Piedmont Newnan Celebrates Topping Out on New South Tower

Let’s Create Together, a crafting class. Everything’s Gone to Pot, a creative planting class, as well as One Hour Drummer, an African drumming class held during the lunch hour, are great opportunities to focus on interesting new hobbies.

Education is provided through a Let’s Talk series, led by Margarette Coleman, and the Oncology Support Group led by Oncology Social Worker, Shannon Wooten. Both classes give people a chance to discuss various topics in a group setting and form new networks of support.

Piedmont Newnan Hospital recently celebrated the topping out of its new South Tower. The first phase of this $65 million expansion project will add 80,000 square feet and 50 new patient beds. It will consist of three levels that will connect at the south side of the hospital and the structure is designed to support five future additional floors.

Hospital staff and community members gathered for a topping out ceremony to celebrate this significant milestone. The final beam, which was signed by hospital staff, physicians and volunteers the week leading up to the ceremony, was hoisted by the tower crane into place during the event.

Exercise is key to regaining strength after cancer. “We offer a variety of exercise classes that can be modified to a person’s unique abilities,” said Jennifer Palmer, Program Coordinator. “In-person classes include Balance & Flex, Chair Yoga, Exercise Is Medicine, Exercising to the Oldies, and Gentle Pilates. We also offer Gentle Yoga via ZOOM two evenings per week.”

Relaxation is the goal of the center’s two most popular services –Massage and Reflexology. Offered as thirty-minute appointments, both services are great ways to reduce anxiety and depression.

“The ultimate goal of our program is to offer a safe space for cancer survivors, and those still in treatment, to heal mentally and emotionally,” said Palmer. “The friendships made here are an important part of the journey to wellness, and we encourage the social connections that easily form here.”

The Thomas F. Chapman Family Cancer Wellness program is funded by individual donations, as well as proceeds from our annual Piedmont Newnan Soiree. In 2022, the second annual Soiree raised over $160,000 for our program and other oncology services.

“This is a significant milestone in the construction of the new South Tower that will open next spring. We’re very excited to be celebrating this with our community,” said Piedmont Newnan Chief Operating Officer (COO) Vicki Kaiser. “We appreciate everyone who joined us to celebrate the last beam being placed and we are excited for the completion of this much needed expansion to our hospital’s campus.”

As a top destination for care in south Atlanta, this project is necessary to keep up with Coweta County’s fast-paced growth and to continue to provide high-quality, patient-centered care close to home for the county’s residents, especially after the increase in volumes since the opening of the new interchange at Interstate 85 and Poplar Road in 2019.

Nutrition is the focus of the center’s two monthly cooking classes. Chef Nancy Waldeck hosts Taste & Savor, which focuses on easy, healthy and delicious meals that can be duplicated at home. Chef Michael Laidlaw shares plant-based recipes and illustrates how nutritious a vegan menu can be.

Nutrition is also the focus of the center’s in-house dietitian, Andrea Swartz. Swartz meets privately with cancer patients by appointment to discuss their changing dietary needs during their cancer journey.

The Piedmont Newnan Thomas F. Chapman Family Cancer Wellness program currently offers eighteen classes and services.

“One of our biggest challenges is spreading the word about our amazing space and all the programs we offer here,” said Palmer.

“If you or someone you know has ever been diagnosed with cancer, please let them know about us.”

Piedmont Newnan’s Thomas F. Chapman Family Cancer Wellness Program celebrated National Cancer Survivor Day this year with a globally-themed open house. On Wednesday, June 7, approximately fifty cancer survivors attended the event which included demonstrations, wellness services and food from around the world.

“This inaugural celebration was a huge success, and we are already looking forward to making it even bigger and better next year!” said Palmer.

The hospital has previously expanded the current facility, growing from 136-bed to 167-bed facility, but remains full. The South Tower project, which broke ground in October, will add 50 additional beds, which includes the intent to continue to build additional floors in future phases, and is the most significant investment Piedmont has made in Coweta County since building this new hospital on Poplar Road in 2012. Since opening the new hospital on Poplar Road, Piedmont has invested almost $300 million in capital here at Newnan, including the $65 million budgeted for this expansion.

Construction is estimated to be completed in Spring 2024. Once complete, the hospital’s capacity will increase from its current licensed bed count of 167 to 217 licensed beds.

“We’re very grateful for the support of our community during this construction project,” said Kaiser. “The Piedmont Newnan team is looking forward to continuing serve the healthcare needs of those in Coweta and surrounding communities through this new addition to our hospital.”

For more information, visit piedmont.org

Creativity is great medicine for the anxiety that often plagues those battling cancer. The center currently offers Art & Soul, a weekly painting class; Bumble Beads, a jewelry-making class; and

For more information visit piedmont.org