Joining together to advance healthcare in the Augusta region.

The University Health Care System Board of Directors, unanimously approved a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) for University Health Care System, the operator of University Hospital, to join Piedmont Healthcare, a high-quality, cost-effective provider in Georgia.

University Health Care System

Joining together to advance healthcare in the Augusta region.

The University Health Care System Board of Directors unanimously approved a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) for University Health Care System, the operator of University Hospital, to join Piedmont Healthcare, a high-quality, cost-effective provider in Georgia.

Joining together to advance healthcare in the Augusta region.

The University Health Care System Board of Directors unanimously approved a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) for University Health Care System, the operator of University Hospital, to join Piedmont Healthcare, a high-quality, cost-effective provider in Georgia.

University’s Board continuously plans for the future of healthcare and has been exploring several options for how best to fulfill our mission, including how a partnership with a like-minded organization could ensure the health system’s long-term sustainability. After a deliberate process, the Board has decided the best option for University and our community is to pursue a partnership with Piedmont Healthcare.

This is a positive step, building on several years of collaboration on clinical initiatives as well as similar cultures, values and commitment to caring for the patients and communities we serve. By building upon our existing relationship, we can strengthen our efforts to improve the health of the people of the Augusta region and across the state of Georgia.

University’s Board continuously plans for the future of healthcare and has been exploring several options for how best to fulfill our mission, including how a partnership with a like-minded organization could ensure the health system’s long-term sustainability. After a deliberate process, the Board has decided the best option for University and our community is to pursue a partnership with Piedmont Healthcare.

This is a positive step, building on several years of collaboration on clinical initiatives as well as similar cultures, values and commitment to caring for the patients and communities we serve. By building upon our existing relationship, we can strengthen our efforts to improve the health of the people of the Augusta region and across the state of Georgia.

Our future is exciting, and our work to secure it is ongoing.

We now have an opportunity to take our future into our own hands and create a better healthcare future. Signing the LOI is the first step in a thoughtful process that will take months to complete. Prior to the finalization of a partnership and joining the Piedmont family, a definitive agreement will require regulatory reviews and is expected to be finalized later this year.

University Health Care System

About University Health Care System

University Health Care System is anchored by University Hospital, an 812-bed nonprofit, acute care hospital serving Augusta-Richmond County, Ga., and the surrounding region. Founded in 1818 as City Hospital, University has moved through four facilities to its present location on Walton Way and includes its Summerville Campus on Wrightsboro Road. Together they specialize in heart, vascular, orthopaedic, spine, neurosurgery, medicine and women’s services. Over the years, University has expanded its main campus and established medical centers in South Richmond County, Grovetown, Aiken, North Augusta and Columbia County to include physician practices, Prompt Care facilities, home health and three skilled nursing centers and University Hospital McDuffie in Thomson, Ga. In addition to being the longest serving health system in the region, University has the largest and most experienced medical staff and leads the region in quality and safety.

Piedmont Healthcare

About Piedmont Healthcare

Piedmont Healthcare empowers communities to connect with safe and high-quality care, conveniently, every step of the way. Our promise is to make a positive difference in every life we touch and today we are creating a destination known for the best clinicians and a safe one-of-a-kind experience that always puts patients first. Founded in 1905, we are a private, not-for-profit organization with over 23,000 employees caring for 2.7 million patients across 800 locations and serving communities that comprise 70 percent of Georgia’s population. Piedmont provides safe, convenient and high-quality care across 11 hospitals, 35 Piedmont Urgent Care centers, 25 QuickCare locations, 1,875 Piedmont Clinic physician practices and more than 2,600 Piedmont Clinic members. In 2019, Forbes listed us as one of the Top10 Employers in Georgia, Piedmont became Great Place to Work-Certified™, which was repeated in 2020. In FY 2019, Piedmont provided $340 million in uncompensated care and community benefit programming to the communities we serve. For more information, visit piedmont.org.