Piedmont to build free-standing emergency department in Locust Grove to serve increased need

Locust Grove, Ga. (September 14, 2026) - Piedmont Henry Hospital has received initial approval for a project to improve access to emergency care in a county with one of the busiest emergency departments in the state.

The Georgia Department of Community Health recently issued a Certificate of Need for Piedmont Henry to build a free-standing emergency department on a site one mile from I-75 in Locust Grove. The $26.8 million project will provide an additional access point to emergency care in southern Henry County and serve to reduce waiting times at Piedmont Henry's ED in Stockbridge.

Piedmont Henry features the busiest emergency department in the Piedmont system. Due to rapid growth and the county's position on a heavily congested corridor of I-75 south of Atlanta, demand on Piedmont Henry's Emergency Department experienced 97,329 visits in 2025. Only five Georgia hospitals had larger ED volumes.

"Henry County residents deserve a healthcare system that grows with their county, and we want to build to meet their needs," said Piedmont Henry CEO David Kent. "This planned facility will bring care closer to home for residents in some of our fastest growing cities in the southern end of the county, and it will mean quicker access to emergency care, reduced wait times and better health outcomes for everyone in Henry County."

The facility will add 12 treatment rooms, one trauma room, and one secure holding room, along with CT, ultrasound, X-ray, and lab services to the local healthcare array. Since the facility is a department of Piedmont Henry, advanced care will continue to be provided at the Stockbridge hospital, which is designated as a Level III trauma center and has recently opened a new patient tower.

"Once constructed, this facility will provide greater access to emergency services with the support of Piedmont's transformative healthcare system," said Kent. "It will provide us with more opportunities to make a positive difference in every life we touch."