Article Category: Newsroom
Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center Provides Hospital-Level Care in Patients’ Homes
First hospital in Georgia to offer innovative Hospital Care at Home program
Published on February 05, 2025
Last updated 08:45 AM February 05, 2025
Dr. Sergio and Roxann Bustos
Augusta, Ga. (Feb. 5, 2025) – When Dr. Sergio Bustos, 92, fell and developed a bruise that swelled and didn’t improve, his family brought him to the Emergency Department at Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center. The attending physician prescribed treatment that included IV antibiotics and the opportunity to receive hospital-level care from the comfort of his home. Bustos and his family were surprised and elated. He became Georgia’s first Hospital Care at Home patient.
As its name suggests, the Hospital Care at Home program allows patients who meet certain criteria to be admitted to the hospital while remaining comfortable at home. The benefits include shorter recovery times and regular visits by care providers who can identify and address environmental issues that may lead to being re-admitted to the hospital.
When physicians decide that a patient is a good candidate for the program, the patient is provided with equipment to monitor their vital signs and a tablet for virtual physician visits. Nurses virtually monitor vital signs around the clock while other care team members, including nurses and paramedics, make in-home visits multiple times a day to administer IV antibiotics, capture vital signs, assess the home for safety, complete virtual visits with the physician team and ensure the patient is improving toward discharge.
“The Hospital Care at Home program is a game changer for eligible patients, especially those who are elderly and respond better to treatment in their more familiar environments,” said Dr. Matt Lyon, director of the MCG Center for Digital Health at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. “We combine technology and in-home visits to produce better health outcomes.”
“The patient first has to meet criteria for hospitalization, and then meet the criteria for Hospital Care at Home by an in-person physician consultation,” continued Lyon. “While the patient must need hospitalization, they also need to be mobile, and their condition can’t be too critical. Someone who needs a lot of monitoring is not a good candidate. They also need to live close enough to Wellstar MCG Health in case they need to quickly return to the hospital.”
If at any point a patient begins having problems and needs more acute care, they are immediately transferred back to the brick-and-mortar hospital.
Bustos’ daughter, Susana Chacon, who is an occupational therapist, was thrilled her father could receive hospital-level care at home. She was concerned that at his age, he would respond better to receiving care in a familiar setting.
“Hospitals are wonderful when you need them, but being out of place for older people can cause confusion. You can’t eat or sleep like you can at home, where you have your own bed, bathroom, things like that. As an occupational therapist, I think the best place ever to recover, if possible, is at home. You’re going to be able to function so much better,” she said.
First authorized in 2020 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the
Hospital Care at Home program
provides hospitals with expanded flexibility to care for patients and was recently extended by Congress through the end of March 2025. Proponents of Hospital Care at Home hope that Congress will continue to extend the program.
“I am very pleased with the experience,” said Bustos. “Any time that I had any questions, they were answered. The medical team was wonderful, and my wife and family were more comfortable spending time with me.”
Bustos was successfully discharged from Wellstar MCG Health’s Hospital Care at Home program a few days after being admitted. The virtual care team continued to follow Bustos for 30 days, supporting him and his family with scheduling appointments, delivering medication, arranging for social support and providing quick access to a healthcare provider if needed.
According to
Becker’s Hospital Review,
the four most common conditions treated through hospital-at-home programs are respiratory, circulatory, renal (kidney) and infectious disease.
“Advances in technology have opened opportunities for more personalized healthcare that were previously unimaginable,” said Dr. Hank Capps, executive vice president, chief information and digital officer at Wellstar. “We’re always looking for ways to improve the patient experience. Offering hospital-level care at home, when it’s appropriate, is the newest way that we’re providing Georgians with the compassionate care that they need.”
Read related articles
Newsroom
Curative Adds Wellstar Health System as the Cornerstone of Its Georgia Provider Network
AUSTIN, Tex. and MARIETTA, Ga. (August 18, 2026) — Curative, the employer-sponsored health plan redefining access to healthcare through its $0-deductible, $0-copay model, today announced a network agreement with Georgia-based Wellstar Health System, adding 12 hospitals and more than 400 medical office locations, as Curative continues to build out statewide coverage.
As a major integrated health system partner for Curative in Georgia, Wellstar becomes the cornerstone of the company's growing provider network in the state. The agreement marks an important milestone in Curative's strategy to build direct partnerships with leading health systems that share its commitment to improving access, affordability, and patient experience. By combining premier provider networks with a benefit design that eliminates financial barriers to care, Curative is creating a more accessible healthcare experience for employers, members, and providers alike.
Curative members now have in-network access to Wellstar's full continuum of care—including women’s and maternal health, pediatrics, cancer, cardiovascular, neurology, and orthopedics, —with zero copays and zero deductibles after completing a Baseline Visit. For Georgia employers and brokers, the agreement pairs one of the state's most trusted health systems with a health plan designed to improve access to care while helping employers better manage healthcare costs through a simpler, more connected care experience.
"Wellstar is exactly the kind of health system we want as we build out a provider network that employers, brokers, and members can trust," said Fred Turner, CEO of Curative. “Their reputation for excellence and high-quality providers is well established across the state, where, for too long, rising deductibles have shifted costs onto families instead of improving healthcare. We're proving there's a better way—one with zero copays, zero deductibles, and access to exceptional care."
"Our priority was building a partnership with Wellstar that delivers value from day one," said Ramzy ElGomayel, Senior Vice President of Network Development & Management at Curative. "We move at the speed a health system actually needs, without decades of legacy systems to work around. Our engaged members become their engaged patients. That's what makes Curative worth signing for."
"At Wellstar, we look for ways to make care more accessible and affordable to further our mission of enhancing the health and well-being of every person we serve," said Barbara Courey, Senior Vice President for Managed Care at Wellstar Health System. "Providing people with opportunities to receive the right level of care at the right time, beginning with proactive primary and specialty care visits, is increasingly important. Making options available to our patients, from in-person and virtual visits to a variety of payment options such as those offered by Curative, are all critically important to improving a person’s overall health and cost of care.”
As the company continues to expand, Curative is building a statewide provider network comprised of leading health systems that deliver the quality, scale, and coordinated care employers and members expect. Together, these partnerships will help remove barriers to care and support better health outcomes for Georgia communities.
Members, employers, and brokers can learn more about Curative's Georgia health plans at curative.com.
About Wellstar Health System
Wellstar Health System is one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the Southeast and a growing destination for care across Georgia and beyond. Guided by its PeopleCare culture, Wellstar is advancing a bold vision to deliver exceptional quality, safety and patient experience while expanding access to world-class medicine.
Today, 35,000 team members, one of the region’s largest physician networks, and 12 hospitals serve communities through more than 400 care locations including cancer centers, rehabilitation facilities, urgent care centers and a digital care network that extends specialty expertise to community and rural hospitals. Wellstar’s nationally recognized programs span cardiology, neuroscience, oncology, orthopedics, pediatrics and other specialties, bringing advanced treatment closer to the people who need it.
Through partnerships that include Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia, Wellstar helps educate future clinicians, accelerate discovery and translate research into real-world impact. Recognized as one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For, Wellstar combines clinical excellence, innovation and collaboration to improve the health and well-being of every person it serves.
About Curative
Curative is redefining employer-sponsored health insurance by eliminating financial barriers to care and partnering with leading health systems across the country. Its health plans feature $0 deductibles, $0 copays for in-network care and preferred prescriptions after members complete a Baseline Visit, helping people access care earlier while giving employers a more predictable and sustainable healthcare benefit. Backed by an AM Best rating of A-, Curative is building a premier provider network and delivering a simpler healthcare experience for employers, brokers, providers and members. Learn more at curative.com or follow Curative on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
*Every Curative member qualifies for the $0 deductible, $0 copay for in-network care and preferred prescriptions by completing a Baseline Visit within 120 days of the plan effective date.
Newsroom
Wellstar Columbia County Medical Center Celebrates Community Milestones Ahead of Aug. 26 Opening
GROVETOWN, Ga. — Wellstar Columbia County Medical Center is preparing to welcome its first patients on Wednesday, Aug. 26, following two major community celebrations that marked a historic step forward for healthcare access in Columbia County and the broader Central Savannah River Area.
On Aug. 4, Wellstar leaders, including president and CEO Ketul J. Patel and Board of Trustees Chair Greg Morgan, were joined by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue, Augusta University President Russell Keen, Columbia County Commission Chairman Doug Duncan, and other state and local leaders for a ribbon-cutting event and facility tour at the new hospital.
Days later, on Aug. 8, Wellstar welcomed community members to an open house where residents toured the new facility, explored patient care areas, and learned more about the services that will soon be available close to home.
“This is a special milestone for Columbia County, the CSRA, and everyone who helped bring this vision to life,” said Patel. “When a new hospital comes to life, it creates opportunities that will benefit a community for generations. Wellstar Columbia County Medical Center was thoughtfully designed with this community, for this community, and we are excited about the impact it will have on patients and families for years to come.”
The six-story, 100-bed hospital, located at 5000 Gateway Blvd. in Grovetown, will expand access to emergency care, surgical services, advanced imaging, cardiology, neurology, oncology, orthopedics, specialty care, and inpatient services. The hospital is designed to grow with the region and will open with flexible spaces, advanced technology, and patient-centered features that support care close to home.
Wellstar Columbia County Medical Center features dedicated intensive care unit rooms, and every patient room can be converted to function as ICU room if necessary. Patient rooms also include technology to support telehealth visits with specialists at Wellstar MCG Health and family members, along with digital whiteboards that help patients and care teams stay connected to up-to-date medical information. Large windows throughout the hospital bring in natural light, supporting a healing environment.
“This is 12 years of a dream that began with a commitment to better serve this community,” said Russell Keen, president of Augusta University. “What’s being built here is an investment in the CSRA as well as an important part of strengthening the healthcare workforce across Georgia through Wellstar MCG Health, Augusta University, and the Medical College of Georgia.”
The new hospital also expands the partnership among Wellstar, Augusta University, and the Medical College of Georgia, providing additional learning opportunities for students and future healthcare professionals through the use of the latest healthcare technologies. Adjacent to the hospital, a 92,000-square-foot medical office building with 11 outpatient clinics remains under construction and is expected to open later this fall.
During the Aug. 4 ribbon-cutting event, leaders emphasized that the hospital represents years of collaboration, planning, and shared commitment among healthcare, education, government, and community partners. The celebration also highlighted the role of local students, whose artwork will be displayed in the hospital lobby to welcome patients, families, visitors, and team members.
“Hospitals are known for medicine, technology, and clinical expertise—and all of those things matter,” Patel said. “But healing is also about connection, comfort, and belonging.”
Wellstar Columbia County Medical Center is scheduled to begin seeing patients on Aug. 26.
Newsroom
Wellstar Health System Completes Acquisition of Mountain Lakes Medical Center
CLAYTON, Ga. (August 10, 2026) — Wellstar Health System and Mountain Lakes Medical Center (MLMC) today announced that Wellstar has completed its acquisition of the northeast Georgia-based hospital, following the conclusion of regulatory requirements and customary closing conditions.
Mountain Lakes Medical Center is a 25-bed critical access hospital serving Rabun County and surrounding northeast Georgia communities. With the completed acquisition, MLMC is now Wellstar Mountain Lakes Medical Center and the 12th hospital in Wellstar’s integrated health system.
“From our earliest conversations, it was clear that Mountain Lakes Medical Center was a special organization with a talented team, deep community roots and tremendous potential,” said Wellstar President and CEO Ketul J. Patel. “Completing this acquisition marks an important milestone in our shared commitment to build on the hospital’s strong foundation and create new possibilities for patients, clinicians and communities in the region.”
Wellstar Mountain Lakes Medical Center is a full-service, 25-bed acute care hospital with a Level IV Trauma Center that is staffed by highly trained medical professionals who are passionate about improving healthcare and redefining how their community thinks about health and wellness.
Patel said the completed acquisition reflects Wellstar’s broader vision of enhancing patient care across Georgia and the Southeast.
“At Wellstar, we’re building a connected healthcare ecosystem that links community hospitals, physicians, specialists, advanced clinical programs and digital capabilities into a seamless experience for patients. The Mountain Lakes team has an important role to play in that future.”
Patients will continue to have access to the clinicians and care teams they know and trust as Wellstar takes a phased and thoughtful approach to integrating patients, clinicians and team members into the Wellstar system.
As part of Wellstar, patients in the region will gain access to broader clinical expertise, advanced clinical programs, technology resources and operational support. Over time, patients and clinicians will also benefit from Wellstar’s Digital Care Network, which connects local care teams with specialists and advanced clinical programs across the system in real time, helping accelerate diagnosis, treatment planning and coordinated care.
Additional information and updates will continue to be shared with team members, clinicians, patients and the community as integration progresses.
About Wellstar Health System
Wellstar Health System is one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the Southeast and a growing destination for care across Georgia and beyond. Guided by its PeopleCare culture, Wellstar is advancing a bold vision to deliver exceptional quality, safety and patient experience while expanding access to world-class medicine.
Today, 35,000 team members, one of the region’s largest physician networks and 12 hospitals serve communities through more than 400 care locations, including cancer centers, rehabilitation facilities, urgent care centers and a digital care network that extends specialty expertise to community and rural hospitals. Wellstar’s nationally recognized programs span cardiology, neuroscience, oncology, orthopedics, pediatrics and other specialties, bringing advanced treatment closer to the people who need it.
Through partnerships that include Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia, Wellstar helps educate future clinicians, accelerate discovery and translate research into real-world impact. Recognized as one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For, Wellstar combines clinical excellence, innovation and collaboration to improve the health and well-being of every person it serves.