History
On a spring day in 1951, central Georgia residents of Thomaston gathered to celebrate the opening of the region’s brand new medical facility, then known as Upson County Hospital.
One local paper documented the 1951 milestone with these words: “The undying faith of a few weathered 15 years of planning, set backs, a war, inflation, more planning and finally the realization of their dream. From the child who told the superintendent “I just want to see how it’s coming along – I’ve got a nickel in it,” to the group that contributed $100,000, people gave unselfishly…”
The hospital cost a mere $1,122,000 in 1951, and its impact 60 years later is priceless.
We owe a debt of gratitude to those who had the vision for this hospital and tenacity to see it to fruition 60 years ago, as well as those who work here today and continue to make Upson Regional Medical Center the hospital of choice for so many.
In the early 1970’s, the Harvey Annex was built to add more space and services to the hospital. Almost 20 years later, another major construction project took form, resulting in the Hightower Annex. When this addition was officially opened on January 14, 1990, another major change was announced: Upson County Hospital became Upson Regional Medical Center to represent the facility’s eight-county service area. In the years that followed, Upson continued its trend of acquiring leading-edge equipment and adding care to accommodate patient needs. But board members and hospital staffers also saw the need for additional growth to help the facility move effectively into the future. In 2004, plans took form for the most ambitious project in the hospital’s history: an $18 million expansion and renovation initiative that would redefine regional health care.
From 2005 – 2007 the hospital’s main campus was renovated to accommodate growing demand for outpatient services. The $20 million completed project brought new services and amenities to visitors and patients, including an Ambulatory Outpatient Center, a spacious lobby area, a 20 bed-Emergency Services Center and expanded Radiology Department, which includes a Women’s Diagnostic Center.
In August 2011 and in its 60th year, Upson Regional Medical Center once again made history with the opening of a 30,000 square foot, $6.3 million Medical Office Building in Barnesville. The Medical Office Building is, without question, the largest single investment the hospital has ever made outside of Upson County. This facility is a symbol of Upson Regional Medical Center’s commitment to the growth of our region and it is a symbol of its commitment to the Barnesville community.
From the inception of the idea of this facility, it was always to be built for Lamar County and Barnesville, and the primary reasons for that are two-fold – one is the projection that Lamar County is poised for more growth over the next five years than any other part of our region. And second, is the Barnesville communities’ long history of choosing Upson as their hospital of choice.
More than construction and facilities, the heart of Upson’s history is a legacy of compassionate care that continuously is advanced for the quality and safety of its patients.”
