Press Releases

Lily Henson, M.D., currently CEO at Piedmont Henry Hospital, has accepted the role of president and CEO of the Piedmont Augusta Hub, replacing retiring CEO James R. Davis. She will assume the position on Jan. 9, 2023.

Piedmont Augusta received its 16th “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group’s Fall 2022 rating period. This national distinction celebrates Piedmont Augusta’s achievements in protecting hospital patients from preventable harm and errors.

Piedmont Augusta (formerly University Hospital) has received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain ̶ MI Registry Gold Performance Achievement Award for 2022. Piedmont Augusta is one of only 81 hospitals nationwide and the only hospital in our region to receive this honor.

Piedmont Augusta (formerly University Hospital) is proud to announced it has received its 15th “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for spring 2022. Piedmont Augusta is the only local healthcare facility to earn this recognition.

Jonathan Tuttle, M.D., a neurosurgeon at Piedmont Augusta, recently had the opportunity to be the first surgeon in the U.S. to utilize a new 3D-modeled lumbar titanium cage for spinal fusion surgery. Spinal fusion has been around since the early 1900s and, according to history, was initially used to treat tuberculosis patients. However, techniques and tools used in this surgery are ever-evolving, making the procedure safer for the patient and more streamlined for the surgeon. The new German-made BEE® PLIF cage is efficient for surgeons to use and showed strong potential in patients in Europe.

Piedmont Augusta, with a generous donation from Georgia-Pacific, is putting the power of early COVID-19 detection in the hands of our community. In addition to following the three Ws – washing your hands, wearing a mask and watching your distance – we know early detection is vital to curbing the spread of COVID-19. Georgia-Pacific donated antigen test kits to Piedmont to encourage distribution through our communities. Piedmont Augusta is excited to be a part of this community benefit to our region and have already taken steps to get the kits out to those who need them most – this includes high-risk populations, communities with low vaccination rates and under-served communities.

The University Health Care System – formerly University Hospital, University Hospital Summerville, and University Hospital McDuffie and associated physician practices – officially joined the Piedmont system on Tuesday as Piedmont Augusta Hospital, Piedmont Augusta Hospital Summerville Campus, and Piedmont McDuffie Hospital.

AUGUSTA, GA., (January 13, 2022) – Leaders from Augusta Technical College and University Health Care System signed a letter of intent (LOI) today on a partnership that will greatly expand the healthcare workforce for the greater Augusta region.

University Hospital is pleased to partner with LifeLink^® of Georgia to honor and remember those who gave the gift of life through organ and tissue donation. On Jan. 1, 2022, the Donate Life Rose Parade® Float titled, Courage to Hope, will include a dedication garden made up of roses with handwritten dedications by hospital CEO's across the country including James R. Davis, President and CEO of University Health Care System.

University Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Quality Achievement Award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.

U.S. News & World Report analysis of hospitals includes data from nearly 5,000 centers across multiple clinical specialties, procedures and conditions. Scores are based on a variety of patient outcomes and care-related factors, such as patient safety and nurse staffing. In 2021, University Hospital was ranked ninth in Georgia, and no other local hospital was included in the rankings. University Hospital ranked "High Performing" in nine reportable conditions or procedures

Patients seeking surgical treatment for obesity and its related conditions have a high-quality choice for receiving care at a nationally accredited program that meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality in the greater Augusta area.

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 Hospital is proud to announce its “A” rating in the Spring 2021 Hospital Safety Score, which rates how well hospitals protect patients from errors, injuries and infections.

University Hospital is holding a series of reservation-only, first-dose COVID vaccination clinics for Georgia residents. These include both PFIZER (16+) and MODERNA (18+) vaccines. Go to universityhospital.eventbrite.com to register for one of these special events.

University Hospital’s Heart & Vascular Insititute celebrates its fourth anniversary of its Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) program. The program, managed through the center’s Advanced Heart Failure Clinic, saves end-stage heart failure patients by implanting an artificial heart pump that helps the left ventricle pump blood to the rest of the body.

Highlighting its nationally recognized achievements in patient safety and quality, University Health Care System was named a Top Hospital nationally by The Leapfrog Group. Announced today, the Leapfrog Top Hospital award is widely acknowledged as one of the most competitive awards American hospitals can receive. The Top Hospital designation is bestowed by The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers widely acknowledged as the toughest standard-setters for health care safety and quality.

Moronica Carter, recently promoted to Cardio-Pulmonary Rehab and pulmonary diagnostics manager, has worked at University Hospital for 16 years, 12 as part of its Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation program.

University Hospital receives a Level 1 Emergency Cardiac Care Center designation from the Georgia Department of Public Health.

University Hospital is proud to announce it has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.

University Hospital is proud to announce it has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.

All University Health Care System campuses are tobacco-free.

University Hospital is proud to announce its “A” rating in the Spring 2020 Hospital Safety Score, which rates how well hospitals protect patients from errors, injuries and infections.

University Health Care System is thankful for the generosity our community has shown during the COVID-19 crisis. We are grateful for the outpouring of support from people and businesses in the CSRA, and University Hospital is committed to fulfilling its mission during this time of crisis: To improve the health of those we serve.

University Hospital has been reaccredited by The American College of Cardiology for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with chest pain and the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack.

University Hospital is the only facility in our region to offer this lifesaving procedure for patients who have been diagnosed with a leaky heart mitral valve, causing what is called mitral regurgitation.

University Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Heart Failure Gold Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring heart failure patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines founded in the latest scientific evidence. The goal is speeding recovery and reducing hospital readmissions for heart failure patients.

University Health Care System generated more than $1 billion in revenue for the local and state economy in 2017, according to a recent report by the Georgia Hospital Association, the state’s largest hospital trade association. The report also noted that University Health Care System provided nearly $37 million in uncompensated care while sustaining nearly 12,000 full-time jobs throughout Augusta and the rest of the state.

University Health Care System received six awards, including “Best of Show” at the American Advertising Federation – Augusta Awards held Feb. 23 at the Marion Hatcher Center.

University Hospital’s Orthopaedics Services was recognized as one of the Top 100 programs in the country in the December issue of Becker’s Hospital Review. This is the third year in a row University’s program has been recognized by the industry publication.

University Hospital held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the end of its second phase of construction and renovation of the region’s busiest Emergency Department at 2 p.m., Monday, Nov. 26. The new Emergency Department areas open for business Nov. 27.

University Health Care System's seventh Prompt Care facility opened Tuesday, July 31 in Aiken.

University Health Care Foundation honored a $21,000 donation from the North Augusta Sertoma Club with a room dedication at 5 p.m., Thursday, May 31 at University Hospital’s Speech and Hearing Center at 1430 Harper St.

University Health Care System’s Director of the Revenue Cycle George Ann Phillips has been named the president of The Georgia Chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA); her term begins June 1, 2018.

University Hospital would like to welcome Marat Goldenberg, M.D., to University Vascular Surgery. We are very excited to have Dr. Goldenberg as an addition to our team. He will bring great value to University Hospital.

University Hospital is excited to share the completion of our renovation effort in the W.G. Watson, M.D. Women’s Center as of May 11, 2018. We celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony, as well as milk and cookies. We were thrilled to have Mrs. Audrey Watson, the wife of our late namesake, in attendance for the celebration.

University Hospital unveiled the “Healer’s Touch” sculpture in recognition of our nurses on May 10, 2018. The statue is housed in the main lobby of our facility for patients, nurses and others to observe. A special event was held to show appreciation for our nurses and their dedication to University Hospital.

Approved in November 2011, University was the first and remains the only hospital in the region to offer this lifesaving procedure.

University Hospital will provide a safe location for any Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) patient and their caregiver who has a medical need or experiences extended loss of power, and their community resources can no longer serve their needs.

In the latest “Best Hospitals” release from US News & World Report, University Hospital was ranked third in Georgia out of nearly 175 hospitals in the state.

On July 1 at one second past midnight, University Health Care System welcomed Trinity Hospital of Augusta into University Health Care System as University Hospital Summerville.

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) in Aliso Viejo, Calif., recently conferred a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence on University Hospital’s Cardiovascular 3 Unit. University Hospital is the only hospital in our region to receive recognition from the AACN for quality care.

Today officials completed another formal step toward bringing Trinity Hospital of Augusta into the University Health Care System of hospitals, physician practices and specialty services at more than 10 locations in Georgia and South Carolina.

University Health Care System generated more than $955 million in revenue for the local and state economy in 2015, according to a recent report by the Georgia Hospital Association, the state’s largest hospital trade association.

The Richmond County Hospital Authority has signed an asset purchase agreement to acquire Trinity Hospital of Augusta, according to a joint announcement by Trinity and University Health Care System.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia customers enrolled in health plans that utilize the Affordable Care Act Pathway (or Pathway X) network in Southeast Georgia now have access to University Health Care System.

In its continued mission to “improve the health of those we serve,” University Hospital is extremely proud and excited to be the first hospital in America to clinically adopt a new lab system that can identify bacteria or yeast from a positive blood culture in approximately 1.5 hours, thereby vastly reducing the time needed to start an appropriate treatment.

University Hospital announced today that its cardiac catheterization lab has been accredited by Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence, an organization dedicated to ensuring adherence to the highest quality standards for cardiovascular and endovascular care.

University Health Care Foundation and Mercedes-Benz are teaming up to improve heart care in our community. The two organizations worked together to create a car raffle to support the Mac Bowman, M.D., Endowment at University Health Care Foundation.

University Hospital was named the CSRA’s 2016/2017 Consumer Choice Award winner by the National Research Corporation. The annual award identifies hospitals across the United States that healthcare consumers choose as having the highest quality and image.

University Hospital has received a Certificate of Need from the Georgia Department of Community Health to expand and renovate its current Emergency Department.

University Medical Oncology has received reaccreditation by the QOPI Certification Program (QCP™), an affiliate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). QCP builds on ASCO’s Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®), providing a three-year certification for outpatient hematology-oncology practices that meet nationally recognized standards for quality cancer care.

University Hospital laboratory director Kailash B. Sharma, M.D., has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the College of American Pathologists.

University Hospital first in CSRA to offer new spacing device to benefit prostate cancer patients.

The interventional cardiology team at University Hospital’s Heart & Vascular Institute recently became the first in the CSRA and only the second hospital in Georgia to offer patients with coronary artery disease a new treatment option that literally disappears over time.

Richard Pearce, RN, MBA, BSN, has been named the new Director of Critical Care & Intermediate Services. Richard comes to University Hospital with a very extensive nursing background.

A beloved Augusta cardiologist and University Health Care System’s Director of Cardiovascular Services Mac A. Bowman, M.D., has been selected as one of 10 Georgia Hospital Heroes by the Georgia Hospital Association.

University Health Care System has purchased the 213-bed skilled nursing facility Salem Nursing & Rehab Center of Augusta for $3.7 million.

University Hospital is proud to announce the opening of its New Nine - The University Hospital Orthopaedic & Spine Center.

The University Health Inc. Board approved at its regular meeting today a three-year, $30 million renovation and expansion project to what is considered to be its second front door, with 73 percent of its inpatients coming from the Emergency Department.