B U S I N E S S + C U LT U R E 29 Georgia South Family Medicine Residency Program came into existence. Those not raised in smaller communities often have preconceived notions about living in one. Our residency program trains doctors and allows them to experience first-hand the benefits that also come with living and working in a rural community. We are now in our third year of the residency program and we are already seeing the desired result. Physicians who trained here at Colquitt Regional have decided to stay and join our medical staff at the completion of their residency. SGaMag: With healthcare technology continuing to change, how does Colquitt Regional Medical Center stay in the forefront of technology and service capabilities? Matney: We spend a significant amount of funds to keep our workforce current and make sure the latest medical technologies are available to our patients. We have 100 percent of our technology advancements come from either a doctor, an employee or even patients that have heard about something new and asked if we could bring it here. We look at market share data constantly and know that in order to grow, we must stay current. Maintaining the status quo means that you’re falling behind. Additionally, each physician on our medical staff receives an allowance for continuing education. We also encourage our nurses to pursue board certification in their respective fields, and we now have over 110 nationally certified nurses on our staff. AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS $197 Million 1,247 ECONOMIC IMPACT TOTAL EMPLOYEES www.colquittregional.com Colquitt Regional Medical Center was named a 2017 Top Rural Hospital by the Leapfrog Group, a national patient safety watchdog organization; Colquitt Regional Medical Center received eight consecutive “A” grades for patient safety by the Leapfrog Group; and Colquitt Regional Medical Center was the first in the region to earn The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Certification for its Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement Program.