Welcome to Dorminy Medical Center

The pillar of healthcare in historic Fitzgerald since 1974, Dorminy Medical Center has evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of the growing community and diverse population. Despite the economic challenges of the community, the hospital continuously strives to improve the quality of patient care while providing high-quality services efficiently and affordably.

As of the 2010 United States Census, 17,634 people resided in Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County, with the racial makeup being 59.2% white, 34.6% black, and the remaining from two or more races. The median family income was $35,868, with males having a median income of $32,613 versus $23,320 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,529. About 22.7% of families and 26.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39% of those under age 18 and 16.3% of those age 65 or over.

Even in the midst of this persistent poverty, Georgia Trend magazine ranked Dorminy Medical Center as one of the state’s top twenty small hospitals in 2015 and 2016. In 2018, Dorminy Medical Center was ranked #6 of the state’s top twenty small hospitals. The rankings were based on data produced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which provides public information on more than 40 quality-related indicators, including patient experience, outcomes of care, process of care, and efficiency and value of the services rendered.  In addition, Georgia Hospital Association (GHA) awarded the prestigious 2016 Georgia Hospital Heroes Award to Milton “Butch” Rathbun, Quality Management Director at Dorminy Medical Center. Rathbun, who was one of only 10 individuals statewide to receive the award, was recognized for his persistent dedication to employees and patients at the hospital. In August 2017, Dorminy Medical Center was rated a four-star hospital. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) conducts quarterly patient surveys and ranks hospitals on a scale of one to five in different areas of service. Our ranking was based on survey data from October 2015 through September 2016.

Dorminy Medical Center is a licensed 75 bed acute care facility offering a comprehensive range of medical services to Ben Hill and surrounding counties. The hospital promotes healthier and happier lives by emphasizing core values such as integrity, commitment, quality, teamwork, and a patient-centered perspective. Dorminy Medical Center is a non-profit corporation governed by a seven-member Board of Directors, and is served by a 98-member staff, including sixteen active staff members, seventeen mid-levels, and 65 courtesy (i.e., limited patient admittance and procedures) staff.

Dorminy Medical Center’s doctors, nurses, medical technicians, and support staff understand how important quality healthcare is to Southwest Georgia. For that reason, our employees go the extra mile to make sure your experience is a great one. 

Dorminy Medical Center offers:

• 24 Hour Physician-staffed Emergency Room                                       
• Oncology/Hematology Services
• Behavioral Health Unit (Geri-psych)                                                      
• Pediatrics
• Cardiology                                                                                             
• Rehabilitation Services
• Cardiopulmonary Services                                                                    
• Sleep Studies
• Diagnostic Services                                                                               
• Specialty Clinic
• Intensive Care Unit                                                                               
• Surgical Services
• Orthopaedic Services             
• Swing Bed Unit
• Laboratory Medicine                                                                             
• Wound Care Clinic

In providing these valuable services to our community, Dorminy Medical Center faces numerous challenges to its financial viability and stability, including a lack of local indigent care funds. The loss of local industry, resulting in the loss of insurance benefits, has impacted our local healthcare system. Although a much-needed renovation expanded outpatient services, modernized the OR suite and outpatient surgery department, the expansion was costly. The loss of primary care providers in the community has also impacted the hospital.

Nevertheless, for the following reasons, we are optimistic about the hospital’s future:

• We have invested in state-of-the-art technology and continue to operate as a full service hospital providing the healthcare needs of our community. 
• We continue to strengthen our services offering quality medical care, oncology, behavioral health services, surgical care, intensive care, rehabilitation care, and emergency care.  
• Dorminy consistently exceeds the national average for quality of care. In addition, DMC’s hospital-acquired and surgical site infections have remained below 1% for the last several years. 
• We invested in additional providers, opening two additional physician clinics. We understand the importance of providing quality and accessible healthcare for our community.
• Most of all, we added a 12-bed Geri-Psych Unit, Silver Lights Care Center, to Dorminy Medical Center; reopened our Oncology/Hematology Unit; and recruited an Orthopaedic Surgeon to Dorminy Medical Center, opening DMC Orthopaedics (located in the Rehab department). We understand growth and the importance of meeting the needs of our community, and our local demographics support the need for specialty units. 

In closing, Dorminy Medical Center’s core is in good condition; up-to-date equipment; the numbers of our highly-trained medical professionals are growing; and our Administration is committed to making sure our community has the best primary healthcare available.   

How do we compare to other hospitals?

Compare hospitals based on their overall star rating, which summarizes a variety of quality measures shown on Hospital Compare. To compare Dorminy Medical Center with other hospitals, visit the Medicare.gov Hospital Compare site. 

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