James March-April 2024 online - Flipbook - Page 40
The Phoebe Putney Health System
There’s no question the Phoebe Putney Health
System has played a significant and transformative role
in the Albany-Dougherty County community. Commonly
referred to as Phoebe, it is the largest healthcare provider in Southwest Georgia and serves as a lifeline for the
Albany-Dougherty County community. Residents will tell
you it has been instrumental in transforming healthcare
access and delivery in the region.
When southwest Georgia became one of the world’s
hardest hit hotspots during the early days of COVID-19,
Phoebe led the regional pandemic response and set
benchmarks for transparency, community outreach, safety
protocols and employee support that many other hospitals emulated. Despite the incredible financial challenges
brought on by the pandemic, Phoebe never laid off any
employees and no Phoebe employee missed a paycheck
because of the outbreak. Phoebe also continued moving
forward with plans aimed at improving access to care and
enhancing services provided by the health system.
In January 2023, Phoebe broke ground on two major construction projects. The Phoebe Living & Learning Community cements Phoebe’s role as a regional
and national leader in healthcare workforce development. The Phoebe Trauma & Critical Care Tower is also
a major part of Phoebe’s journey to become the region’s
only state-designated Level II Trauma Center. It will
expand Phoebe’s critical care capabilities for premature
babies and adults.
Nursing Shortage & Other Needs
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The Phoebe Living & Learning Community is part
of Phoebe’s innovative strategies to address the severe
nursing shortage. Phoebe paid the full $50 million dollar
construction cost of the 130,000 sq. ft. facility which
will be located on its main campus. The first floor will
be home to Albany Technical College’s nursing program
and students in the registered nurse, certified nurse assistant, medical assistant and phlebotomy programs will
take classes there.
With the Trauma & Critical Care Tower, the Emergency & Trauma Center will go from the current 19,000
sq. ft. of space to 53,000 sq. ft. after the new tower
opens and the current emergency room is renovated.
There will also be a new NICU— Phoebe is one of six
regional perinatal centers in Georgia— and a new Adult
ICU. Phoebe remains the largest employer in southwest
Georgia and, according to an annual report from the
Georgia Hospital Association, has an annual economic
impact topping $1.5 billion.
“I have never been more proud to be part of any organization than I was working alongside the 5,500 members of the Phoebe Family through the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Scott Steiner, Phoebe Putney Health System
President & CEO. “Their commitment to the people of
southwest Georgia and the communities we serve was
exemplary, and their hard work and dedication helped us
emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever.”
