ATLANTA – Governor Brian P. Kemp announced grant awards totaling $6 million will go to 13 Georgia rural hospitals as part of the Dual Track Rural Hospital Support program. Colquitt Regional Medical Center was one of them.
Administered through the Department of Community Health’s State Office of Rural Health, program awardees have the option of choosing between funding new or existing graduate medical education programs or direct hospital support through a single application process.
Colquitt Regional Medical Center has received $1 million for graduate medical education funding.
“Since I took office, my administration has worked to deliver on the promise that we would work with state and local partners to develop Georgia’s rural communities, including efforts to improve our rural healthcare systems,” said Governor Brian P. Kemp. “These awards will provide further support to those hospitals that serve rural Georgians and communities in need.”
Graduate medical education funds are used to support existing or new graduate medical education programs that provide additional training for physicians who have completed medical school and are interested in learning more about a particular specialty of medicine. Direct hospital support funds can be used to increase access to healthcare, ensure adequate staffing, and make financial and operational improvements. The selected hospitals were awarded between $250,000 and $1 million each to further strengthen access to quality care for Georgia’s rural communities.
“Proactively working to address healthcare disparities within rural communities continues to be a priority for the agency,” said DCH Commissioner Russel Carlson. “This grant is just one way we are strengthening healthcare access in underserved regions, and investing in Georgia’s healthcare workforce.”
The Dual Track Rural Hospital Support Grant is funded through the state’s Rural Hospital Stabilization Grant, which was established in 2014, and has awarded more than $40 million in grant funding for Georgia rural hospitals since its inception.
“These grant awards reflect our commitment to addressing the healthcare needs of rural hospitals and providing effective solutions,” said Joel Presley, executive director of the State Office of Rural Health. “These funds will provide support to initiatives that address critical needs for both Georgia’s rural hospitals and citizens. I’m excited to see how these grants will help drive quality healthcare in these communities.”
The other 2024 Dual Track Rural Hospital Support Grant recipients for graduate medical education funding are John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital in Thomasville, Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Memorial Health Meadows Hospital in Vidalia, and Fairview Park Hospital in Dublin.
The 2024 Dual Track Rural Hospital Support Grant recipients for Hospital Support Funding are Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin in Milledgeville, Emanuel Medical Center in Swainsboro, Effingham Health System in Springfield, Putnam General Hospital in Eatonton, Washington County Regional Medical Center in Sandersville, Jefferson Hospital in Louisville, Upson Regional Medical Center in Thomaston and Union General Hospital in Blairsville.