Citizens of Polk County will be getting a new hospital to replace the current Polk Medical Center under an agreement reached by Floyd Medical Center, the Hospital Authority of Floyd County and the Cedartown-Polk County Hospital Authority.

The three entities have entered into an agreement in principle in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding to lease the assets of Polk Medical Center to the Hospital Authority of Floyd County beginning January 1, 2012. 

The agreement provides for the renovation and enhancement of existing Polk Medical Center and equipment as well as the construction of a replacement hospital by 2016, all at no expense to the Hospital Authority of Cedartown-Polk County, and further expansion of medical services to citizens of Polk County.

Benefits for Polk County

Financial Benefits
Polk County will enjoy a beneficial financial arrangement in the new relationship with Floyd Medical Center. There will be no loss of county or city tax revenue. Floyd will make an annual payment equivalent to taxes a for-profit would pay. Polk Medical Center (PMC) will not pay a managment fee, as it does now, and all profits generated by PMC will be reinvested to fulfill the hospital's mission.

Local Decision Making
Going forward, PMC operations will be overseen by a new nine-member governing board, with six of those members being Polk County residents. This will ensure that Polk residents will make decisions about their local hospital and its services to the community.

A New Hospital
Planning will begin immediately for the construction of a 25-bed replacement hospital in Polk County, between Cedartown and Rockmart, to be financed by Floyd. This modern facility will offer all current PMC services as well as new and expanded services including operating rooms. Completion of the replacement hospital is projected for January 2016. A medical office building on the new campus and a medical mall adjacent to the campus are also planned to enhance patient care and convenience for the Polk community.

A Win-Win Solution for PMC Employees
Polk Medical Center employees who request to be will be employed by Floyd and will benefit from a seamless transition with access to all the same programs and benefits that make Floyd Medical Center the highest
scoring hospital in the nation for overall employee satisfaction, according to HR Solutions Inc. PMC employees will experience no loss in compensation, seniority, sick days or vacation and Floyd will
match or exceed existing benefits.