Officials at

Newnan's Emory Peachtree Regional Hospital learned this week of state

approval to build their new hospital.

The $54 million

facility would be built on Bullsboro Drive in Newnan and give the hospital

a much higher profile as visitors and residents filter into the city from

Interstate 85.

An application

was filed with the state for a certificate of need to replace the current

38-year-old facility.

"According

to two independent surveys, Coweta residents would welcome the convenience

of a state-of-the-art hospital within the county," said Emory Peachtree

CEO Linda Jabinsky, "partly one associated with a nationally recognized

teaching hospital."

The hospital

currently provides the area's only obstetrical labor delivery service,

plus 24-hour emergency services, work place health programs and outpatient

testing.

Michael Johns,

M.D., vice president for health affairs at Emory University and CEO of

Emory Healthcare, is pleased with the move.

"Improved

community access to outpatient services is vital to improving the health

of our communities. We are pleased to be a part of this important enhancement

to the health care delivery system of Coweta County," he said.

Coweta's other

hospital, Newnan Hospital, also has petitioned the state for permission

to build a new facility, but no word has been given on its application.