Kristy Ramsey will soon be walking comfortably on her own two feet after a successful surgery that repaired a meniscus tear in her left knee. Ramsey, 51, was the first surgery patient at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Lumpkin’s new hospital campus along Georgia 400. Chad Muxlow, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG), performed the successful procedure.
“I cannot wait to enjoy days without pain and get back to life,” said Ramsey. “I’m thrilled I was able to have surgery at Northeast Georgia Medical Center Lumpkin, which allowed me to get my surgery scheduled sooner.”
Northeast Georgia Health System moved NGMC Lumpkin from the old Chestatee Regional Hospital building on Mountain Drive to its new home along Georgia 400 earlier this week. Surgery wasn’t offered at that previous location, so the new, 66,000-square-foot building at 495 GA-400 fills that gap for the community.
“We are excited to offer orthopedic surgery to people who live along the 400 corridor,” Dr. Muxlow said. “This new facility makes it easier for anyone in Lumpkin and Dawson Counties, as well as northern Forsyth and Hall Counties, to get access to advanced care and treatments.”
NGMC Lumpkin will soon also offer gynecologic and general surgery options, as the need for those services continues to grow.
“Opening our new hospital campus this week has been a milestone moment, marking the beginning of a new era for health care in Lumpkin County,” said Kevin Matson, vice president of regional hospitals for NGHS. “We’ve already seen a slight uptick in the number of visits to the Emergency Department, and more surgeries are already booked – which are good signs that this community needs our help. We’re here to care for them.”
An estimated 1,500 people previewed the new hospital during a community grand opening celebration on Saturday, April 13. The emergency department, inpatient rooms, operating rooms, procedural suite, Jackson EMC Community Room, Marie Webb Faulkner Memorial Chapel, café and dining area were open for guests to tour and learn about the services, technology and equipment. Area first responders were also on site with ambulances, fire trucks and a helicopter for kids to check out. Free food and giveaways were provided to attendees to commemorate the event.
NGMC Lumpkin’s impact on the community goes beyond the bedside, as local labor was prioritized during the hospital’s construction. In fact, 98% of the labor was from state of Georgia – including 46% from the immediate area the hospital serves.
If you’re interested in having orthopedic surgery at NGMC Lumpkin, schedule an appointment online at ngpg.org/schedule. You can also learn more about the hospital at nghs.com/lumpkin.