University Hospital (Augusta, Georgia)

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University Hospital
University Hospital Health Care System
Geography
Location	Augusta, Augusta, Georgia, United States
Coordinates	33°28′23″N 81°58′55″W / 33.473°N 81.982°W / 33.473; -81.982 (University Hospital)Coordinates: 33°28′23″N 81°58′55″W / 33.473°N 81.982°W / 33.473; -81.982 (University Hospital)
Organization
Care system	Non-profit
Type	private
Services
Beds	581
History
Opened	1818
Links
Website	www.universityhealth.org
Lists	Hospitals in Georgia

University Hospital is a non-profit 581-bed private hospital located in downtown Augusta, Georgia. Established in 1818, it is the second-oldest hospital in Georgia. Although University Hospital is a teaching institution, it does not currently sponsor an academic program resulting in a degree. University Hospital is no longer directly affiliated with the Medical College of Georgia or Augusta University. University Hospital is a fully private hospital receiving no local or state funding.^[1]

In addition to its main hospital campus, the University Health System has outpatient medical offices and imaging centers servicing the surrounding 25-county region comprising the CSRA (Georgia and South Carolina). University Health Care System includes a wide variety of prompt care, primary care and specialty physicians such as Endocrinology, Neuroscience, Heart and Vascular, Rheumatology and Gastroenterology.^[2] One of the newest additions to the health system is a 25-bed medical center located in McDuffie County offers residents medical and health services for people of the surrounding area. [1]

Since 1999, hospital has been named the Consumer Choice Award.^[3] winner for overall quality and image. The Consumer Choice Award is based on an independent survey of consumers conducted by the National Research Corporation^[4] to recognize the most preferred hospitals in metropolitan areas across the country.

In 2021, it was announced that Piedmont Hospitals were going to take over University. Details are still limited at this time.

Accreditations[]

Joint Commission[]

University Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations,^[5] an independent, not-for-profit organization, established more than 50 years ago.

Magnet[]

The ANCC's Magnet Recognition Program for excellence in nursing services is considered one of the highest honors that can be received for outstanding achievement in nursing.^[6]

University Hospital is the only Magnet Hospital in Augusta and one of only six in the state of Georgia and 424 world-wide.^[7]

Chest Pain[]

In 2019, University Hospital received reaccreditation Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from the Accreditation Review Committee of the American College of Cardiology.^[8] Formerly known as angioplasty, PCI encompasses procedures performed in the cardiac catheterization lab to unblock a clogged artery leading to the heart.^[9]

Breast Health Center[]

Since 2009, University Hospital's Breast Health Center has been accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers(NAPBC),^[10] a program administered by the American College of Surgeons.

University has the only nationally accredited breast health center in the region and was the second one in the state to be honored with this recognition.^[11]

History[]

Augusta's commitment to care for the "sick poor" resulted in the building of a poor house and hospital on the 100 block of Greene Street in 1818. The first City Hospital provided local physicians an opportunity for medical education and became the first home of the Medical College of Georgia in 1829. While City Hospital generally served white patients, a Freedman's Hospital was opened to care for the many African-Americans who migrated to Augusta following the American Civil War.

Augusta's City and Lamar hospitals (replacing Freedman's) operated under the auspices of local government, with medical and surgical control provided by medical college faculty. Nursing education was started at both hospitals in the 1890s, which would later evolve into the University Hospital School of Nursing.

City and Lamar hospitals were brought under one facility with the opening of a replacement hospital in 1915, which was named "University" in recognition of the ongoing clinical association with the medical college. Having Barrett, Lamar and later Milton Antony and Jennings wings, the first University Hospital served Augusta's citizens for 55 years.

Political upheaval caused the medical college to construct its own teaching facility, which opened as Talmadge Hospital in the 1950s. The Richmond County Hospital Authority moved to replace the aging University wings with a modern hospital, complete with coronary care and intensive care units, which opened in 1970.

In 2017, University purchased Trinity Hospital, gaining a second campus now known as University Hospital Summerville, in the historic Summerville community.^[12]

See also[]

• List of the oldest hospitals in the United States

References[]