Donations directly support 23 rural hospitals in Georgia
Thomasville, GA | December 1, 2025 – At SouthlandMD, a regional leader in emergency medicine and hospitalist management and staffing services, we are dedicated not only to delivering high-quality care but also to strengthening the rural hospitals where our providers serve every day. One way we actively support this mission is annually through the Georgia HEART Hospital Program, a unique initiative that helps sustain and grow rural healthcare across the state.
For more than five years, SouthlandMD and its providers have donated annually to the hospitals we serve, contributing over $3 million back into the rural healthcare system. These dollars have supported new programs, upgraded equipment, and improved facilities that directly impact patient care in our communities.
“At SouthlandMD we believe there is no better way to support the hospitals we serve than to direct our tax dollars back into their hands,” explained Allen Lee, MD, CEO of SouthlandMD. “Every contribution large or small makes a meaningful difference in the future of rural healthcare in Georgia.”
For example, HEART contributions helped our partner affiliated hospitals including Liberty Regional Memorial in Hinesville, GA, where funding helped them purchase a state-of-the-art Nuclear SPECT camera, advancing local cardiac diagnostics for patients across Liberty County. Another example is at Clinch Memorial Hospital in Homerville, GA where contributions helped reduce facility debt and implement a modern electronic health record system, improving efficiency and patient experience. And, finally at SGMC Berrien in Nashville, GA contributions supported the construction of the new 26,000-square-foot emergency department. More details regarding how recipient hospitals have utilized HEART funds can be found here.
Hospitals We Support
Together, we can ensure stronger hospitals, healthier communities, and continued growth in the places where we live and work. Over the years, SouthlandMD has supported 23 hospitals through the Georgia HEART Program, including:
These hospitals rely on the program’s funds to launch new programs, enhance facilities, and improve healthcare access in their communities.
“At SouthlandMD, we want to make supporting the hospitals we work in as simple as possible.” stated Stephanie Fletcher, CFO at SouthlandMD. “That’s why we offer a payroll deduction option, allowing providers to make contributions easily. The great thing is donations are not anonymous, and the hospitals know we care, which further strengthens the relationship between our providers and the facilities we serve.”
How the Georgia HEART Program Works
The Georgia HEART Hospital Program offers a remarkable opportunity for providers and community members alike:
This means you can choose how your state tax dollars are used—investing them back into the hospitals that matter most to you and your patients. Tax credits are still available for 2025. To learn more about how you can participate and the impact of this program, visit www.georgiaheart.org.
About SouthlandMD
SouthlandMD continues to set a high standard across the Southeast focused on quality care for patients, and trusted staffing for hospitals while providing rewarding careers for providers. SouthlandMD is a trusted industry leader in Emergency Medicine, Hospitalist, Behavioral Health, and Outpatient Care to hospitals, behavioral health facilities, and outpatient centers throughout the Southeast region of the United States, headquartered in Thomasville, Georgia. SouthlandMD operates with more than 625 physicians across 85 programs and treats over 950,000 patients annually.