Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville has officially opened its Green Tower, a new 11-story, 927,000-square-foot expansion aimed at enhancing emergency and heart care services.

The facility, part of Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS), began treating patients on the morning of Feb. 8, and includes a new emergency department, which saw its first patient at 6:47am on opening day.

The emergency department features dedicated areas for trauma, resuscitation, minor care, behavioral health and pediatrics. A rooftop helipad with direct access to critical care areas was also added to speed up emergency treatment.

"The treatment spaces and waiting areas are beautiful, the registration and triage processes are streamlined and, overall, we expect to move people through faster than before," said Dr. Mohak Davé, chief of emergency medicine for NGHS.

Beyond emergency services, the Green Tower expands NGMC Gainesville’s heart care capabilities. The first floor houses Georgia Heart Institute services, including cardiac testing, catheterization labs and endovascular operating rooms. Additional floors feature new operating rooms, intensive care units and specialty cardiac care units, such as the Woody Stewart Heart Failure Treatment Unit.

"The Green Tower is a game-changer for our heart patients," said Dr. Vik Reddy, chief clinical officer for NGHS. "It brings so many of our cardiac care services into one location, which will make care more seamless for patients."

Inpatient capacity also increased with the addition of 96 beds, with plans to expand to more than 190 as shell space on floors six through nine is developed. The project has also created more than 100 new jobs and expanded parking.

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