North Central Health District

Macon-Bibb County Health Department to Relocate to Renovated Facility

Posted March 6, 2019 by Michael Hokanson

Macon-Bibb County Health Department (MBCHD), Macon-Bibb County Board of Health and North Central Health District (NCHD) are excited to announce the purchase of the medical facility located at 1600 Forsyth Street, Macon, by the Macon-Bibb Urban Development Authority. The property, formerly used by Ortho-Georgia, will be renovated to house all MBCHD staff and services.

The existing health department building at 171 Emery Highway was purchased and extensively renovated before MBCHD relocated there in 1993. Since the relocation, the facility has not been updated to accommodate MBCHD’s expansion of services and changes that are consistent with more modern healthcare providers. The current building’s layout is not conducive to client flow and leads to inefficiencies in service delivery. As MBCHD adds to its growing array of services and evolves into a contemporary public health model, the current location presents a barrier to growth and modernization while compounding inefficiencies over time.

The Macon-Bibb County Board of Health has been discussing the need for an updated facility since 2015. As issues with the current location became more apparent, the board established a facilities committee in 2016 to seek out opportunities for relocation that would accommodate the growing nature of MBCHD. The Forsyth Street location was identified in 2018, and the Board of Health, MBCHD and NCHD began negotiations for the property.

Once renovations are complete, the new location will include three buildings on a single campus and provide ample room for parking, improved waiting areas, improved technology and exam rooms and centralized intake and treatment areas so that clients’ visits are more efficient and effective. The main facility building will house the health department’s clinical operations, Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program, a demonstration kitchen, the dental program, administration, a telemedicine exam room and a large training and conference area. Additionally, the facility will include a children’s play area and an automated kiosk intake system.

The second building on the campus will house the vital records office, environmental health services and a private setting for the health department’s Teen Health Center. Additional parking and a drive-through window will prove ease of access for clients. A third building will be used for storage and a proposed employee wellness center.

This project is funded by both revenue generated by the health department through services along with Special-Purpose Local-Only Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds. SPLOST financing for this project was passed by the Macon-Bibb consolidated government at the July 2017 Macon-Bibb County regular commission meeting, with the effective funding period spanning July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2028.

All funding will be used to establish a modern healthcare facility to a community that needs and deserves the best care public health can provide. In addition, the new location offers opportunities to develop new ways to engage clients and community partners.

Renovations are expected to begin within the next 90 days and are expected to take six to nine months to complete. Macon-Bibb County Board of Health wishes to thank the Macon-Bibb County Board of Commissioners and the Urban Development Authority for their efforts in making the project happen.

Macon-Bibb County Health Department and North Central Health District will keep the commissioners and public updated as the project moves forward. Clients will continue to receive public health services from the health department at its current location at 171 Emery Highway in Macon until services relocate. For more information on health department services, call 478-745-0411 or visit NCHD52.org/Services.