Health care

on the Southside became a little clearer Monday afternoon when Newnan

Hospital announced it was purchasing the assets of Peachtree Regional

Hospital.

The two Coweta

County-based hospitals have been involved in trying to build two new hospitals

in the county for years. Monday's purchase should be a win for everybody,

said Newnan Hospital president Chip Barron.

"Now,

we can focus on building a state-of-the art regional health care center,

instead of building two smaller hospitals," he said.

John Gray,

who is president of Newnan Hospital's Board of Trustees, believes patient

care benefits will improve with the purchase.

"We believe

the consolidation of the two hospitals will permit greater efficiencies

and more comprehensive health care services for citizens of Coweta County,"

he said.

Peachtree Regional

Hospital had purchased a tract of land on Bullsboro Drive near I-85 to

build its new facility. Barron said it's too early in the process to know

if Newnan Hospital will keep the land or sell it off to pay off some of

Peachtree Regional's debt.

In the meantime,

some services will be shifted from each facility. Barron expects all acute

care to be done at Peachtree Regional will same day surgery will all be

done at Newnan Hospital.

"This

should allow the doctors to better coordinate their schedules and not

be constantly shuffling between the facilities," he said.

Barron expects

the deal to close by the end of the year. The purchase price was not disclosed.