Rural Center Awards $126,000 to Upgrade Diagnostic Imaging at Dorminy Medical Center
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2, 2026
Fitzgerald, GA - The Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation, a branch of the Georgia Department of Agriculture and known as Georgia’s Rural Center, has approved a $126,000 grant to purchase a new ultrasound machine for Dorminy Medical Center.
Dorminy Medical Center, located in Fitzgerald in Ben Hill County, serves a community of more than 17,000 residents and has been a cornerstone of local healthcare since 1974. A licensed 75-bed acute care facility, Dorminy Medical Center provides a comprehensive range of medical services to Ben Hill County and surrounding rural communities.
Despite ongoing economic challenges in the region, Dorminy Medical Center continues to prioritize high-quality, efficient, and affordable patient care. The not-for-profit hospital employs more than 250 people and is fully funded through revenues generated by patient services, underscoring its commitment to sustainability and community-focused care.
Through this grant-funded investment, Dorminy Medical Center will purchase a new ultrasound machine, advancing the hospital’s modernization and digital transformation efforts. The upgraded equipment will enhance diagnostic capabilities, support the recruitment and retention of skilled clinicians drawn to modern technology, and improve overall patient care.
The new ultrasound system will also allow Dorminy Medical Center to expand prenatal diagnostic services locally with the addition of fetal head probe capability, enabling early evaluation of fetal brain and head development. This enhancement ensures that expectant families in Ben Hill County and surrounding areas can access advanced prenatal care closer to home.
“This grant from the Rural Prosperity and Innovation Center is a meaningful investment in the health of our community. We are deeply grateful for the continued support and leadership of Georgia’s legislative leaders, whose commitment helps strengthen healthcare and communities across our state. By adding advanced ultrasound capability at Dorminy Medical Center, we can provide faster diagnoses, improve patient outcomes, and reduce the need for patients to travel outside our region for care. Investments like this strengthen both healthcare and rural communities. We are grateful for the trust placed in us and are committed to using these funds to directly enhance access to high-quality healthcare close to home,” said Paige Wynn, CEO, Dorminy Medical Center.
“Dorminy Medical serves a critical sector of rural south Georgia, and we are glad to partner with Ben Hill County and the hospital to provide ultrasound equipment to the hospital to ensure healthy pregnancies and safe baby deliveries to the mothers in Fitzgerald and the surrounding community,” said Charlie Fiveash, Executive Director of Georgia’s Rural Center. “We are grateful to the Rural Development Council and the local legislative delegation for assistance in making this grant to Dorminy possible.”
About Georgia’s Rural Center:
To date, Georgia’s Rural Center projects have resulted in a total investment in rural Georgia of more than $408 million, with $3 million of center funds, which is a 132:1 return ratio against CRPI funds. Since its inception in 2018, the work of Georgia’s Rural Center has touched all 159 of Georgia’s metro, suburban, and rural communities through regional and statewide projects, and directly impacted 73 counties through projects needed in rural communities to help them prosper and thrive.
