AdventHealth Redmond EMS launches new paramedic training program. By Elizabeth Davis Apr 10, 2026 | 4:33 AM Media release from AdventHealth Redmond: AdventHealth Redmond EMS is pleased to announce the launch of a new paramedic training program on April 8, expanding opportunities for local caregivers while enhancing emergency medical care for the communities of Northwest Georgia. AdventHealth Redmond EMS has enrolled its first paramedic training cohort, made up of 16 AdventHealth team members who are certified EMTs. Upon completion of this inaugural class, the program will submit outcomes documentation in pursuit of full accreditation. The 45 week program is currently offered exclusively to AdventHealth EMTs and is available at a significantly reduced cost compared to traditional training pathways. "Launching this program allows our team members to expand their knowledge and skills so they can better serve our community and care for patients during some of life's most critical moments," said Nina Piatt, EMS captain and paramedic program director. Designed to develop highly trained, compassionate paramedics, the program focuses on advanced clinical knowledge, hands on experience and patient centered emergency care. By investing in the education and growth of its own caregivers, AdventHealth Redmond EMS is building a stronger, more resilient emergency response system that improves outcomes for patients across the region. "I am incredibly proud of our leadership team for bringing this paramedic program to AdventHealth Redmond," said Scotty Hancock, director of business development and EMS at AdventHealth Georgia. "This investment reflects our commitment to growing the next generation of paramedics and strengthening emergency care for the community we serve. I'm excited to see this program grow and the impact it will make for years to come." The new training program also supports workforce development by creating clear, meaningful career pathways for EMS professionals. Graduates of the program will be equipped to provide advanced life saving care, help reduce response times, and ensure that patients receive high quality treatment when it matters most. Rooted in AdventHealth's mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ, the program reflects a continued commitment to whole person care by supporting not only physical health, but also hope, confidence and peace of mind for patients and families during emergencies. To join the team at AdventHealth Redmond, visit jobs.AdventHealth.com. On air now. Weather. Rome, GA, USA 50 °F Sunny

AdventHealth breaks ground on new emergency room in New Port Richey, expanding access to high-quality emergency care in West Pasco County. Published date: April 10, 2026 | Estimated read time: 3 minutes | * WFD Corporate Communications NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - AdventHealth leaders, community partners and local lawmakers gathered today to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new AdventHealth New Port Richey ER, a free-standing emergency department designed to bring high-quality, lifesaving care closer to families in West Pasco County. The more than 13,000-square-foot facility will feature 12 patient beds and provide comprehensive emergency services, including on-site imaging with X-ray and CT scan capabilities, portable ultrasound, a dedicated emergency department laboratory, three treatment bays and a triage room. Once complete, the new emergency room will improve access to timely, advanced emergency care in a growing area of Pasco County where nearby options are limited. "As West Pasco County continues to grow, so does the need for convenient access to emergency care," said Andrew Santos, president and CEO of AdventHealth North Pinellas. "This new emergency room represents our commitment to meeting our community where they are and ensuring families can get high-quality care close to home when seconds matter most. It's about peace of mind and knowing help is just minutes away." The new emergency department is designed to support a wide range of medical needs - from minor injuries to life-threatening emergencies - while reducing travel time for patients and first responders. The facility is expected to create approximately 35 new jobs and strengthen the region's health care infrastructure. Local and state leaders joined AdventHealth executives at the ceremony, recognizing the project as an important investment in both community health and economic growth for West Pasco County. "This project is about people," said Sen. Ed Hooper, who represents Florida District 21. "It's about making sure residents have access to critical services where they live, supporting first responders and creating jobs in a growing part of our county." The facility was thoughtfully designed by HuntonBrady Architects with a focus on patient-centered care and operational efficiency, and construction is being led by Batson-Cook Construction, whose teams bring extensive experience in health care development. "As an emergency physician, I see firsthand how access, space and technology impact patient care," said Dr. Matthew Smith, an associate medical director of emergency medicine physician at AdventHealth North Pinellas and will practice at the new ER. "This new emergency department will give care teams the tools they need to respond quickly and effectively, while allowing patients to receive care closer to home." The new AdventHealth New Port Richey Emergency Room further expands AdventHealth's presence in Pasco County and reflects the organization's mission to deliver whole-person care - treating the body, mind and spirit - while continuing to invest in the long-term health of the communities it serves. Construction is underway at the site, located at 6523 State Road 54, New Port Richey, FL 34653. The facility is expected to open in 2027. Learn more about the high-quality emergency care services AdventHealth offers at www.theERexperts.com.

AdventHealth Weaverville breaks ground after CON delay. April 8, 2026 On March 26, construction began on AdventHealth Weaverville, a 67-bed hospital in Madison County, expected to create over 1,300 jobs in Madison and Yancey counties. The hospital received approval through North Carolina's Certificate of Need (CON) process in 2022, a regulatory system requiring state permission before opening or expanding health care facilities. But an extended appeals process delayed their ability to break ground until now. "Wherever people get sick in North Carolina, they deserve to be able to get to a good, nearby hospital," Gov. Josh Stein said in a press release announcing the groundbreaking. "This new hospital in Weaverville is an investment in the health and economic future of western North Carolina. It will create good-paying jobs, reduce transport times for first responders, and expand access to care for families across the region." The project is partially supported by federal funding, after the state was awarded a $213 million under the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) in December. The funding is from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) through a $50 billion initiative that allocates funds to all 50 states for rural health care services under RHTP. "This is a meaningful moment for our region," said Mike Thompson, president of AdventHealth's Southeast Region. "The vision for AdventHealth Weaverville starts to take physical shape today. And we see the opportunity for this investment to grow to a $1 billion entity for this very site to serve as a tertiary and trauma response for the region. Our goal is not just to build a hospital, but to be a part of a bigger collective vision that brings healing, wholeness and hope to Western North Carolina." But the Certificate of Need (CON) process and subsequent appeals have impacted the timeline for Adventhealth Weaverville, according to Victoria Dunkle, a spokesperson for Adventhealth. The state first approved the 67-bed CON for the facility in 2022, but then a rival sought to block their project. HCA/Mission appealed that decision, and the state administrative judge upheld the state's approval of AdventHealth's application. HCA/Mission's additional efforts to appeal through the State Court of Appeals and NC Supreme Court were also unsuccessful. The legal process delayed ability to begin construction on the hospital until this year. "What's absurd is that AdventHealth had to first get permission from the state - due to North Carolina's Certificate Need laws - before breaking ground," Brian Balfour, vice president of research at the John Locke Foundation, said in an interview with the Carolina Journal. "This approval process held up construction, delaying much-needed access to care for area residents for months or possibly years. The assistance provided by the federal government grant underscores how intertwined government at all levels is with our health care system that is unaffordable for far too many." HCA/Mission is also opposing AdventHealth's CON for adding 26 other beds to the Weaverville facility, in a decision that AdventHealth told CJ would come in the coming weeks. In 2025, AdventHealth applied for another CON, to add 129 beds "to provide a new choice for tertiary care including trauma, advanced cancer and cardiac care and a Level II NICU at AdventHealth Weaverville." The NCDHHS rejected this CON in late March. In response to the decision, AdventHealth provided a statement to CJ: AdventHealth's commitment to serving Western North Carolina remains unchanged... Based on the recent health care access and quality concerns in our region, we do not believe the decision is in the best interest of our community and will have profound impacts. We are currently evaluating appeal options that honor the community's needs and voice. Phase one of AdventHealth Weaverville is currently under construction. Additional phases of inpatient beds are vital to the vision of offering advanced trauma and tertiary care to our community closer to home. Policy analysts, like Balfour, agree, noting that regulatory and government involvement can affect the cost and accessibility of health care services. "The more involved the government has become, the less affordable and less accessible health care is," said Balfour. "Unpacking countless layers of government interference and bureaucracy would go a long way toward making health care more affordable and available for people in need." The March hospital groundbreaking coincides with the third anniversary of Medicaid expansion in North Carolina, under which able-bodied adults ages 19-64 with incomes up to roughly 138% of the federal poverty level became eligible for coverage beginning Dec. 1, 2023. Since then, enrollment in the expansion population has grown, adding 720,000 residents to the state's Medicaid rolls that serve more than 3 million people.