A recent strategic health study recommends that health care providers in Liberty, Long, Bryan and Tattnall counties create an alliance to offer more comprehensive care.
That was the primary recommendation of the PDA Health Planning Management Services study coordinated through the Fort Stewart Growth Management Partnership with federal funding.
 PDA President Nancy Lane presented recommendations Tuesday during the final Fort Stewart Growth Management Partnership meeting with director Jeff Ricketson at the helm.
In 2010, the health care industry in the area was an estimated $550 million business, and it is projected to grow to $704 million by 2030, Lane said. But about 64 percent of care recipients leave the four-county region for inpatient care.
“This is a serious leakage, and more of it is leaking out than probably should,” Lane said.
The system lapse stems from the fact that there are three distinct health care systems in the area — Winn Army Community Hospital, Veterans Affairs health centers, and private practices — and they do not coordinate, communicate or combine resources with each other, Lane said.

Read more in the Sept. 1 edition of the News.