07/31/2026
Life-Changing. Life-Saving.
Today marks what is likely the most significant healthcare announcement in Dade County's history.
While the project must still complete Georgia's Certificate of Need process, today's announcement represents a major step toward bringing 24/7 emergency care to a county that has gone without a hospital or urgent care facility.
Improving access to healthcare was one of County Executive Don Townsend's central campaign commitments during the 2024 election. Immediately after taking office in January 2025, he began working with HCA Healthcare to explore opportunities to bring emergency medical services to Dade County. Today's announcement represents an important milestone in that 18-month effort.
Parkridge Health System has announced plans to apply for a Certificate of Need with the Georgia Office of Health Planning and the Georgia Department of Community Health to establish an $18 million freestanding emergency department in Trenton.
If approved, the Parkridge Dade ER would provide 24/7 emergency care for patients of all ages, bringing life-saving emergency services much closer to home. In addition to expanding access to emergency care, the project has the potential to improve emergency response throughout our county by reducing ambulance transport times and helping EMS units return to service more quickly.
We appreciate Parkridge Health System's commitment to Dade County and look forward to supporting this project as it moves through Georgia's Certificate of Need process.
Please read Parkridge Health System's full announcement below.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Paul Tucker
Communications and Community
Engagement Specialist
(423) 883-1381
[email protected]
Parkridge Health System announces plans to bring freestanding emergency room to Dade County, Georgia
Chattanooga, TN (July 31, 2026) – Parkridge Health System, part of HCA Healthcare, today announced its plans to apply for a Certificate of Need with the Georgia Office of Health Planning and the Department of Community Health to establish a new $18 million freestanding emergency department in Trenton, GA. The proposed Parkridge Dade ER will be located on the corner of Highway 11 and Georgia State Route 136, expanding access to emergency care for residents in Dade County and surrounding communities.
The Parkridge Dade ER will operate as a satellite location of Parkridge Health System’s main emergency department providing 24/7 emergency care for patients of all ages. The facility will feature:
• 11 treatment rooms, including a trauma room
• On-site laboratory services
• Advanced imaging services
• Central nurses’ station
• Clinical support spaces
"The opportunity to serve the Trenton and Dade County community is an exciting milestone for our health system," said Chris Cosby, president and chief executive officer of Parkridge Health System. "As our communities continue to grow, we remain committed to expanding access to exceptional healthcare where it's needed most. We look forward to becoming a trusted healthcare partner in Dade County by providing compassionate, high-quality emergency care close to home."
Dade County is home to more than 16,000 residents and is projected to continue growing in the coming years. That continued growth underscores the need for expanded healthcare infrastructure to ensure residents have timely access to emergency care.
The Parkridge Dade ER would become the sixth freestanding emergency room in Parkridge Health System’s network, joining existing locations in Jasper, Soddy-Daisy, East Ridge and North Hamilton County, as well as a fifth currently under development in Cleveland.
Each location is staffed by board-certified emergency medicine physicians and highly trained clinical teams. Patients will have access to the same level of emergency care available in a hospital-based emergency department.
For more information about Parkridge Health System, visit ParkridgeHealth.com.
# # #
About Parkridge Health System
Parkridge Health System includes Parkridge Medical Center, Parkridge East Hospital, Parkridge West Hospital, Parkridge North ER, Parkridge Camp Jordan ER, Parkridge Soddy-Daisy ER, Parkridge Valley Mental Health and Wellness Adult and Adolescent Acute Campus and Parkridge Valley Mental Health and Wellness Child and Adolescent Residential Campus. Parkridge Health is an affiliate of HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare services. To learn more, visit ParkridgeHealth.com.
