A staff member works inside an exam room in the oncology department at Knox Surgical Center at Piedmont Newton Hospital. Taylor Beck | The News
Piedmont Newton ready to serve community now and into the future By TAYLOR BECK
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tbeck@covnews.com
s Newton County’s population continues to increase, Piedmont Newton Hospital is stepping up to the challenge of meeting the healthcare needs of the growing community. CEO David Kent recently told The Covington News that Piedmont Newton Hospital was “in great position to serve the county now and into the future.” And the biggest reason the hospital is able to do so is mostly due to being a part of the Piedmont Healthcare system. “We’re fortunate to be part of Piedmont,” he said. “That can’t be understated … We have such a great group of doctors and access to so many resources that we wouldn’t have otherwise.” Before becoming Piedmont Newton in 2015, the area hospital operated independently as Newton Medical Center. While considered a great facility, the hospital’s capabilities had been limited due to financial constraints. But since joining the Piedmont Healthcare group as 30 VISIONS 2022: HERE WE GROW
an equity partner, all barriers had been removed, Kent said. “I don’t think there’s anything we can’t do,” said Kent, who has been CEO since April 2020. “We just need to make sure we match what the county needs.” While there are no longer financial constraints, Kent said the hospital has placed great focus on expanding services and adapting to the exponential growth happening now, as well as what’s to come. “We’re a little behind the last 1015 years of past growth,” he said, “but we’re closing the gap.” Efforts to close the said gap include the addition of new doctors and committing ample funds on various departmental upgrades and renovations. In 2019, Piedmont Newton Hospital spent $10 million on expanding its emergency department, practically doubling its size, Kent said. Within the last two years, Kent said, there have been more than 15 physicians hired on. Across all departments, Kent said the hospital was fully staffed; however,
that was thanks to supplemental staffing through agencies. Kent said the hospital was currently working to decrease its supplemental staff to increase its full-time Piedmont Newton staff. Major renovations had been undertaken in recent years to enhance the patient experience and services across multiple departments, Kent said, including the gastroenterology and oncology units on the first floor of Knox Surgical Center, as well as the pulmonary and ambulatory units at the hospital. Kent said there were also plans “on the drawing board” to significantly widen the ambulatory footprint within the community. Residents could see these plans take effect by late summer or early fall, he said. “We’re excited for growth in Newton County,” Kent said. “This is a tremendous place. We stand ready to serve the great people of this community, and are privileged to do so.”
THE COVINGTON NEWS
