COVINGTON, Ga. - A ribbon-cutting ceremony, held outside the emergency room at Piedmont Newton Hospital, marked the end of the expansion and renovation of the hospital’s emergency care unit. The expansion, which was estimated to cost $9.5 million, was officially completed two weeks ago on May 14.

Hundreds of people were invited to the event, such as the hospital’s board members and Newton County officials. Ronnie Johnston, mayor of Covington, Marcello Banes, chairman of Newton County Board of Commissioners, and Debbie Harper, interim president of the Newton County Chamber of Commerce, were among those in attendance.

Johnston stood in front of the crowd of people, with Banes and Harper by his side, to talk about what a great day it had been when Piedmont arrived in Newton County.  He spoke about how he saw the hospital as “a foundation” among the other great things happening in the community.

“It’s a big deal,” Johnston said in regards to the importance of the hospital’s name.

Banes commented on how the hospital's name "means so many things in so many different ways, especially for the citizens in this community." 

He went on to add that he thinks the hospital is “going to serve the community well.”

Piedmont Newton Hospital’s goal is to “make a positive difference in every life [they] touch,” Dr. Eric Bour, CEO of Piedmont Newton Hospital, said during his speech before he cut the ribbon. 

He emphasized how important it was for “the citizens of Newton County to be able to have care in Newton County.”

Following the ribbon cut, a tour was held to showcase the new expansion. The expansion, which added 12,000 square feet to the emergency department, included 16 more patient rooms, privacy for all admitted patients, improve turnarounds for labs and a “much more comfortable department,” Bour said.

Since the completion of the expansion, there have been noticeable drops in wait times for discharge patients, Norris Little, chief medical officer at Piedmont Newton, said during one of the tours.