SGMC Named Top 10 Georgia Hospital for Heart and Spine Care

South Georgia Medical Center has been recognized as a top 10 Georgia hospital for cardiac and spine care.  The rankings were compiled by Healthgrades, Inc, a leading healthcare ratings organization, using data reported to the state and federal government and published in the December issue of Georgia Trend Magazine.In the Georgia Trend report, SGMC ranked third in the state of Georgia for cardiac surgery and tenth for overall cardiac services.  SGMC also ranked tenth in spine surgery.The awards recognize quality outcomes and low patient mortality rates for a 3-year time period.”Given the fact that heart and spine surgeries are difficult, sophisticated procedures that require precision and extensive expertise, this is quite an honor for our hospital, our affiliated physicians and our employees,” said James McGahee, CEO. “This recognition reaffirms that world-class medicine is available locally.”SGMC’s Dasher Heart Center offers a full range of preventive, diagnostic, interventional, surgical and rehabilitative heart care.  Cardiothoracic surgeons practicing at SGMC are: Julian E. Hurt, MD; Charles P. Murrah, MD; David L. Saint, MD; and Ulfur T. Gudjonsson, MD. SGMC’s affiliated cardiologists are: Joel L. Cohen, MD; Glenn H. Evans, MD; Richard J. Nijem, MD; G.E. “Trey” Powell, MD; George Sidney “Sid” Staton, MD; and Kuldeep “Danny” Talwar, MD.The Cardiac Surgery ranking is based on outcomes and mortality for coronary artery bypass surgeries (CABG) and valve replacement surgeries. In addition, the Dasher Heart Center also offers a variety of surgical techniques including minimally invasive procedures and off-pump heart surgeries, which eliminate the need for a heart bypass machine.The ranking for Overall Cardiac Care is based on bypass and valve replacement surgeries, interventional procedures (such as angioplasty and stent placement), heart attack care and heart failure care.In the area of spine surgery, SGMC’s affiliated orthopedists Eric Gee, MD and James Goss, MD, and neurosurgeons Hitham Khalil, MD and Edward Mark, MD offer restorative and corrective procedures including minimally-invasive and traditional surgeries including posterior lumbar interbody fusions, anterior cervical fusions, and lumbar diskectomies. For the rankings, Healthgrades, Inc. used outcomes from spinal fusions and other back and neck surgeries.SGMC offers a dedicated spine and neurosurgery suite that allows SGMC to offer surgical treatments for spinal instability, tumors, and degenerative conditions and fractures utilizing instrumentation and laser technology that is not found in other facilities. For more information on the services to be found at the SGMC, please call 229-259-4420 or visit the Services link at www.sgmc.org.