Macon, Ga. (February 10, 2025) – A $16.5 million upgrade to Piedmont Macon Medical Center’s heart program offers patients an expanded and improved slate of diagnostic and treatment options.
The caliber of equipment being installed at Piedmont Macon isn’t available in some parts of Georgia, especially in rural communities south of Macon. Since Georgia has the 14th highest death rate from cardiovascular disease in the country, according to the American Heart Association, improved cardiac care is vital.
The investment is the largest made at Piedmont Macon since becoming part of the Piedmont hospital network in August 2021. All the improvements were made keeping the patient top of mind, said Scott Strong, Chief Operating Officer of Piedmont Macon.
“With the advances in our technology, we’ve established a foundation to improve the quality of patients’ lives much more safely and comprehensively,” Strong said. “At the end of the day, the patients are who we focus on, and we want to give them the very best care possible.”
The upgrades made at Piedmont Macon include:
- A Somatom Force CT scanner that will allow heart-in-motion studies, improved diagnostic accuracy and high-quality, high-resolution images.
- A Magnetom MRI system, which offers improved MRI capabilities including cardiac-specific imaging.
- The renovation of electrophysiology labs with new imaging equipment.
- A renovated cardiac catheterization lab, which includes upgraded imaging equipment for better navigation of patients’ heart vessels. The renovated space is expected to open in the next few weeks.
Piedmont Macon offers the full complement of heart care, including general and preventive cardiology, cardiovascular diagnostics and imaging, valve repair and open-heart surgery. Two renowned heart surgeons – Dr. Richard Harvey and Dr. David Langford – are both board certified and have decades of cardiac care experience. Additionally, Piedmont Macon last year became the first hospital in Middle Georgia to implant a leadless, dual-chamber pacemaker.
“As a cardiac surgeon at Piedmont Macon, I am thrilled with the hospital’s $16.5 million investment in upgrading our heart program,” Dr. Harvey said. “The addition of a state-of-the-art CT scanner and MRI system bolsters our capabilities at Piedmont Macon and allows us the ability to provide cutting-edge care for our patients.”
Dr. Langford echoed those sentiments and said the upgrades are a win for the hospital, surgeons, patients and the community at large.
“I’m excited about the upgrades, which represent Piedmont’s strong commitment to advancing cardiovascular health and improving outcomes for our entire community,” Dr. Langford said.
Strong said Piedmont Macon aims to provide some of the most state-of-the-art services in the midstate.
“As part of a not-for-profit healthcare company, we are reinvesting in this community to give our patients a great experience at a hospital they love that’s close to home,” he said.