Dan Bevels, President of Atrium Health Floyd-Polk Foundation, addressed the Cherokee County Commission to update them on the progress made at Atrium Floyd Cherokee. He told the Commission, emergency contacts with Cherokee County Residents has grown to almost nine thousand during the past year. Atrium Floyd invested $1.6  million in capital dollars in 2024 and since taking over the management of the hospital, $16 million in capital expenditures at Cherokee Medical Center. Bevels said the hospital has come from the point of closing to becoming a self sustaining medical facility. The facility provides $3 million in unreimbursed care to patients in Cherokee County annually.

The Foundation provided $100 thousand dollars in grant funding to 3 nonprofit organizations in Cherokee County during the past year. He said they look forward to the next round of grant funding coming soon this year.

Bevels announced a new Women’s Imaging Suite coming to Atrium Floyd Cherokee to provide the latest technology in mammography imaging with results within 24 hours. He said local residents will now be able to get the same service in Cherokee County as provided at the Women’s Center in Rome or other facilities in other cities. Bevels said the facility will be open in the near future.

He said this is an example of the commitment Atrium Floyd has for rural health and the residents of Cherokee County. Kay Chumbler, Chairman of the Cherokee Medical Center Board told WEIS Radio News, the Women’s Imaging Suite already has more than 100 patients signed up for services and the unit is not yet opened. Chumbler said this facility will feature the latest diagnostic imaging equipment available.