Board members of the Liberty Regional Medical Center’s Hospital Authority gave a check Tuesday afternoon to representatives of Savannah Technical College, pledging to donate $125,000 over five years to help the college’s efforts to expand its nursing-education program.
“We are proud that the Liberty Regional Medical Center has made such a strong commitment to expanding nursing education,” Dr. Kathy Love, the college’s president, said in a news release issued Wednesday morning. “With this support, we will be able to strengthen and expand nursing instruction at our Liberty Campus.”
“Thank you for Savannah Tech’s commitment to Liberty County,” said Hospital Authority of Liberty County Chairman James Rogers during the pledge presentation. “You’ve all been a friend of ours for a long time, and it’s time for us to help again with an advancement of some programs that we know are not only going to benefit us as a hospital but it’s going to benefit the entire community.”
Love, as well as Lonnie Griffin III, the new dean for STC’s Liberty Campus, and local Savannah Tech College board member Donald Lovette, received the check during the Hospital Authority’s monthly meeting Tuesday. The board voted last month to pledge the money.
According to the release, the college is “working to add an Associate Degree in Nursing to its mix of health-science programs for the region.”
It went on to say that the program will be based in Savannah, and the nursing-education expansion also would include a bridge program at the Liberty Campus for practical nurses.
In other business, Coastal Manor Daybreak, an adult day-health center in Ludowici, passed its final state survey and opened its doors Monday. The day center is open to anyone, regardless of residence, who may need medical treatments such as bathing, injections and physical therapy. The facility’s ribbon-cutting is scheduled for 2-4:30 p.m. Sept. 18.
Also, the hospital will participate in a health fair at the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market on West Oglethorpe Highway on Saturday, Sept. 12, after the new grocery store’s scheduled Wednesday, Sept. 9 opening.
Physicians will conduct health screenings and consultations.