Hundreds of jobs to come to South Ga. with hospital’s expansion

MOULTRIE, Ga. (WALB) - Hundreds of new jobs, more access to critical care specialists and over 100 more beds are coming to South Georgia as Colquitt Regional Medical Center makes plans for a major expansion.

President and CEO of Colquitt Regional Health System Jim Matney said the hospital will be hiring 35 new specialty doctors and over 300 more employees within the next five years as the expansion is added.

According to board members, the hospital’s volume has dramatically increased over the past few years. They say about 30% of the market share is coming to Colquitt Regional.

“We’re a very successful hospital,” Maureen Yearta, Hospital Board Authority member, said. “I am very proud to be associated with it. People are choosing to come here, it’s their first choice to come.”

The expansion will focus on building a new four-story medical tower. The tower’s first floor will consist of more operating rooms, beds for overnight stays, PACU Expansion and expanded maternity care. The second floor will add 30 telemetry beds and more beds for critical care. The tower’s third and fourth floor will consist of 72 medical-surgical beds.

Matney said “So, because Colquitt Regional Health System sees themselves as a regional provider of healthcare, we’ve got to build to accommodate that demand.”

Southwest Georgia seriously lacks medical care and resources. People often travel long distances to get the care they need, so Colquitt Regional said they are excited to expand.

Yearta added, “The reason we have to do the expansion is not only for our community, who can now get the services, but for other people because of our expertise and the high quality of care we have.”

Board members said they plan to start construction in January of 2026 with the project wrapping up by summer 2028. The expansion is going to cost around $150 million. If you are interested in donating to the hospital’s capital campaign to offset the costs, you can visit this link.

Matney said the hospital plans to raise $10 million in donations and then borrow the other $140 million through revenue bonds.

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