, president and CEO, St. Mary’s Health Care System.

St. Mary’s Health Care System consists of three hospitals - St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens, St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital in Greensboro, and St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia – as well as assisted living, industrial medicine, outpatient and wound healing facilities.  Its Internal Medicine Residency Program is a joint effort with the Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership.