COBB COUNTY/STEPHENS COUNTY — Wellstar Health System and Stephens County Hospital reached an agreement for the local hospital and its related entities to join Wellstar.
The transaction is expected to close near the end of 2026, pending regulatory approvals.
Stephens County Hospital is a 96-bed acute care facility in Toccoa, Ga., that has operated for nearly 90 years.
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Company officials said joining Wellstar will give the hospital access to specialized network physicians, expanded telehealth technology and clinical resources from the health system.
The two health systems already maintain an established relationship through a joint tele-stroke program, which provides patients in Stephens County with access to regional stroke care and surgical capabilities.
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“For Stephens County Hospital to serve its community so well for nearly a century requires exceptional talent, deep community trust and an unwavering commitment to its mission,” Ketul J. Patel, president and CEO of Wellstar Health System, said. “We look forward to working together to build on the strong foundation already in place while creating new opportunities for the community through expanded access to specialized care, innovative services and the strength of an integrated health system.”
Van Loskoski, who serves as the CEO of Stephens County Hospital, said the merger would be better for patients.
“For generations, Stephens County Hospital has been a pillar of this community and a trusted health care provider for Toccoa, Stephens County and surrounding North Georgia,” Loskoski said. “By joining Wellstar, we believe we can build on our strong relationships with patients, families and local physicians, while expanding access to specialized services and investing in the hospital’s long-term future, so more people can receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”
In recent years, Stephens County Hospital expanded its surgical services, specifically in general surgery and orthopedics. The hospital features five operating rooms and employs two full-time orthopedic surgeons, alongside its cardiovascular services and tele-stroke program.
“All of these improvements have been part of a thoughtful, strategic approach to position Stephens County Hospital to broaden access to specialty care in our communities, which is where we find ourselves today,” Loskoski said.
Existing care arrangements will not change immediately for patients or care teams.
Wellstar said it intends to use a phased integration plan to maintain continuity for patients, clinicians and hospital personnel.
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