St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital announces $45.6 million expansion

GREENSBORO, Ga. – May 18, 2026 – St. Mary’s Health Care System today announced it will build a 42,000-square-foot Pavilion adjacent to St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital to transform access to vital health services across the greater Lake Country region.

“St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Pavilion will improve access to care and reduce the burden of travel for people across the communities we serve,” said Stonish Pierce, President and CEO of Trinity Health Georgia. “As part of Trinity Health, this investment reflects our shared commitment to deliver faster, more convenient access to care, shorter wait times and improved patient outcomes for essential services such as cardiology, primary care and surgery.”

Initial site grading began recently, with a groundbreaking ceremony planned for July.  The Pavilion is expected to open in fall 2027. All current inpatient and outpatient services at St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital will continue without interruption while construction is in progress.

The $45.6 million facility, which will attach to the south end of the existing hospital at 5401 Lake Oconee Parkway, will enhance local access to:

• Cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation services, creating a seamless transition from inpatient care to outpatient recovery
• Gastroenterology care, creating more capacity for diagnosis and treatment of digestive issues, from acid reflux to colon cancer
• Non-oncology infusion services expansion, allowing more patients with chronic and complex conditions – such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Crohn’s disease, and multiple sclerosis – to receive safe, hospital-based infusion care close to home
• Pharmacy services, including expanded inpatient services, a new “meds-to-beds” program for inpatients at discharge, and a new retail pharmacy open to the community
• Primary care, bringing providers on-site, with immediate access to associated services such as laboratory testing and imaging
• Rheumatology care provides local access to treatment for patients experiencing reduced quality of life due to the pain and inflammation caused by autoimmune diseases
• Expanded surgical services, with future growth providing enhanced access to general surgery, neurosurgery, and other surgical specialties
• Laboratory draw station, providing easy access to outpatients who need samples collected
• Community Education and Conference Center, including a 3,200-square-foot classroom and catering kitchen

In addition, St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital will relocate several existing services into a larger space in the Pavilion, including outpatient rehabilitation, infusion, and administration. Current spaces for these functions will be re-purposed so that services can be added or expanded within the hospital. 

“Few rural communities are blessed with the high-quality, compassionate care that St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital already provides, but there are still many needs we cannot meet locally,” said Dr. Dave Ringer, Chief of Staff. “The Pavilion will be a tremendous step forward for everyone who lives, works, and plays in this region.”

In conjunction with the start of the project, St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation announced the launch of a $10 million community fundraising campaign to maximize the impact of the new Pavilion. Combined with Trinity Health’s $35.6 million commitment, the Pavilion will represent a $45.6 million investment in the health of the greater Greene County region.

“The Pavilion represents more than just an expansion of our facilities. It is an investment in the health, well-being, and future of our community,” said Russ Dawson, Chair of St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation. “As Lake Oconee continues to grow, so does the need for accessible, coordinated, and high-quality care close to home. This project ensures we are prepared not just for today, but for generations to come.”

The Pavilion is part of the largest expansion project in St. Mary’s history, with a total investment of nearly $100 million to improve access to care across the region. Other components of the project include the development of St. Mary’s Center for Heart, Vascular and Neurosciences in Athens, new medical office buildings, the addition of a second MRI suite in Athens, creation of a Center for Wound Healing at St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia, expansion and modernization of the Center for Wound Healing in Athens, development of the St. Mary’s Community Pharmacy in Athens and more.

More details about the projects will be shared with the community as planning continues. Ongoing updates will be available soon at www.stmarys-health.org.