Piedmont Newnan asks if hospital’s name should change

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Those traveling along Poplar Road at I-85 cannot miss the eight-story Piedmont Newnan Hospital now under construction and expected to open in early 2012. But should the new replacement hospital carry that name or should the name be changed? That is what hospital CEO Michael Bass wants to know and he is asking the community for input.

As Piedmont Newnan Hospital continues with construction of its replacement facility on Poplar Road in Newnan, the community at large is invited to give feedback on the potential need of a name change for the new hospital, said Piedmont Healthcare media relation representative Jim Taylor. The public is encouraged to visit piedmontnewnan.org through Dec. 8 and complete a brief survey to express their thoughts.

Among the survey questions are those asking if the hospital should carry a new name indicating that it is a new hospital and a name that does not appear to restrict its service area to the Newnan area.

“It’s important to note that we are not committed at this time to making any changes in the name of the new hospital,” said Bass. “However, as far back as 2006 when we formed a Community Advisory Committee to provide input on our plans for a new hospital, we have received requests from various community members asking that we consider a name change for our new facility. We feel we should honor these requests and take this opportunity to consider the possibility of a name change to ensure the name reflects the future of healthcare for the areas we serve. We want this new hospital to be a source of pride for this community for many years to come, and this is yet another opportunity for all of us to play a part in its success.”

Taylor said the online survey takes only minutes to complete and is a way for community members to voice their opinions on the topic. The results will be studied, and based on survey results, combined with additional community feedback, the possibility of a name change may be considered.

Taylor said the public is also invited to join in the many discussions regarding healthcare in their community on the Piedmont Newnan Hospital page on Facebook, located at facebook.com/PiedmontNewnanHospital.

Expected to open in 2012, the 362,376 square-foot, 136-bed hospital will have 14 post-partum beds, 18 critical care beds and 104 general medical/surgical patient beds. The facility also will feature eight operating rooms and 23 patient rooms in the Emergency Department.

The hospital will utilize sustainable building strategies such as energy efficiencies and water reuse and conservation technologies in an effort to reduce future operating costs, provide a healthier work environment, and reduce the overall environmental impact of the project, according to hospital reports. It has been designed to comply with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.

Company spokesperson Nina Day said recently that the benefits of constructing a replacement hospital facility in Coweta County are numerous for both the local economy, as well as the general community. An increase in overall economic impact, local jobs created, as well as increased tax revenue from the on-site medical office building and other new community physicians will positively affect Coweta’s economic prosperity, she said.

For more information on Piedmont Newnan Hospital, visit piedmontnewnan.org.