Memorial Hospital is picking up new nurses and a doctor for its OB/GYN department. 

Dr. Craig Lenz joins Memorial from Donalsonville Hospital in Donalsonville, GA. He comes to Bainbridge in lieu of the closing of the Labor and Delivery (L&D) department at his previous location. 

Lenz joins a team of three other doctors and a nurse practitioner at Memorial. He said he is relieved to have that help since he didn’t have as much in Donalsonville.

“For the last six months, it’s just been me, essentially, over there,” Lenz said. “Coming over here and incorporating into a bigger practice, … It’s a lot better.”

Memorial CEO Jim Lambert said patients from Donalsonville are sending their medical records to Memorial following the closure of their L&D.

Memorial receives six nurses and a scrub tech — along with Dr. Lenz — to handle the increased patient volume. Five nurses and the scrub tech will work in the hospital building, while one nurse and Lenz will work in the Magnolia Women’s Center. 

“As we pick up another OBGYN doctor, we’re going to be bringing in more patients into Magnolia Medical, and we wanted to invest in that,” said Jamie Sinko, the Director of Development at Memorial Hospital.

The hospital is purchasing a surgery table, surgical instruments, birthing beds and fetal monitors from the Donalsonville L&D. It is also investing Georgia HEART funds to improve the Magnolia Women’s Center, Kirbo Women’s Center, and Memorial Pediatric Center. The improvements include new flooring, wall paint, furniture and more for the offices. 

The Georgia HEART program is a state program to help secure funding for rural and critical access hospitals. 

Magnolia Women’s Center gives obstetric and gynecological care. The doctors offer preventative women’s care and support women from pregnancy through birth. They offer a wide range of services, according to M.D. Whitney Vance. She said that with another doctor and more nurses, she is excited to have the help to see more patients.