People in the North Georgia mountains seeking health care for their hearts can now access advanced cardiac imaging services close to home – without traveling to Atlanta or Gainesville. Northeast Georgia Health System’s (NGHS) Georgia Heart Institute recently installed the region’s first and only cardiac PET machine at its clinic in Blairsville.
“Having a cardiac PET scanner close to home at Georgia Heart Institute is a huge win for the people of Blairsville and the surrounding region,” said Megan Smith, DO, FACC, a Georgia Heart Institute cardiologist and Blairsville resident. “Now, we can provide all the lab tests and imaging studies you need, right here in Blairsville. By bringing this technology to our community, we are removing barriers that prevent people from getting the health care they need.”
The project was funded in part by donations to the NGHS Foundation, the health system’s fundraising arm. Those donors are:
- Wilheit Family Foundation
- Mr. & Mrs. Charles W. Jones III.
- Starlet Rhodes Jones Foundation
- Vulcan Materials Company Foundation
- Two donors who chose to give anonymously