MEDIA RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Putnam General Hospital, Navicent Health Partner
Jennifer Moore, Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Direct: 706-923-2028
Email: jmoore@putnamgeneral.com
Richardson Appointed President-Elect Georgia Academy of Family Physicians
Eatonton, GA - October 6, 2015 - Dr. Eddie Richardson, Jr., MD, FAAFP, has been appointed as the new President-Elect of the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians (GAFP). Championing the GAFP advancement of family medicine are physician leaders who inspire and mount initiatives, education, resources, and advocacy efforts in service to fellow physicians and Georgia families. Dr. Richardson was nominated for this prestigious position by a group of his peers in August and elected in September. He currently serves as GAFP Secretary and will serve a one year term as President-Elect in 2016; succeed as President in 2017 and Board Chair in 2018.
Dr. Richardson is a board certified family medicine doctor, specializing in geriatrics and palliative medicine. He received his Doctor of Medicine from Morehouse School of Medicine located in Atlanta, GA and completed his family medicine residency at The Medical Center in Columbus, GA. In 2009, Dr. Richardson completed his Fellowship of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine from The Medical Center, Navicent Health in Macon, GA. In addition to his responsibilities at Lake Oconee Urgent, Specialty & Concierge Care, Dr. Richardson serves as Hospitalist & Medical Director at Putnam General Hospital, Navicent Health Partner, Regional Medical Director at The Medical Center, Navicent Health and Hospitalist at Hilton Head Memorial Hospital in South Carolina.
Family physicians treat 90 percent of all medical problems with a focus on preventative care to help people get well, stay well and help avoid potential complications at every stage of life.
Today, many people seek a medical specialist's care only to discover the scope of practice is limited and a referral may be necessary. With medical costs mounting and the healthcare landscape ever-changing, family medicine is a cost-efficient pathway to providing comprehensive and preventative care to individuals and families. Additionally, an increasing number of Georgia family medicine practices now offer patients a true medical home.
The comprehensive, whole-person care many patients seek is delivered by family physicians who are trained and equipped to be a personal healthcare provider, coach and advocate at every stage and age of life.
Increasing the utilization and number of family medicine providers in Georgia can help overcome barriers to care access, improve patient satisfaction and health and, with its focus on prevention, ultimately lower healthcare costs. If specialty care is needed, the family physician guides the patient through the healthcare system and stays informed as the primary care provider to ensure quality and continuity of care.
Studies show that access to a family physician's care improves health outcomes, increases patient satisfaction, reduces emergency department utilization, and decreases preventable hospital admission rates by delivering a less invasive and lower cost full continuum of care.
Dr. Richardson said, "The Georgia Academy of Family Physicians exists to defend the specialty of family medicine and improve healthcare in Georgia as the state-wide, grassroots arm of the American Academy of Family Physicians. GAFP members join an active movement, not a roster, to improve the health and well-being of Georgians. It is an honor to server my fellow physicians and to advocate on behalf of patients across the state of Georgia."
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Putnam General Hospital, Navicent Health Partner
Putnam General Hospital, Navicent Health Partner (PGH) has proudly provided community based healthcare to Putnam County and the surrounding lake country since 1968. Putnam General Hospital is a Joint Commission Accredited 25-bed Critical Access Hospital and offers a comprehensive range of services: acute and skilled care; a full range of outpatient diagnostic, rehabilitation and physical therapy services; occupational health care; outpatient and general, minimally invasive surgery; radiology services; and a state-of-the-art 24-hour emergency room. Putnam General Hospital, Navicent Health Partner has been recognized for achieving consistently high levels of patient safety and quality patient outcomes by the Georgia Hospital Association and other rating agencies named a Coverdell Champion Hospital for Stroke Prevention and Care by the Georgia Coverdell Acute Stroke Registry and received Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society Of Cardiovascular Patient Care. For more information, please visit www.putnamgeneral.com.
Putnam General Hospital, Navicent Health Partner
Jennifer Moore, Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Direct: 706-923-2028
Email: jmoore@putnamgeneral.com
Richardson Appointed President-Elect Georgia Academy of Family Physicians
Eatonton, GA - October 6, 2015 - Dr. Eddie Richardson, Jr., MD, FAAFP, has been appointed as the new President-Elect of the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians (GAFP). Championing the GAFP advancement of family medicine are physician leaders who inspire and mount initiatives, education, resources, and advocacy efforts in service to fellow physicians and Georgia families. Dr. Richardson was nominated for this prestigious position by a group of his peers in August and elected in September. He currently serves as GAFP Secretary and will serve a one year term as President-Elect in 2016; succeed as President in 2017 and Board Chair in 2018.
Dr. Richardson is a board certified family medicine doctor, specializing in geriatrics and palliative medicine. He received his Doctor of Medicine from Morehouse School of Medicine located in Atlanta, GA and completed his family medicine residency at The Medical Center in Columbus, GA. In 2009, Dr. Richardson completed his Fellowship of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine from The Medical Center, Navicent Health in Macon, GA. In addition to his responsibilities at Lake Oconee Urgent, Specialty & Concierge Care, Dr. Richardson serves as Hospitalist & Medical Director at Putnam General Hospital, Navicent Health Partner, Regional Medical Director at The Medical Center, Navicent Health and Hospitalist at Hilton Head Memorial Hospital in South Carolina.
Family physicians treat 90 percent of all medical problems with a focus on preventative care to help people get well, stay well and help avoid potential complications at every stage of life.
Today, many people seek a medical specialist's care only to discover the scope of practice is limited and a referral may be necessary. With medical costs mounting and the healthcare landscape ever-changing, family medicine is a cost-efficient pathway to providing comprehensive and preventative care to individuals and families. Additionally, an increasing number of Georgia family medicine practices now offer patients a true medical home.
The comprehensive, whole-person care many patients seek is delivered by family physicians who are trained and equipped to be a personal healthcare provider, coach and advocate at every stage and age of life.
Increasing the utilization and number of family medicine providers in Georgia can help overcome barriers to care access, improve patient satisfaction and health and, with its focus on prevention, ultimately lower healthcare costs. If specialty care is needed, the family physician guides the patient through the healthcare system and stays informed as the primary care provider to ensure quality and continuity of care.
Studies show that access to a family physician's care improves health outcomes, increases patient satisfaction, reduces emergency department utilization, and decreases preventable hospital admission rates by delivering a less invasive and lower cost full continuum of care.
Dr. Richardson said, "The Georgia Academy of Family Physicians exists to defend the specialty of family medicine and improve healthcare in Georgia as the state-wide, grassroots arm of the American Academy of Family Physicians. GAFP members join an active movement, not a roster, to improve the health and well-being of Georgians. It is an honor to server my fellow physicians and to advocate on behalf of patients across the state of Georgia."
# # #
Putnam General Hospital, Navicent Health Partner
Putnam General Hospital, Navicent Health Partner (PGH) has proudly provided community based healthcare to Putnam County and the surrounding lake country since 1968. Putnam General Hospital is a Joint Commission Accredited 25-bed Critical Access Hospital and offers a comprehensive range of services: acute and skilled care; a full range of outpatient diagnostic, rehabilitation and physical therapy services; occupational health care; outpatient and general, minimally invasive surgery; radiology services; and a state-of-the-art 24-hour emergency room. Putnam General Hospital, Navicent Health Partner has been recognized for achieving consistently high levels of patient safety and quality patient outcomes by the Georgia Hospital Association and other rating agencies named a Coverdell Champion Hospital for Stroke Prevention and Care by the Georgia Coverdell Acute Stroke Registry and received Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society Of Cardiovascular Patient Care. For more information, please visit www.putnamgeneral.com.