Wellstar Columbia County Medical Center: The Practical Guide (2026)

What the hospital has

The six-story, 254,000-square-foot hospital holds 100 inpatient beds: 16 intensive care and 84 medical-surgical. Every patient room is acuity adaptable, meaning it can function as an ICU room if needed, and rooms include cameras for telehealth visits with specialists at Wellstar MCG Health in downtown Augusta.

The emergency department has 19 rooms and is expected to become a Level II Trauma Center. A helipad on site handles rapid critical care transport.

Services on site

The hospital works in collaboration with Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center and is affiliated with the Medical College of Georgia, which gives patients access to specialists and clinical trials through the wider system.

• Emergency care, open around the clock.
• Surgical services: six operating rooms, two catheterization and interventional radiology rooms, and two endoscopy rooms.
• On-site pharmacy with a Meds-to-Beds program, so prescriptions can be filled before you leave.
• An adjacent four-story, 92,000-square-foot medical office building with outpatient clinics.

Getting there and parking

The hospital sits at 5000 Gateway Boulevard in Grovetown, just off I-20 at Exit 190. From Evans or Martinez, the drive runs about 15 to 20 minutes outside rush hour. From downtown Augusta, plan 25 to 35 minutes.

Surface parking surrounds the building and is free. The main entrance faces Gateway Boulevard; the emergency department has its own signed entrance and parking area.

Visiting a patient

Wellstar sets visiting hours by unit rather than hospital-wide, so the current hours are posted at the information desk on the main floor. The main line is (762) 622-4000.

A few system-wide rules worth knowing before you go:

• Anyone with a cold, sore throat, or contagious illness should not visit.
• Visitors may be asked to step out during tests, treatments, or physician rounds.
• Some inpatient units restrict children or set a minimum age. Check with the nursing staff on the unit.
• No smoking in or around any Wellstar facility.

Useful phone numbers

For anything life-threatening, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department rather than calling ahead.

• Main line: (762) 622-4000.
• Medical records: (770) 793-5312, weekdays 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Pharmacy: (762) 622-4101.
• Bistro: (762) 622-4704.
• Spiritual health: (762) 622-4198.

Why it matters for the CSRA

Before August 2026, Columbia County residents drove into Augusta for hospital care. The new medical center changes that for the county's 160,000-plus residents and for the rural counties west of Augusta, and it adds a large new employer to the Grovetown corridor.

Hours, services, and department details change as the hospital ramps up. Confirm specifics on Wellstar's site or by phone before you plan around them.