New Education Facility
With the frequent addition of new units and departments outgrowing capacity , open space is very limited within the walls of the hospital . As this issue was brought to light several years ago , the administrative team and Colquitt County Hospital Authority members began to explore opportunities for further expansion . A new education services facility was proposed during those discussions and plans have been in motion ever since .
This new two-story facility will boast over 39,000 square feet of space . It will house Georgia South Family Medicine Residency Program and clinic , Georgia South ’ s developing psychiatry residency program and future clinic , Colquitt Regional ’ s Educational Services department , and offices for affiliated physicians , faculty , and staff .
“ One of the major catalysts for this building has been the rapid growth of our medical education services and programs that are offered at Colquitt Regional ,” said Georgia South Designated Institutional Officer Jessica Rivenbark . “ We are invested in the training of the next generation of physicians . This new facility furthers that commitment and will provide medical students , residents , and employees with elevated opportunities for learning .”
The plans also include four simulation rooms , a computer lab , skills lab , classroom space , and an auditorium .
Colquitt Regional graciously accepted a $ 500,000 donation from Ameris Bank in 2019 , which will go towards the construction of the facility . Funds raised through Georgia Heart Rural Tax Credit program will also be utilized .
The hospital expects to break ground in late summer of 2022 .
The new education building will be situated directly behind The Vereen Center , where a majority of employee parking is currently located . Once the construction of the building begins , those spaces will be eliminated .
The new parking areas will include 450 new parking spots and are on track to open in early 2022 .
Parking Areas Enhanced
Over the past few years , as the hospital continued to grow both in space and number of employees , a need for more parking became evident . Colquitt Regional cleared its open land on the west side of its campus in the summer of 2021 , along with various other areas around the campus , to make room for additional employee and patient parking .
Workers pave part of the new parking lot to the west of Colquitt Regional Medical Center . Hospital officials say the lot should be open after the first of the year . Photos by Kevin C . Hall
24 MoultrieScene JANUARY 2022