Piedmont Newton Hospital — it does have a nice ring to it.

Soon that name will be seen on billboards and signs across the county But what does that name really mean.

It means that our community hospital, which has been struggling over the last few years in order to survive, has just gotten a major shot of adrenalin that will hopefully allow our local facility to grow and be more effective as a haven of health security for Newton County residents for years to come.

According to reports, small community hospitals are closing across the country at an alarming rate leaving many communities like Newton with any health care facilities.

By agreeing to turn the hospital over to the Piedmont Health Care group we have at least insured that our hospital will be here to serve our community for many years to come.

One of the first major signs of this new partnership is that the $4 million SPLOST approved for the hospital in 2011 for the expansion of the emergency room will be used thanks to the addition of another $3 million by Piedmont Health Care.

Piedmont is recognized as a leader in the hospital industry in the Atlanta area. We welcome them to our community and we look forward to even more improvement in the health care of the citizens of Newton County and the surrounding area.