COLUMBIA COUNTY, GA (WFXG) - The fight to expand health care access to Columbia County has ramped up recently, with each of the big local healthcare providers wanting to throw their hat into the mix.

University Health System recently announced it’s nearly $6 million dollar investment into a prompt-care and occupational health facility in Appling. Chief Operating Officer Scott Ansede says University Health System is going to where the area is growing. 

“This access point really happens to serve both. It’s a great access point to serve Columbia County and McDuffie County as both of them are growing," he said. 

The new facility is located just down I-20 from University’s McDuffie county facility, and there’s a reason for that.

“We are looking to expand some of the services we’re doing there. We already now provide a full-time cardiologist there. That just started within the last month, because of the demand in that county. How quick it’s growing,” said Ansede. 

The facility is also just minutes away from Amazon’s new facility slated to open it’s doors in the coming weeks.

“We have a call with Amazon on Tuesday of next week. Just to explore what do they need. What services do they need and can we be of service to them,” Ansede said. 

Augusta University Health System, University Health System and Doctor’s Hospital, the three largest healthcare providers in Augusta, have all been fighting to expand their services in Columbia County.

Earlier this month in a FOX54 exclusive, AU Health CEO Katrina Keefer talked about their fight to open the first hospital in Columbia County.

“It’s very important for Columbia County for it to continue to have businesses wanting to come in and invest," Keefer said. "Having a sustainable health structure closer to home I think is going to be very important for future businesses to want to come in.“

Doctor’s Hospital has received approval to build a freestanding emergency department in Evans, which has been appealed by University Health and AU Health.

In a statement to FOX54, Doctor’s says they are still planning on building the facility, but that they are waiting for an appeals decision to be handed down,which they expect could come within the next month or two. 

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