The 2025 State of Healthcare summit held on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 on the campus of Ogeechee Technical Collage, provided a well deserved moment of recognition as Ogeechee Technical College’s Paramedicine Program, led by Program Director Chris Page, was named the Healthcare Partner of the Year 2025.
OTC President Lori Durden accepted the award on behalf of the school, thanking the many clinical partners in the room. “If you’ve gone to a doctor or dentist within a 50-mile radius,” she said, “you’ve probably been cared for by an OTC graduate.”
Page, who still works part-time as a medic, expressed heartfelt thanks. “I get to ride with our graduates. I get to bring patients to nurses trained at OTC. It’s amazing to see our impact firsthand.”
Hosted by the Statesboro-Bulloch Chamber of Commerce and presented by East Georgia Regional Medical Center, the event celebrated the individuals, institutions, and innovations driving healthcare forward in Bulloch County and beyond.
Held in front of a full room of industry leaders, educators, students, and partners, the summit was emceed by EGRMC's Bryan Realiza and featured a slate of engaging speakers who showcased how local healthcare is evolving in real-time.
Ben Hughes, Chief Operating Officer at EGRMC, kicked off the program with an animated and engaging presentation titled Innovation in Technology. With a blend of humor and insight, Hughes explained how modern healthcare demands a trifecta: high-quality care, reduced costs, and a better patient experience, all at once. The only way to get there? Continuous innovation.
He emphasized that these innovations aren’t futuristic, they’re already in play:
- Telemedicine, which expanded rapidly during the pandemic, is now a cornerstone for remote care and stroke assessments in rural hospitals.
- Robotic surgery, which provides less invasive procedures, quicker recovery, and better outcomes, “and yes,” he clarified, “the surgeon still controls the robot.”
- Portable diagnostic tools, like handheld ultrasounds that plug into a smartphone, now being used in real-world scenarios like high school sports injuries.
- Artificial Intelligence, which is quietly transforming everything from diagnostic accuracy to administrative scheduling and predictive patient care.
In one powerful example, Hughes described a case where AI flagged a suspicious lung nodule during a routine scan. That patient was then routed through robotic bronchoscopy, diagnosed, and treated—all within our region. “This isn’t science fiction,” Hughes said. “This is happening here, today.”
Stephanie Lindamood, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and instructor at Ogeechee Technical College, followed with an in-depth look at Innovation in Nursing Education. She discussed how OTC’s Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program, launched in response to regional workforce needs, is built for today’s healthcare climate.
“All 23 students graduating in May are working professionals,” she shared. “Education must be flexible, immersive, and deeply empathetic.”
Lindamood outlined a multifaceted approach to nurse training:
- High-fidelity simulation and virtual reality tools prepare students for everything from cardiac arrest to home health scenarios.
- AI-powered learning platforms allow personalized instruction based on student strengths and challenges.
- Cultural competence training includes simulated interactions with patients from diverse backgrounds, and even VR experiences that mimic living with vision or hearing loss.
“We’re not just training students to pass tests, we’re preparing them to handle the emotional, cultural, and technological realities of healthcare,” Lindamood said.
Elizabeth Hartley, Health Science Instructor at Southeast Bulloch High School, spoke about creating a high school health science pathway that lets students explore their career fit before graduation.
With over 130 students per year, her program includes three levels: Intro, Essentials (which doubles as a science credit), and Allied Health, which includes twice-weekly clinical rotations across more than 35 local medical offices and hospitals.
“I wanted our students to find out what they love, and maybe what they don’t,” Hartley said with a smile. “For instance, I hate teeth and feet, but I love emergency medicine.”
Her program has grown in both depth and results. SEB students now boast a 93% pass rate on the national healthcare pathway exam—well above the Georgia average of 60%. Hartley credits hands-on simulations, a thriving HOSA chapter (with multiple students reaching international competitions), and strong local partnerships, especially with EGRMC.
“We don’t do it alone,” she said. “This is what community collaboration looks like.”
Jay Harmon, cybersecurity expert and founder of Borderhawk, took the stage next to unpack a sobering but vital topic: Cybersecurity in Healthcare.
Harmon highlighted a new Notice of Proposed Rulemaking from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that could significantly tighten HIPAA regulations. Proposed updates include:
- Stricter definitions for risk assessments, data breaches, and patient data access,
- Mandatory executive sign-offs on annual risk reviews,
- Required inventories of all devices handling PHI (protected health information),
- Shortened breach notification windows, down to as little as 72 hours in some cases,
- And expanded oversight of AI use in healthcare data systems.
“These changes are meant to eliminate ambiguity,” Harmon said. “If you handle patient data—whether you're a hospital, dental office, or vendor—these rules apply to you.”
He urged healthcare providers to conduct thorough risk assessments, create breach response protocols, and train staff to identify and respond to potential cyber threats.
Stephen Pennington, CEO of EGRMC, delivered closing remarks and took time to honor several standout hospital employees.
He highlighted the hospital’s growing academic partnerships, which welcomed 391 students in 2024 for rotations, up dramatically from pre-COVID numbers. Programs like scholarships, tuition reimbursement, and student loan repayment are helping build a sustainable, local healthcare workforce.
The event was made possible by:
- Gold Sponsors: Ogeechee Area Hospice and Responsive Technology Partners (Borderhawk)
- Silver Sponsors: Optim Orthopedics and Southern Chiropractic & Wellness Center
Vendors included:
- CenterWell Home Health
- Eagle Health & Rehab
- ExperCare
- Freedom Through Recovery
- Gentiva
- Heritage Inn Health & Rehab
- Home Instead
- Magnolia Coastlands AHEC
- Spineland Behavioral
- St. Joseph's/Candler
- Statesboro Family Dental
- Statesboro Urgent Care
- Wall Orthodontics
- Willingway
By the Numbers: EGRMC’s 2024 Community Benefit
As part of the summit, EGRMC released its 2024 Community Benefit Report:
- 300,000+ patient encounters
- $100 million in uncompensated care
- $96.5 million in payroll
- $9.65 million in taxes paid
- $664,000 in capital improvements
- $214.6 million in total community benefit
The hospital also collected over 15,000 pounds of food for Christian Social Ministries through its annual Thanksgiving food drive.
