$18 Million Emergency Room Planned for Dade County in Landmark Healthcare Expansion
In what local officials are calling one of the most significant healthcare developments in recent county history, Parkridge Health System has announced plans to build an $18 million freestanding emergency department in Trenton, a project that would bring around-the-clock emergency medical care to a county that currently does not have a hospital.
Parkridge Health System, part of HCA Healthcare, announced Friday that it intends to apply for a Certificate of Need through the Georgia Office of Health Planning and Department of Community Health to construct the proposed Parkridge Dade ER at the corner of Interstate 59 and Georgia State Route 136. The project must receive state approval before construction can begin.
If approved, the facility would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as a satellite emergency department of Parkridge Health System’s main emergency room, providing emergency care for patients of all ages much closer to home than is currently available for most Dade County residents.
For many residents, the announcement represents a potential transformation in local healthcare access.
County officials noted that Dade County, home to more than 16,000 residents, has long lacked a hospital or urgent care facility, requiring residents experiencing medical emergencies to travel outside the county for treatment.
The proposed emergency department would include 11 treatment rooms, including a trauma room, along with on-site laboratory services, advanced imaging capabilities, a central nurses’ station and other clinical support areas. Patients would receive the same level of emergency care available in a hospital-based emergency department, according to Parkridge Health System.
“This is an exciting day for Dade County,” County Executive Don Townsend said. “From the day I took office, improving access to healthcare has been one of my highest priorities. When I ran for County Executive, I committed to pursuing opportunities that would improve healthcare services for our community, and I immediately began working toward that goal.”
Shortly after taking office in January 2025, Townsend began meeting with HCA Healthcare leadership to explore opportunities to bring emergency medical services to the county. County officials said those discussions continued over the next 18 months before culminating in Friday’s announcement.
Parkridge Health System President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Cosby said the proposed facility reflects the health system’s commitment to expanding care as the region continues to grow.
“The opportunity to serve the Trenton and Dade County community is an exciting milestone for our health system,” Cosby said. “As our communities continue to grow, we remain committed to expanding access to exceptional healthcare where it’s needed most. We look forward to becoming a trusted healthcare partner in Dade County by providing compassionate, high-quality emergency care close to home.”
County officials said the project has the potential to significantly improve emergency response for local residents once completed.
The proposed Trenton facility would become Parkridge Health System’s sixth freestanding emergency department, joining existing locations in Jasper, Soddy-Daisy, East Ridge and North Hamilton County, while another facility is currently under development in Cleveland. Each location is staffed by board-certified emergency medicine physicians and highly trained clinical teams.
Townsend also thanked Dade County Economic Development Director Evan Stone for his work on the project and said he looks forward to continuing to work with Parkridge Health System, HCA Healthcare and the Dade County Board of Commissioners as the proposal moves through Georgia’s Certificate of Need process.
