Henry Daily Herald

Piedmont Henry Hospital is part of a new collaboration, combining patient-care endeavors in three medical facilities on the south side of Atlanta.

Piedmont Healthcare recently announced the creation of its South Region, which includes Piedmont Henry Hospital, Piedmont Fayette Hospital and Piedmont Newnan Hospital.

“The purpose of this new organizational structure is to facilitate collaboration and integration among the three southside hospitals,” said Piedmont Henry’s President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Charles F. Scott. “We have already done joint strategic planning together, and this new structure will help to further the development and implementation of joint plans collaboratively.

“I anticipate this will result in improved efficiency and cost effectiveness among our hospitals, as well as reduced variation which will enhance quality of care and patient safety,” Scott continued. “Our hospitals have a lot of similarities and common goals, so by working closely together, we should be able to better achieve those goals.”

The South Region will be led by Mike Robertson, current president and CEO of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, and Jim Sams, medical director of primary care for Piedmont Physicians Group. Effective July 1, they will serve as CEO and chief medical officer, respectively, for the region.

“The purpose behind the development of South Region is to redesign the current care model and strategic cost transformation by integrating and coordinating efforts among our hospitals on the south side of Atlanta,” said Tim Stack, president and CEO of Piedmont Healthcare. “Under this new co-management model, our hospitals will benefit from a powerful administrator/physician team with a primary focus on the issues that drive our success in those communities.”

Piedmont Fayette Hospital’s president and CEO, Darrell Cutts, recently announced he will retire July 9, after 36 years of working with Piedmont Healthcare. Michael Burnett, Piedmont Fayette Hospital’s chief operating officer since 2008, will take over for Cutts.

In addition, Piedmont Fayette’s Vice President of Medical Affairs, Frederick Willms, was named its new chief medical officer.

Stack said Cutts has been a valuable asset for Piedmont Healthcare.

“It’s hard to imagine the South Region without Darrell’s presence and wit,” said Stack. “He’s been with Piedmont for 36 years first as vice president of patient services at Piedmont Hospital and then as Piedmont Fayette’s leader since it opened in 1997. He’s done a tremendous job building that hospital into what it is today.”