Beginning Jan. 10, Northside Hospital Forsyth has opened two new floors atop the hospital’s main patient tower. The new floors (floors 9 and 10) add 43 more beds to support the hospital’s medical/surgical and women’s services.
Northside also has filed a Certificate of Need (CON) application with the state that proposes adding 26 more medical/surgical beds through the conversion of existing observation beds. If approved, the combined projects would bring the hospital’s inpatient beds to 389.
According to ForwardForsyth.org, Forsyth County has been among the top 10 fastest growing communities in the nation since 2010. Skip Putnam, CEO of Northside Hospital Forsyth, said that the hospital’s growth is a direct response to what the county is seeing and to the state’s indication that additional beds are needed to help Northside Forsyth meet patient demand by 2026.
“More than 648,000 patients each year choose Northside Hospital Forsyth for their health care,” said Putnam. “The hospital saw a 48% increase in admissions between 2010 and 2020.”
Northside Forsyth’s growth is nothing new. In the 20 years since Northside Hospital purchased the then 41-bed Cumming hospital, the hospital and its campus have experienced near-continuous construction.
“Our patients will always come first in everything we do,” said Putnam. “Growth of our facilities allows us to offer more quality medical care to the region and improve outcomes and efficiencies.”
In addition to expanding facilities, Northside has opened more outpatient services and physician practices in Cumming, Johns Creek, Dawsonville, Alpharetta, Gainesville and surrounding communities to better serve patients closer to home. With the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual visits are available with many of Northside’s providers.
But while growth of facilities and services provides greater patient access to quality medical care and improves patient outcomes, it is Northside’s people and their passion for health care that are at the root of Northside’s success.
Northside Hospital Forsyth is the largest private sector employer in Forsyth County, with more than 3,500 employees.
"Throughout the pandemic, our employees and physicians have fought through unforeseen challenges – and have stayed committed to putting patients first,” said Putnam. “It has been nothing short of astonishing.”
The hospital’s reputation of providing clinical excellence has been recognized by others in the health care industry.
In 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recognized Northside Hospital Forsyth with five stars in its annual Hospital Quality Star Ratings - one of just six in Georgia to receive the recognition.
The hospital was recognized by Healthgrades in 2022 with the Surgical Care Excellence Award and as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals™ for joint replacement.
In addition, Northside Forsyth has received quality achievement awards for heart failure and stroke care from the American Heart Association, and have earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval in multiple specialties, including joint replacement and heart failure.
Northside’s commitment to wellness also extends to this area’s stellar servant leaders. Northside continues to build strong community partnerships with many non-profit organizations, including The Place of Forsyth County, Elachee Nature Science Center, Literacy Forsyth, United Way of Forsyth County, Forsyth County Schools and many others.
The Northside Hospital health care system is one of Georgia’s leading health care providers with five acute-care hospitals in Atlanta, Canton, Cumming, Duluth and Lawrenceville and more than 250 outpatient locations across the state. Northside Hospital leads the U.S. in newborn deliveries and is among the state’s top providers of cancer care, sports medicine, cardiovascular and surgical services.
RELATED NEWS:
- Northside receives multiple 2022 Specialty Excellence Awards from Healthgrades
- Northside hospitals earn consecutive certifications for joint replacement surgery
- Topping out of Northside Forsyth vertical addition