History of Southeast Georgia Health System

The Brunswick and Seaman's Hospital, a 40-bed facility opens at the corner of First Avenue and Norwich Street at the south end of the city.Credit for the opening of the hospital is given to the volunteer efforts of a group of ladies, led by Mrs. Theodore Crovatt, who saw the need to have readily available health care for the citizens of Brunswick.

The Jekyll Island Millionaires' Club makes a $5,000 contribution, the largest single donation to the Brunswick and Seaman's Hospital.

The Brunswick and Seaman's Hospital offers management of its building to the City of Brunswick. The city accepts the offer and changes the name of the hospital to the 'Brunswick City Hospital.'

Construction begins on the Brunswick City Hospital to add 25 more beds, bringing the total capacity to 65-beds.

To support WWII efforts, Brunswick Port becomes a Liberty Ship building center. The boom in population prompts hospital officials to increase patient capacity to 125 beds.

Construction begins on a new 75-bed hospital. The reduced bed count is a reflection of the post WWII population decrease in Glynn County.

The Glynn-Brunswick Memorial Hospital opens on Parkwood Drive. The total cost of the project, including equipment is $1.1 million. Staffing includes 28 physicians, 30 nurses, two laboratory technicians, one radiologist, one x- ray technician, one engineer, one dietician and 11 aides.

As the Brunswick community grows and the need for medical services intensifies, Glynn- Brunswick Memorial Hospital expands to add 52 more beds for a total capacity of 127.

The Glynn-Brunswick Memorial Hospital Authority is established. Members include Rev. Frank Nalls, A. R. Sellers, John Gayner III, J. M. Blackerby, Harold L. Friedman, Lyle Certain and A. W. Jones, Jr.

The North Tower construction adds a second and third level and increases capacity to 224 beds. The $3.25 million expansion includes a new pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, operating and emergency rooms.

Addition of A. R. Sellers West Wing opens, increasing the bed count to 296.

Nine-bed Surgical Intensive Care Unit opens.

A $9.4 million expansion increases bed capacity to 340 and adds much-needed space to several nursing units and the laboratory, physical therapy, respiratory therapy and pharmacy departments. It also includes a new visitor lobby, gift shop, and clergy offices.

• Glynn-Brunswick Memorial Hospital changes name to Southeast Georgia Regional Medical Center.
• Brantley Family Care Center opens in Nahunta to provide the first daily accessible family nurse practitioner to the local community. It is renamed Brantley Family Medicine Center in 2007.

Glynn-Brunswick Memorial Hospital Authority obtains management responsibility of Gilman Hospital, as well as the construction of a new $10 million Kings Bay Community Hospital, Inc., which becomes known as Camden Medical Center.

• The new $4 million Maternity Center opens featuring birthing rooms, separate high-risk labor rooms, newborn nursery, and a Level II nursery for babies who need extra attention.
• The 40-bed Camden Medical Center opens, featuring 23 private and semi-private rooms, eight labor/delivery/post-partum suites, three surgical suites and an eight-bay emergency department.

• Darien Family Medicine Center opens, providing the McIntosh County community's first physician medical service. It is renamed McIntosh Family Medicine Center in 2006.
• Glynn-Brunswick Memorial Hospital Authority votes to adopt the name "Southeast Georgia Health System."
• The Health System Foundation is established to encourage and organize donor contributions for patient products, services and equipment.

• The Camden Medical Pavilion opens next to Camden Medical Center, featuring 10 offices suitable for physician's practices.
• Sleep Management Center opens on Kemble Avenue.

The Central Tower addition to Southeast Georgia Regional Medical Center opens, featuring the latest in architectural design. It includes 88 private rooms, patient-focused "pod" nursing stations, an outpatient surgery center, expanded radiology center and information systems management center.

The Island Health Pavilion Prompt Care Center opens on Hamilton Drive to offer St. Simons Island residents' seven-day a week urgent care under the direction of a physician. The two acres are donated by the Sea Island Company. It is renamed St. Simons Immediate Care Center in 2006.

• In a unanimous vote, the Glynn-Brunswick Memorial Hospital Authority elects Linda S. Pinson as its first female chairperson.
• Gary R. Colberg, FACHE hired as new President & Chief Executive Officer.
• Financial turnaround begins.

• Cooperative Healthcare Services, Inc. is established to develop partnerships between the Health System, physicians and other appropriate health care-related entities.
• The International Seafarer's Center medical program is established at the Brunswick Port. Designed to take care of merchant mariners who otherwise have little or no access to medical care, the International Seafarers' Society determines the program as one-of-a- kind worldwide.
• South Tower Renovation begins.
• Coastal Medical Access Project (CMAP) is founded by community leaders in Southeast Georgia with support from the Health System.
• Administrative Residency program established.

• Southeast Georgia Physician Associates is established in Camden County and purchases the highly successful practice of Richard A. Ceniza, M.D., Internal Medicine.
• A Certificate of Need is issued by State Health Planning Agency to construct $33 million Ambulatory Care Building at the Brunswick Campus.
• $1 million is paid to the City and County, each, for the purchase of the Brunswick Campus property.
• Employee Catastrophic Fund established.

• President George W. Bush hosts the 30th G8 Summit at Sea Island. The Brunswick Campus preparations include special medical provisions and facility support for issues surrounding possible biological terrorist attacks and protestors.
• Brunswick Campus is named "Large Hospital of the Year" by the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals.
• The 50th anniversary celebration of the Brunswick hospital takes place with a Party-in- the-Park, featuring country music star Sawyer Brown.
• Construction begins on the Outpatient Care Center.
• Certificate of Need applied for and received for Camden Campus $29 million renovation project.
• Southeast Georgia Physician Associates establishes internal medicine and pediatric group practices.
• Health System Foundation re-established.
• Cooperative Urgent Care Center opens.
• South Tower renovation, now known as Jekyll Tower, is completed.

• Brunswick Campus is one of only 10 Georgia hospitals to partner with Johns Hopkins in the launch of the Atlantic Cardiovascular-Patient Outcomes Research Team (C-PORT) clinical trials. Researchers will review 16,000 cardiac stents and angioplasty procedures performed in a five-state trial to determine whether outcomes are comparable to facilities with open heart programs.
• The Golden Isles Surgical Center is purchased and renamed "Ear, Nose & Throat Surgical Center."
• Southeast Georgia Physician Associates- OB/GYN practice is established.
• Curbside Valet services are offered to patients and visitors.
• Emergency Services "on-call" pay goes into effect.
• Green-space planning begins.
• Athletic Trainers expand into McIntosh and Wayne County high schools as well as Coastal Georgia Community College.

• The six-story Outpatient Care Center opens on the Brunswick Campus making it the tallest building in Glynn County. The Center includes a medical retail mall, art gallery, physician offices and outpatient surgery and radiology.
• Wellness on Wheels (new mobile health vehicle) is unveiled. The Foundation's Greatest Need Fund contributes $250,000 of the $438,000 cost, while the Mary Allen Lindsey Branan Foundation and the John Travis Hart Charitable Trust each donate $50,000.
• St. Marys Convalescent Center is acquired from the St. Marys Hospital Authority. Immediate upgrades to the 78-bed facility and naming of a new administrator takes place. It is renamed Senior Care Center-St. Marys.
• Camden Campus is named runner-up for Small Hospital of the Year by the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals.
• Cooperative Healthcare Services, Inc. opens the region's first Endocrinology and Diabetes Care Center in the Outpatient Care Center.
• The Fitness Trail opens on St. Simons Island thanks to generous contributions from members of the Sea Island Garden Group, the daughters and friends of Dotty Castle, and Elliott W. "Mike" and Lucia Gumaer. The half mile trail is designed to be accessible by everyone, including those in wheelchairs and other mobile devices.
• Glynn Immediate Care & Family Medicine Center is purchased.
• Picture Archiving Communication System (PACS) goes live on Brunswick and Camden campuses.
• Cancer Care Center opens in Brunswick.
• Women's Imaging Center opens in Brunswick.
• Service Excellence program established.

• Summit Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Surgery is acquired. All six physicians and team members are now part of the Health System family.
• The Outpatient Diabetes Education Program is awarded the prestigious American Diabetes Association (ADA) Education Recognition Certificate.
• The Cancer Care Center announces an affiliation with the nation's leader in cancer care, M. D. Anderson Physicians Network®. The affiliation enhances the level of cancer care available to patients in Glynn County and the surrounding areas of Southeast Georgia.
• The Outpatient Rehabilitation and Wound Care Center opens. The new contemporary facility houses all outpatient rehabilitation services, which include adult and pediatric physical, occupational and speech therapy as well as industrial and sports rehabilitation.
• Author David Herdlinger writes Healing a Hospital, a book chronicling the Health System's six-year financial, business and community reputation turnaround.
• Donors Miriam & Hugh Nunnally make a generous $1 million gift to the Health System to fund the Maternity Care Center expansion and renovation.
• Community Care Center opens.
• Bariatric Care Center is named a Center of Excellence.
• Camden Campus expansion and renovation project begins.
• Breneau University Master's program is established on Brunswick Campus.
• Brunswick Campus contracts with ER physician group Georgia Emergency Associates (GEA).
• Re-skinning of Brunswick Campus Hospital is completed.
• Boy Scout Explorer Post is established at Brunswick and Camden campuses.
• Main Street renovation project with downtown Brunswick light posts and indigenous Golden Isles art work is completed.
• Brunswick Campus towers are renamed from Central Tower to Glynn/Brunswick Tower; North Tower to St. Simons Tower and South Tower to Jekyll Tower.

• For the first time in its 120-year history, the Health System hosts medical students in their rotations. The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, which has a Suwanee, Ga. Campus, and the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) are the first participating medical colleges.
• The 200-bed Wildwood Park Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is purchased after it was closed due to disrepair. Extensive renovations are made and it is re-named the Senior Care Center-Brunswick.
• Brantley Family Medicine Center is named Business of the Year by the Brantley Chamber of Commerce.
• Pathology museum opens on the Brunswick Campus, giving area physicians a resource for borrowing pathology samples. The museum offers area science teachers and their students an opportunity to view and study professionally displayed pathology specimens.
• Camden Campus contracts with ER physician group Georgia Emergency Associates (GEA).
• Brantley Family Medicine Center relocates from Nahunta to Atkinson.
• The Sidney Lanier Bridge Run transitions to the Southeast Georgia Health System Bridge Run.
• The Heartburn Care Center, a partnership with Legato Medical Services, opens in Brunswick.
• Brunswick Campus conference center is renamed Linda S. Pinson Conference Center in recognition of Mrs. Pinson numerous years as a Hospital Authority member and the first woman chair.
• Health System pledges $1 million to the College of Coastal Georgia to establish the Southeast Georgia Health System Distinguished Chair of Nursing and Health Sciences.
• Veteran's Administration leases a Health System building and property next to Camden Campus and opens a community-based outpatient clinic.
• Brunswick Campus becomes the first hospital in Southeast Georgia to offer MAKOplasty®.

• Following two years of construction, the $30 million, 90,000 square foot, Camden Campus expansion and renovation is complete. The largest and most ambitious health care construction project in the history of Camden County, it includes a conversion to all private rooms and many new patient care units, including Medical-Surgical, Intensive Care, Cardiopulmonary Medicine, Maternity Care Center, Radiology and four operating rooms. The Emergency Care Center and Outpatient Service areas are expanded and updated.
• Wellness Way Medical Office Complex opens on St. Simons Island with four tenants: Atlantic Shore Dermatology, Golden Isles Family Medicine, Renue Plastic Surgery and Summit Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Surgery.
• Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals names Camden Campus "Small Hospital of the Year."
• The Joint Replacement Center and Breast Care Center open on the Brunswick Campus.

• T. Wayne Rentz, M.D., surgeon at the Brunswick Campus, is named the inaugural assistant dean for curriculum for the Southeast Georgia Clinical Campus of the Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine.
• The Wound Care Center receives the Center of Distinction Award in recognition of its high patient satisfaction rates, exceptional healing results and outstanding clinical outcomes for the previous 12 months.
• Harborside, the final "neighborhood" to be renovated in the Senior Care Center-Brunswick, opens.
• Air Evac Lifeteam, an independently owned air ambulance provider, opens a base location on the Brunswick Campus.
• The newly renovated and greatly expanded Miriam & Hugh Nunnally Maternity Care Center opens on the Brunswick Campus.

• CyberKnife®, the world's first robotic radiosurgery system designed to treat cancerous and non-cancerous tumors throughout the body without any cutting involved, becomes available on the Brunswick Campus. The Health System is one of only two institutions in Georgia and one of only 222 in the world to offer the technology.
• Camden Family Medicine Center opens, the Health System's fourth Family Medicine Center.
• Mark Watkins, M.D., cardiologist with Coastal Cardiology, and the Health System implant the Revo MRI™ SureScan® pacing system, the first MR-Conditional pacing system designed, tested and FDA approved for use in the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) environment. The implant procedure was the first of its kind in the Coastal Georgia area and Jacksonville.
• James "Mac" McMillan, R.N., is presented with the inaugural Star of the Year Award at Southeast Georgia Health System.
• Patrick E. T. Godbey, M.D., FCAP, laboratory medical director, Brunswick Campus, is elected to his first full term as a member of the Board of Governors of the College of American Pathologists (CAP). Dr. Godbey is one of 12 pathologists elected to the prestigious board, the highest professional honor a pathologist can receive.
• The Coastal Georgia Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® awards a $40,000 grant to the Health System for the "Mammograms in Motion" project. The community project is being led by the Health System to provide breast health education and outreach, mammograms and diagnostic breast services to uninsured and medically underserved individuals residing in Camden, Glynn, Long and McIntosh counties.
• Safety & Security Officer John Nave is named Hospital Hero by the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA) for rescuing a man from his burning home while on duty patrolling the area surrounding the Brunswick Campus.
• Gary R. Colberg, FACHE, president & CEO, is named CEO of the Year by the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals.
• Coastal Medical Access Project (CMAP) becomes part of the Health System. CMAP, which was founded in 2002, provides health care for uninsured and underinsured adults in Camden, Glynn and McIntosh counties. Cooperative Healthcare Services, Inc., a strategic affiliate of the Health System assumes operation of the two CMAP facilities (Brunswick & Camden).
• Brunswick Campus is one of nine hospitals in Georgia to be placed in the Georgia Hospital Association's Partnership for Health and Accountability Quality Honor Roll.
• Camden Campus is named in the Georgia Hospital Association's Partnership for Health and Accountability Presidential Category.

• Cancer Care Center-Camden opens. It is the first comprehensive cancer treatment center in Camden and Charlton Counties, as well as Amelia Island.
• Orthopaedic & Spine Center opens on the Brunswick Campus. A premier destination for advanced orthopaedic and spine care, the Center offers exceptional surgical, interventional and rehabilitative care under one roof.
• The da Vinci® Surgical System, a leading edge, minimally invasive robotic surgical option becomes available on the Brunswick Campus. The Health System now boasts three robotic surgical systems: CyberKnife® , MAKOplasty®, and da Vinci®.
• All Health System properties become tobacco- free.
• A four-story Medical Plaza opens on the Brunswick Campus to house the growing number of physician practices whose specialties are closely associated with treatment delivered at the Health System.
• Joseph A. Lanzone, M.D., board-certified urologist, performs the Camden Campus's first- ever urology laser procedure-the Greenlight potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) Laser Photo Vaporization of the prostate.
• Southeast Georgia Physician Associates- Obstetrics & Gynecology opens in Camden County.
• Infusion Center opens on the Brunswick Campus, offering patients with medical conditions other than cancer an opportunity to receive intravenous medication treatments privately or with others.
• Amputee Recovery Program, the first program of its kind in the area, offers monthly clinics to address the physical and psychological needs of amputees.
• Coastal Georgia Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® awards the Health System a $45,000 grant for the "Mammograms in Motion" project, an increase of $5,000 from 2011.
• Center for Educational Development opens. The one of a kind center houses one of the largest hospital-based simulation centers in a four-state area.
• Brunswick Campus houses the Glynn County Sports Hall of Fame, the first-ever in the County.
• Eight Chinese delegates from Erdos Central Hospital in China visit the Brunswick Campus.
• The Camden Campus three-story Medical Plaza opens, increasing options for physicians who prefer to have their office close to the Health System.
• A multi-year affiliation agreement with Wolfson Children's Hospital to expand pediatric subspecialty medical services in South Georgia is announced. The new children's specialty center is called Wolfson Children's at Southeast Georgia Health System.
• Ceniza Way, a beautiful, serene garden on the Camden Campus, is opened in memory of Richard A. Ceniza, M.D.

• An undisclosed gift is received from Hugh Nunnally, respected businessman, philanthropist and dear friend of Southeast Georgia Health System to build a lodging facility on the Brunswick Campus. The facility will serve as short-term residential quarters for the visiting family members of cancer and critical care patients, CyberKnife patients from outside the primary service area, and medical students rotating with the Health System's medical staff.
• Health System announces a partnership with the Golden Isles Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) with a goal to increase awareness and promote support for major health initiatives, including childhood obesity, and improve the overall health and well-being of the community.
• Coastal Georgia Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® awards the Health System a $50,000 grant for the "Mammograms in Motion" project 2013-2014.
• Health System is one of nine in Georgia to be chosen for the Georgia Baby-Friendly Hospital 5-Star Incentive Project to Promote Breastfeeding. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is a program of the World Health Organization and UNICEF that recognizes hospitals who provide optimal support for breastfeeding by implementing The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.
• Breast Care Center is awarded a three-year term of reaccreditation in mammography by the American College of Radiology.
• Camden Campus is named to Georgia Hospital Association (GHA) Hospital Engagement Network (HEN) Safety Leaders Circle. The Camden Campus is one of 12 hospitals to place in the Presidential Circle, positioning it in the top third of 116 Georgia hospitals participating in the GHA HEN.
• The Wound Care Center once again receives a Center of Distinction award from Healogics, Inc., the nation’s largest provider of advanced wound care services, for achieving outstanding patient outcomes for 12 consecutive months, including patient satisfaction over 92 percent, a 91 percent wound healing rate within 30 median days to heal, among other quality outcomes.
• Following an extensive review, the American College of Radiology (ACR) awards the Health System a three-year term of accreditation in obstetrical, gynecological and general ultrasound.
• The Brunswick Campus is named to the Georgia Hospital Association’s (GHA) Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) Core Measures Honor Roll. It is one of 18 hospitals in Georgia to be placed in the Presidential category, one of the highest on the list.
• Eddie Byrd, R.N. is the recipient of the inaugural Mary B. Dinos Memorial Scholarship.
• The Joint Replacement Center receives the UnitedHealth Premium specialty center designation of Three Stars in recognition of its quality care and cost efficiency.
• Stephanie Wolverton, R.N., BSN, is the first in Georgia to receive the designation of Certified Joint Commission Professional from The Joint Commission/Joint Commission Resources.
• Breast Care Center is designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR). It is one of only three designated Centers in the southeast Georgia region.
• Camden Campus radiology team sets up an outdoor imaging station for pulmonary x-rays for Wenatchee, a 30-year-old, 395-pound dolphin from the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program diagnosed with pneumonia. The xrays confirm Wenatchee’s lungs were clear.
• Health System partners with the Golden Isles Chapter of Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) to establish the SGHS/MOAA Scholarship for Clinical Education. The inaugural scholarship is presented to Terry Griffin, a pre-BSN nursing student.
• The toll-free 855-ASK-SGHS (855-275-7447) 24-hour health care provider referral line is established.
• Brunswick Campus is recognized as a top-ranking Community Value Five-Star Hospital by Cleverley + Associates (C+A), a leading health care financial consulting firm specializing in operational benchmarking and performance enhancement strategies.
• Camden Campus adds a "feet-first" MRI scanner to the Radiology department.
• MRI & Imaging, located in the Summit Plaza, is awarded a three-year term of re-accreditation in ultrasound following an extensive review by the American College of Radiology.
• The College of American Pathologists Laboratory Accreditation Program (CAP) awards the Camden Campus Laboratory a two-year reaccreditation.
• Health System becomes one of only 12 health facilities in the world to acquire the pedCATTM TRUE 3D weight bearing imaging device, an advanced diagnostic imaging system specifically for the foot and ankle.
• A Georgia Hospital Association report reveals Health System hospitals in Glynn and Camden counties generated more than $517,056,308 revenue for the local and state economy in 2011.
• Physicians on Brunswick Campus are the first in the state of Georgia to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms with an innovative OvationTM Abdominal Stent Graft System.
• Bacon County Hospital and the Health System announce a partnership agreement that focuses on initiatives to strengthen and build upon the existing relationship between the two organizations in order to enhance the level of health care in the Bacon County communities.
• Wolfson Children’s at Southeast Georgia Health System opens in the Medical Plaza-Brunswick, offering pediatric cardiology and rehabilitation services, with more pediatric specialty services to come.
• Camden Campus is named the "2013 Small Hospital of the Year" by the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals.
• For the third time since 2012, the Camden Campus is named to the Georgia Hospital Association’s (GHA) Hospital Engagement (HEN) Safety Leaders Circle.
• The PET/CT imaging system becomes available on the Camden Campus, offering exceptional imaging quality for staging of cancers and determining the spread of the disease.
• Baptist Health-Jacksonville, Flagler Hospital-St Augustine, and Southeast Georgia Hospital System sign a letter of intent to explore collaboration opportunities.
• A lactation room opens on the Camden Campus to meet Baby-Friendly initiatives.
• Brunswick Campus Auxiliary donates $100,000 to the Health System, and the Camden Campus Auxiliary donates $25,000, to be used for items that benefit patients.
• Rheumatologist R. Neal Boswell, M.D., is presented the Hospital Hero Award by the Georgia Hospital Association.
• A renovation and expansion of the Brunswick Campus cafeteria is completed, funded by Morrison Healthcare Food Services.
• Brunswick and Camden campuses are two of only 29 hospitals in Georgia to place in the Elite Circle of the Georgia Hospital Association’s (GHA) Hospital Engagement Network (HEN) Safety Leaders Circle for the third quarter of 2013.
• Stephen Kitchen, M.D., performs the region’s first single-incision gallbladder removal surgery using the daVinci Robotic Surgery System on the Brunswick Campus.
• GeorgiaTrend names the Brunswick Campus as one of the Top Georgia Hospitals in the Medium-Sized Hospital category; and the Camden Campus as one of the Top Georgia Hospitals in the Small Hospitals category.
• Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) presents two Quality and Patient Safety Awards to the Health System for achievement in reducing the risk of medical errors and improving patient safety and medical outcomes.
• A new art gallery on the Camden Campus displays works of local Coastal Camden Art League artists.
• Golden Isles YMCA and the Health System partner to offer a new, easily accessible health and wellness information center, located in the lobby of the YMCA in Brunswick.