Rep. Bill Werkheiser Tours Several Rural Georgia Hospitals to Discuss Rural Healthcare Access

ATLANTA - State Representative Bill Werkheiser (R-Glennville), chairman of the House Industry and Labor Committee, recently spent two days touring several rural hospitals across the state, covering approximately 300 miles throughout the tour.

"Rural communities need their rural hospitals and healthcare systems," said Chairman Werkheiser. "The loss of access to healthcare in a rural community is devastating, as it not only impacts the local community but also impacts the community's economy as a whole in both the short and long term. I intend to continue my efforts in the General Assembly to ensure that rural communities have access to care."

The two-day tour, which took place from September 29-30, included hospital site visits to Memorial Health Meadows (Vidalia), Optim Medical Center Tattnall (Reidsville), Evans Memorial Hospital (Claxton), Liberty Regional Medical Center (Hinesville), Memorial Satilla Health (Waycross), Clinch Memorial Hospital (Homerville), Dorminy Medical Center (Fitzgerald), Jeff Davis Hospital (Hazlehurst) and Appling Healthcare (Baxley). Additionally, the tour stopped at the Global Partnership for Telehealth office in Waycross.

Chairman Werkheiser, who has served as a board member of Evans Memorial Hospital in Claxton for several years, met with board members, hospital leaders, staff and community leaders from each hospital during his tour to gain a deeper understanding of the needs and opportunities of the rural healthcare facilities. Chairman Werkheiser notes that the discussions, which covered access to care, healthcare workforce shortages, financial viability, infrastructure needs and healthcare policy implications for rural communities, were a powerful reminder to state leaders of how their decisions impact the lives of rural residents.

Among the topics of discussion were the Rural Hospital Tax Credit, reimbursement, transportation, indigent care, nursing licensure and the contrast of rural versus urban healthcare.

Representative Bill Werkheiser represents the citizens of District 157, which includes Evans and Jeff Davis counties, as well as portions of Appling and Tattnall counties. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2014 and currently serves as Chairman of the Industry and Labor Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and the Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications, Judiciary Juvenile, Public Safety and Homeland Security and State Properties committees, as well as the Special Committee on Resource Management.

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