Upson Regional Medical Center CEO Daniel Owens Appointed At-Large Delegate to American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board 4

Daniel Owens, chief executive officer of Upson Regional Medical Center (URMC), has been elected as an At-Large Delegate to the ...

Daniel Owens, chief executive officer of Upson Regional Medical Center (URMC), has been elected as an At-Large Delegate to the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Regional Policy Board 4 (RPB 4). His term begins January 1, 2026, and concludes December 31, 2027. “Being selected to serve as an At-Large Delegate on the American Hospital Association’s Regional Policy Board 4 is an honor,” said Owens. “Rural and community hospitals play a vital role in strengthening the health and well‑being of the regions we serve. I look forward to contributing to the important policy discussions shaping the future of health care across Region 4 and to representing the needs and perspectives of communities like ours.” Owens’ appointment was confirmed by the AHA Board of Trustees in recognition of his leadership and service to rural and community-based health care. As an At-Large Delegate, he will contribute to national discussions by offering broad, cross-regional insight into the challenges facing hospitals and health care delivery. RPB 4 represents hospitals and health systems across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina and Tennessee. “Daniel Owens’ leadership reflects a deep commitment to community-focused care,” said AHA Regional Executive Rebecca Jolley. “His perspective will be a meaningful asset to Regional Policy Board 4 and the ongoing work of the AHA.” URMC is a not-for-profit health system based in Thomaston, Georgia, providing comprehensive medical services and serving as a primary access point for health care in its region. For more information about the AHA and its Regional Policy Boards, visit www.aha.org.

Upson Regional Medical Center Achieves DNV Chest Pain Center Re-Certification

Thomaston, GA — January 23, 2026 — Upson Regional Medical Center (URMC) is proud to announce that the hospital has once ...

<strong>Thomaston, GA — January 23, 2026 </strong>— Upson Regional Medical Center (URMC) is proud to announce that the hospital has once again earned DNV Chest Pain Center Re-Certification, a national recognition awarded to hospitals that meet rigorous standards for the rapid assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of chest pain and heart-related emergencies. Re-certification confirms that URMC continues to follow best practices and evidence-based clinical guidelines proven to improve patient outcomes during cardiac events, where time plays a critical role. <strong>What This Means for the Community</strong> For patients, this designation ensures that URMC:  Provides faster diagnosis when minutes matter Coordinates care seamlessly from the Emergency Department through imaging and treatment Follows evidence-based national standards proven to improve outcomes Maintains highly trained clinical teams ready to respond to any cardiac emergency These standards help reduce treatment delays and improve recovery for patients experiencing chest pain, heart attack symptoms, or other cardiac concerns. <strong>About DNV Certification</strong> DNV Healthcare’s Chest Pain Center Certification program evaluates a hospital’s ability to provide consistent, high-quality care to patients presenting with chest pain. Certification requires meeting strict clinical, operational, and quality standards, as well as demonstrating continuous improvement. <strong>About Upson Regional Medical Center</strong> Upson Regional Medical Center is a 115-bed community hospital serving Upson County and the surrounding region. URMC provides a full range of healthcare services, including emergency care, cardiology, primary care, orthopedics, women’s health, imaging, and inpatient services. The hospital is guided by its mission of delivering <em>excellent care, rooted in compassion for all</em>, and continues to invest in services that support the health and well-being of the communities it serves.

Campus Operation Update

At approximately 12:15 p.m. this afternoon a gas line contractor was boring and hit an electrical line, which started a ...

At approximately 12:15 p.m. this afternoon a gas line contractor was boring and hit an electrical line, which started a fire in a transformer. Thomaston Fire Department responded, as well as Thomaston Electric. The fire was contained quickly, and no injuries occured. All power is back on at the hospital and clinics, and we continue to operate as normal. Thank you to our partners at Thomaston Fire Department, Thomaston Electric, and our contractors for maintaining safety during this unfortunate event.

Upson Regional Medical Center Honors Adam Moss with the LILY Award

THOMASTON, Ga., Jan. 12, 2026 — Upson Regional Medical Center (URMC) proudly announces that Adam Moss, an exemplary courier in ...

THOMASTON, Ga., Jan. 12, 2026 — Upson Regional Medical Center (URMC) proudly announces that Adam Moss, an exemplary courier in the Plant Services Department, has been honored with the LILY Award. This award recognizes and celebrates the outstanding work of all non-clinical staff in their support of URMC’s patients and team members. Adam received over two dozen nominations, all of which commended his friendliness, positive attitude and willingness to help. His nominators shared: “Adam constantly keeps our office supplied and gets us whatever we need. He always has a smile on his face and never has anything negative to say. Seeing Adam walk thought the door is always a joy.” <strong>“</strong>Adam is hardworking, personable, and dependable. You will always see him smiling and laughing. He is an asset to the URMC family.” “Adam goes above and beyond. He makes sure the physician practices have all their supplies daily and makes sure lab stats are taken care of. The staff love working with Adam. He is always in a good mood and willing to help with anything the practices need.” The LILY Award is one of three recognition programs at URMC: DAISY Award – Celebrates nurses for extraordinary compassionate care. LILY Award – Honors non-clinical staff for exceptional service. Sunflower Award – Recognizes patient care technicians and allied health professionals for their outstanding contributions. Patients and their families can nominate URMC employees for these awards through online or paper nominations, ensuring that acts of kindness and excellence are celebrated across the organization. Online nomination forms can be accessed at urmc.org. URMC congratulates Adam on this well-deserved honor and appreciates everything he does for providing excellent care rooted in compassion for all!

Flu Season Visitation Restrictions Now in Effect at Upson Regional Medical Center

THOMASTON, Ga., Jan 6, 2026— Due to the significant rise in influenza cases impacting our state and local community, Upson ...

THOMASTON, Ga., Jan 6, 2026— Due to the significant rise in influenza cases impacting our state and local community, Upson Regional Medical Center is implementing additional visitation precautions effective January 6, 2026. These measures are designed to help safeguard the health of our patients, visitors, and staff. The temporary restrictions will remain in place until flu activity declines or through the remainder of the flu season. Hospital-Wide Visitation Restrictions: Children 12 years of age and younger are not permitted to visit at this time. Women’s Services (Mother/Baby and Postpartum Units): Siblings under 12 years of age may visit by appointment only, following appropriate screening and approval. We appreciate the community’s understanding and cooperation as we work to reduce the spread of influenza and protect those in our care. For questions or the latest visitation updates, please visit our website at urmc.org or contact Upson Regional Medical Center at (706) 647- 8111.

Upson Regional Medical Center Honors Tomeka Ross with Sunflower Award

THOMASTON, Ga., Dec. 19, 2025 — Upson Regional Medical Center (URMC) is proud to announce that Tomeka Ross, a dedicated ...

THOMASTON, Ga., Dec. 19, 2025 — Upson Regional Medical Center (URMC) is proud to announce that Tomeka Ross, a dedicated medical assistant at the Barnesville Walk-In Clinic, has been honored with the Sunflower Award. This award recognizes and celebrates the extraordinary work of patient care team members, including technicians, social workers, counselors and other clinical support staff who go above and beyond in caring for patients and families. Tomeka was nominated by multiple patients who praised her kindness, positivity and ability to make every visit a welcoming experience. Here’s what her nominators had to say: “She showed an extraordinary amount of kindness at a time when that is all I needed! Now at EVERY appointment she is the sweetest ever!! She is so deserving of an award!” “Tomeka is such a sweet soul. She goes out of her way to make you feel welcome. Her laughter and smile light up the room and make you feel comfortable in what’s usually an uncomfortable environment. She always speaks nice of everyone you talk about and she makes you feel like she’s known you for years.” “She is such a beautiful heart and soul! She is so kind, warm to my children and myself. Always positive and uplifting. Always smiling and laughing. She is beautiful inside and out.” The Sunflower Award is one of three recognition programs at URMC: DAISY Award – Celebrates nurses for extraordinary compassionate care. LILY Award – Honors non-clinical staff for exceptional service. Sunflower Award – Recognizes patient care technicians and allied health professionals for their outstanding contributions. Patients and their families can nominate URMC employees for these awards through online or paper nominations, ensuring that acts of kindness and excellence are celebrated across the organization. Online nomination forms can be accessed at urmc.org. Congratulations, Tomeka, on this well-deserved honor! Thank you for providing excellent care rooted in compassion for all!

Upson Regional Medical Center Honors Christine Breeden, RN With The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses

THOMASTON, Ga., Dec. 19, 2025 — Registered Nurse Christine Breeden is being honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses by ...

THOMASTON, Ga., Dec. 19, 2025 — Registered Nurse Christine Breeden is being honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses<strong> </strong>by Upson Regional Medical Center (URMC). This national award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the compassionate care nurses provide to patients and their families every day. Christine is a nurse in URMC’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where she is known by colleagues and patients alike for her warmth, helpfulness, and empathy. These qualities were highlighted by several staff and patients in their nominations. Christine’s nominators shared: “I am privileged to nominate Christine for the DAISY Award in recognition of the extraordinary care and compassion she provided to a patient’s family leading up to the final moments of his life. Christine demonstrated an unmatched level of empathy, professionalism, and grace that not only alleviated their fears but also allowed them to honor his passing in a peaceful and dignified way.” “Christine came over to the Emergency Department (ED) from ICU with a student and helped us one morning. She showed us that the ED and the ICU are a team and should work together. Thank you, Christine!” “Christine is warm, caring, empathetic, and the perfect teacher who will look for the answers and solutions.” The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that was established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by members of his family. The foundation’s DAISY Award was inspired by the care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was hospitalized with an auto-immune disease. Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues. The award recipient is chosen by a committee at URMC to receive The DAISY Award, which includes a certificate that reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” Honorees also receive a pin and a meaningful sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. The DAISY Award is one of three recognition programs at URMC: DAISY Award – Celebrates nurses for extraordinary, compassionate care. LILY Award – Honors non-clinical staff for exceptional service. Sunflower Award – Recognizes patient care technicians and allied health professionals for their outstanding contributions. Patients and their families can nominate URMC employees for these awards through online or paper nominations, ensuring that acts of kindness and excellence are celebrated across the organization. Online nomination forms can be accessed at urmc.org. URMC congratulates Christine on this well-deserved honor. Her excellent care rooted in compassion for all is appreciated by everyone within the organization.

Celebrating Safer Workplaces: Upson Regional Receives Prestigious Silver Safety Award

Upson Regional Medical Center is proud to announce that we have been honored with the Silver Safety Award by the ...

Upson Regional Medical Center is proud to announce that we have been honored with the Silver Safety Award by the Georgia Hospital Association Workers’ Compensation Self-Insurance Fund. This award recognizes our commitment to workplace safety and excellence in accident prevention during calendar year 2024. According to the Georgia Hospital Association: “The Georgia Hospital Association Workers’ Compensation Self-Insurance Fund is privileged to present this Silver Safety Award to Upson Regional Medical Center in recognition of their excellent accident experience in calendar year 2024. Their loss ratio evaluated as of March 31, 2025, for 2024, was 30% of their premium. Upson Regional Medical Center did an excellent job of achieving low accident frequency and severity. Claims were handled in a timely and efficient manner. We congratulate you and all the staff members on your excellent results. We’re very proud of their achievement.” This achievement reflects the dedication of our entire team to creating a safe and healthy environment for staff and patients alike. We thank every member of our workforce for making safety a top priority.

Upson Regional Medical Center Earns an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group

THOMASTON, Ga., Nov. 13, 2025 — Upson Regional Medical Center earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, ...

THOMASTON, Ga., Nov. 13, 2025 — Upson Regional Medical Center earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent, national nonprofit organization focused on patient safety. Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals nationwide based on their overall performance in preventing errors, accidents, injuries and infections. “This is a phenomenal achievement,” shares Upson Regional Chief Executive Officer Dan Owens. “Leapfrog uses 27 evidence-based measures to grade hospitals on patient quality and safety, which makes it a balanced and rigorous reflection of the overall quality of care being provided at hospitals across the country.” Upson Regional is one of only 19 hospitals in Georgia to have earned an “A” safety grade for Fall 2025. This high score places Upson Regional in the top 25% of all 79 general hospitals in the state for its rigorous standards of patient quality and safety. “Achieving top scores is a team effort that requires daily focus and exceptional effort by all our care team,” Owens adds. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade stands as the only hospital ratings program focused solely on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries. This program is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring. “Leapfrog contains so many standards that you have to meet, not only things like mortality and readmissions, but they’re also looking at nurse-staffing ratios, hand hygiene and complication rates,” says Upson Regional Chief Quality Officer Suzanne Streetman. “The ‘A’ safety grade gives us a better reflection on where we are as a hospital and how high quality we are.” Upson Regional’s commitment to providing “excellent care rooted in compassion for all” is reflected in the high marks the hospital received in its effective practices to prevent errors, provide quality nursing and bedside care for patients and responsiveness of hospital staff to patients’ needs. “The impact this ‘A’ safety grade has on our patients is reaffirmation that they get the best care possible at Upson Regional,” states Upson Regional Chief Nursing Officer Penny Nole. “The community will see evidence that Upson Regional can be their hospital of choice.”

New Cardiologist Dr. Adeniyi Joins URMC and Community

Upson Regional Medical Center is “thrilled” to announce the arrival of Dr. Edward Adeniyi to the URMC family. Dr. Adeniyi ...

Upson Regional Medical Center is “thrilled” to announce the arrival of Dr. Edward Adeniyi to the URMC family. Dr. Adeniyi is a highly accomplished and dedicated cardiologist who will bring exceptional, personalized care to the communities we serve starting Thursday, Aug. 14, according to hospital officials. URMC Chief Executive Officer Dan Owens commented, “With an impressive array of honors, awards, and professional memberships, Dr. Adeniyi will be the perfect addition to take our advanced cardiology care to the next level. His warmth, kindness and compassion for patients can be felt in every conversation. URMC is very proud to welcome Dr. Adeniyi to URMC.” Dr. Adeniyi stated, “I’m truly excited and honored to join Upson Regional Medical Center and become part of the Thomaston community. My passion is caring for the heart, not just by treating illness, but by helping people stay healthy and active for years to come. “My mission is to provide both preventive and comprehensive cardiac care, ensuring that patients have access to high-quality heart health services close to home,” he continued. “I look forward to meeting my neighbors, building lasting relationships, and working alongside the dedicated URMC team to keep our community’s hearts strong.” Dr. Adeniyi will serve as medical director of the non-invasive cardiology department at URMC, according to Owens. His clinical interest includes preventive cardiology, cardiac imaging, arrhythmia management, and heart failure management. Driven by a vision to expand advanced cardiovascular services in rural Georgia, Dr. Adeniyi’s plan is to pursue additional training in clinical cardiac electrophysiology with the goal of bringing specialized procedures such as arrhythmia ablations and other cardiac procedures to the Thomaston area, eliminating the need for patients to travel long distances for care. Guided by his faith, Dr. Adeniyi says he views his work as a calling to serve with compassion, empathy, and patient-centered care. “To me, my patients are family, and I give them the same compassion and respect I give my own,” he said. “I am here to be the hands and feet of God in caring for the community He loves.” Dr. Adeniyi served as the cardiology chief fellow at Morehouse School of Medicine, leading the cardiology clinical fellowship program and organizing educational conferences. He also served as internal medicine chief resident at Morehouse, overseeing residents' academic sessions and clinical schedule coordination. Dr. Adeniyi’s dedication to excellence has been recognized with numerous honors, including Resident of the Year (2022) and Fellow of the Year (2023). He is a recipient of the Presidential and Honors Scholarships from Lee University and the 2025 ABC Electrophysiology Fellowship Sponsorship. He is an active member of American College of Cardiology (ACC), Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC), and Heart Rhythm Society (HRS). Outside of medicine, Dr. Adeniyi enjoys martial arts, traveling, and cooking. He and his wife, Bethany, are proud parents to their son, Isaiah, and daughter, Eliana. “We are confident that Dr. Adeniyi will make significant contributions to our community's health and well-being,” Owens concluded. “Please join us in welcoming this exceptional cardiologist to our team.” To schedule an appointment at URMC Cardiology Clinic with Dr. Adeniyi, please call 706-646-5712.