Archbold residents check in to new program
Jun. 28—THOMASVILLE — A long-awaited initiative is taking root at Archbold Medical Center — and its organizers are hoping its blossoms into better health care for southwest Georgia.
The residency program is about to take flight, with the first cohort of five residents beginning work Tuesday, July 5.
The residency program consists of young physicians, who have graduated medical school, completing their training, said program director Dr. Kristopher Palmer. The program will get five new residents, who will be in the program three years, each year.
"So at at the end of three years, we'll have 15 residents at Archbold in the community helping with all of our needs," he said.
A residency program has been a long-time discussion, Dr. Palmer said.
"It's taken a lot of hard work, a lot of effort on many people in the community as well as at the hospital's part to get it going," he said. "But thankfully this year we were able to get every piece in place and get everything underway. Now the day's here. And as of July 5, they'll start seeing patients."
Doctors in a residency are something new for southern Georgia, Dr. Palmer noted. But Archbold's residents may be startled at what they can have at their fingertips.
"I trained in Ohio at a big university system," Palmer said. "When I came to Thomasville and Archbold six years ago, I was absolutely amazed. Coming to a community that's small but seeing what the hospital can do, what type of physicians we have and how they care for the community and the hospital and the patients was absolutely amazing.
"I think the residents are going to be amazed at what they can see here as well," Dr. Palmer continued. "The pathology we have here is very unique."
While the residents complete their medical training, they also will augment the ranks of health care providers in the area.
"It's going to fill a need," Dr. Palmer said.
"It serves a purpose to this community. It allows an additional area where patients can come and see a primary care provider, which is desperately needed.
"South Georgia is definitely in need of providers, even across the country, you'll see there is a shortage of primary care physicians and certain specialties. We're glad we're doing our part to get those young physicians out into the workforce."
The majority of residents, about 60%, wind up working within about 100 miles of where they complete their residency, Dr. Palmer pointed out.
"We hope if they go off for a fellowship, they come back here and finish their careers," Dr. Palmer said.
