Moving Forward to Serve You

My Fellow Community Members, 

During the summer of 2018, as the Morgan County Hospital Authority prepared for the completion of the new building and the opening of Morgan Medical Center, we considered the future of the South Main Street campus with two main thoughts: an appropriate return of value for the building and property, and a good fit within the community (perhaps healthcare-focused). 

The return of value for the Morgan Memorial Hospital property would provide resources to operate the Medical Center to serve the community. At the end of the day, service to the community is what it’s all about. Please keep reading… 

In the fiscal year 2024, which ended June 30, the Medical Center provided almost $8,000,000 in uninsured care to the communities we serve. The Authority invested in the infrastructure of the Medical Center through the acquisition of the Mako SmartRobotics™ system for joint replacements. We also acquired a state-of-the-art wide-bore MRI system, two nuclear medicine cameras, high-definition mammogram machine and a whole host of other items needed by the new doctors practicing medicine at Morgan. All these expenditures are necessary not only to better serve our patients but also for the evolution and growth of the hospital. 

Did you know earlier this month we had two different orthopedic surgeons replace knee joints in patients? 

Did you know we are aggressively pursuing urology and cardiology practices for Morgan County? 

Did you know we are actively negotiating to bring cancer care to Morgan County? 

 All of these efforts fit nicely within the scope of service to Morgan County that drives the Authority. Plus, all this planning and execution takes resources, time, and commitment. 

Selling the Morgan Memorial Hospital building at the South Main Street campus would infuse funds that enable us to continue to meet the needs of the patients and communities we serve. Bringing appropriate specialty care to Morgan County makes sense to meet that goal. Providing more sophisticated equipment and procedures at the new hospital makes sense to meet that goal. Attracting doctors to Morgan County makes sense to meet that goal. 

Why brave the traffic and the inconvenience of traveling north, south, or west when you can stay right here in Morgan County for most of your primary care needs, procedures, and testing? 

Last year, the Georgia Court of Appeals ruled unanimously in the Medical Center’s favor regarding the future medical use of the Morgan Memorial Hospital building. Next year, the Georgia Supreme Court will revisit the case but only focus on a new issue that was not part of the original case. In the meantime, Morgan Medical Center will continue building a state-of-the-art medical facility that meets the needs of the communities we serve. Meeting the needs of the communities we serve is the Authority’s goal – not some ethereal pursuit of legal theory. 

On behalf of the Authority and the staff of Morgan Medical Center, thank you for your time. Patient Focused Center of Excellence is our Vision Statement and my expectation of every single individual in the Medical Center. Evolution. Excellence. Execution. We are Morgan Medical Center, and it matters that we are here. Come see about us. 

Sincerely, 

Ralph A. Castillo, CPA 

Chief Executive Officer