Upson County citizens, local businesses, and community organizations begin raising the funds to build a community hospital. The hospital costs a total of $1,122,000 to build.

Image: A fundraising thermometer is placed outside the Thomaston Courthouse to track the donations made to the Hospital Building Fund.

In the summer of 1949, construction of Upson County Hospital (later renamed Upson Regional Medical Center) begins.

Image: From left-to-right: Judge H. McGehee, Julian T. Hightower, and Alton H. Harvey mark the occasion by participating in the ceremonial turning of the soil.

On April 22, 1951, the people of Upson County gather on the front lawn of their new hospital. The dedication ceremony includes a performance by the R. E. Lee High School Band, an invocation by Pastor Richard F. Simpson of the First Presbyterian Church in Thomaston, and a welcoming address by Chairman J. B. Hardy of the Upson County Hospital Authority

On February 6, 1972, the public are invited to tour the new Alton Havery Annex, the hospital’s first major expansion project. Included in the annex are an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a pediatric unit, emergency area, pharmacy, store room, and radiology area. Additional services include respiratory therapy, physical therapy, nuclear medicine, and in-service education. Fifty-one beds are added to the hospital.

Image: Rachel Hogan, RN, undergoes specialized training to equip her for working in the new ICU. She is pictured sitting in front of a console that gives her the ability to monitor up to five patients’ conditions simultaneously via television screens.

In August 1987, Upson County Hospital establishes a practice in Barnesville as part of its vision to become a regional healthcare system. Among the services offered at this location are ear, nose, and throat (ENT), family medicine, orthopedics, and pediatrics.

On January 14, 1990, Julian T. Hightower Annex is dedicated and features a new operating room and ICU. During the dedication ceremony, hospital officials announce that Upson County Hospital is renamed Upson Regional Medical Center. This new name reflects the healthcare system’s commitment to serving multiple counties.

Image: President of the Hospital Board of Directors Hubert Hancock (center) and Anne Hightower Plowden (left) cut the ceremonial ribbon during the Julian T. Hightower Annex Dedication Ceremony.

In August of 1991, Office space is purchased to accommodate new physicians’ practices. The building is located at 612 W Gordon Street, Thomaston, GA 30286, and its first residents are board-certified orthopedic surgeons.

On July 16, 1995, the healthcare system expands into Pike County, bringing residents access to physicians specializing in urology, pediatrics, family practice, and internal medicine. The facility is located at 7171 US-19, Zebulon, GA 30295.

In September 2006, the 19,000 square feet state-of-the-art health and fitness facility opens to the public. It features a lap pool, heated therapy pool, weight machines, and various exercise equipment, such as ellipticals and treadmills. Services offered include massage therapy, personal training, and group fitness classes.

On May 11, 2007, the two-year-long expansion and renovation project results in a new canopied main entrance; spacious lobby with an outpatient waiting area, gift shop, central registration, and reception services area; enhanced services including an Ambulatory Outpatient Center and a 20-bed Emergency Services Center; revamped Radiology Department, featuring a state-of-the-art CT scanner and a new Women’s Diagnostic Center; expanded Laboratory Services Center; and a 200-space parking deck.

URMC’s Barnesville specialty and primary care practices are housed under one roof in a spacious, two-story facility. Lamar County residents now have closer, convenient access to care ranging from ear, nose, and throat to family medicine. The building is located at 100 GA-18 W, Barnesville, GA 30204.

On June 29, 2017, Women’s services expand with the addition of the Upson OB/GYN office, located at 917 W Gordon Street, Suite A, Thomaston, GA 30286.

In July 2017, the Office of EMS and Trauma in the Georgia Department of Public Health designate URMC as a Remote Treatment Stroke Center, making it the 10th hospital in the state to receive the title.

On December 21, 2017, SilverCare is an 18-bed geriatric behavioral health unit that offers short-term (5-7 days), inpatient psychiatric program for patients age 55 and older. It is located on the fourth floor of the hospital.

Cardiologists are now able to treat more complex cardiac conditions in the hospital’s state-of-the-art Interventional Cath Lab, located inside the hospital.

URMC is designated a Primary Stroke Center by DNV-GL in December 2021. The DNV Primary Stroke Center Certification is based on standards set forth by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association. Certification shows Upson Regional addresses the full spectrum of stroke care including diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and education as well as establishing clear methods to assess outcomes.

In the summer of 2022, the completion of the hospital’s on-site helipad provides easier and faster transport access for patients.

URMC earns the DNV Chest Pain Certifcation in February 2023. This is a national recognition awarded to hospitals that meet rigorous standards for the rapid assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of chest pain and heart-related emergencies. Since then, URMC has received several re-certifications.

On February 23, 2026, City of Hope® Cancer Center Atlanta, part of one of the nation’s largest organizations for advanced cancer research and treatment, and URMC announce their partnership to offer coordinated, advanced oncology care to residents of West Central Georgia. This agreement ensures that most cancer services will be delivered locally at URMC by City of Hope’s highly trained, board-certified physicians, allowing patients in the Thomaston region to access comprehensive cancer care, including treatments, chemotherapy, and telemedicine, within their community.

In May 2026, URMC's new 12-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) opens. It is equipped with lifts to make moving patients easier and safer for both the healthcare team and the patient, as well as all-in-one monitors to enable personalized patient observation.

Upson Regional Medical Center (URMC) celebrates a historic milestone on Sept. 2, 2026, with the grand opening of its new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Blackstock Family Women's Center — two transformational projects representing a $40 million investment in the future of healthcare for Upson County and surrounding communities.