Columbia County one step closer to opening new hospital

The new WellStar hospital in Columbia County is one step closer to opening its doors to patients, it's sure to benefit the county in multiple ways.
Published: May 15, 2025 at 6:08 PM EDT
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COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Columbia County’s new and only hospital is one step closer to opening its doors to patients Thursday night.

The new Wellstar Columbia County Medical Center will bridge the gap for health care.

People who live there will no longer have to cross county lines just to receive life-saving care.

Once completed, the medical center will feature a state-of-the-art emergency room, operating rooms, labs, primary care and more. Truly a one-stop shop.

Hitchock Woods getting help for Hurricane Helene cleanup

Hitchcock Woods is getting help from multiple organizations to contribute to their Hurricane Helene cleanup efforts.

Hitchock Woods getting help for Hurricane Helene cleanup

Leaders say everything is moving just the way they want.

Windows are in, brick is going up, and now Columbia County’s new and only hospital is entering its final phase before opening day.

However, they’ve still got a little ways to go

Completion is sitting at 70 percent, and hospital leaders say it’s all thanks to a crew of 500 working from the inside out.

Most of the walls are framed, and electrical work and plumbing are wrapping up.

Free diaper giveaway hosted at Henry Brigham Community Center

Henry Brigham Community Center, along with Amerigroup, hosted a free diaper giveaway on Thursday.

Free diaper giveaway hosted at Henry Brigham Community Center

And the trauma center is expected to bring hundreds of jobs to the county.

Leaders are just as excited as parents about the location and ease of mind they say the hospital will provide.

“Anything can happen, whether it’s like a fracture or playing in the water. So the thought that we’d have to either drive all the way downtown, which by the time we get down there, with traffic could be 30, 45 minutes or so. To know that something will be right around the corner, it just takes a lot of stress off the back of my mind,” said Hailey Etzel, parent.

“This will bring lots of new jobs to Columbia County. We are anticipating about 150 physicians and advanced practice providers to staff the hospital, and several hundred other staff and team . We’re currently working on that staffing plan,” said Jennifer Miller, vice president of strategy and business development.