Public hearing set on Houston and Emory merger proposal

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Residents in Warner Robins are sharing mixed reactions about the potential merger between Houston Healthcare and Emory Healthcare as a public hearing approaches.

The two healthcare systems signed a definitive agreement in February 2025, and regulators will hold a required public hearing Thursday at Central Georgia Technical College to gather community input.

Houston Healthcare has served Central Georgia for more than 60 years, operating two hospital campuses with 282 beds, five outpatient facilities, and nine physician practices.

“Well, I guess it’s amazing, but it’s like shocking because I guess it’ll be good for the people. That’s what I think. It’ll be good for the people,” said Patricia Cosby, a 30-year resident of Houston County.

Cosby lost her husband at Houston Healthcare in 2018 and has avoided the hospital since then. She hopes the merger will improve communication between medical staff and patients’ families.

“A better communication with the neurologists and the staff,” Cosby said. “If something goes wrong, you’re supposed to talk to the family and let them know what’s going on.”

The merger would expand Emory Healthcare’s reach approximately 100 miles south of Atlanta. As Georgia’s largest academic health system, Emory currently operates 11 hospitals with 2,796 licensed beds and employs nearly 24,000 staff.

Carolyn Jordan, another Warner Robins resident, had a recent experience with Houston Healthcare when her husband needed emergency care following outpatient surgery.

“What I went through with Emory and what I went through with Houston Hospital, I think with both of them joining together and merging together, it could be nothing but positive,” Jordan said.

Jordan praised the ambulance response time during her husband’s emergency but described the initial hospital experience as “chaos.” She believes the merger will benefit the community but acknowledges it may be challenging for hospital staff.

“I think change is gonna be nice for them, but I think the change is gonna be hard for them because a lot of people when they’re so used to doing things their way is very difficult for them to make that change,” Jordan said.

According to hospital leadership, the merger aims to enhance access to high-quality healthcare services beyond Atlanta into Central Georgia. In statements from late last year, both organizations emphasized their commitment to improving care while broadening their geographic reach.

“This relationship will help expand our efforts to provide high-quality healthcare and expertise into Central Georgia,” said Joon S. Lee, CEO of Emory Healthcare, in a statement when the definitive agreement was signed.

Charles G. Briscoe, CEO of Houston Healthcare, also expressed optimism about the merger’s potential benefits.

“We look forward to continuing and strengthening our high-quality, patient-focused service through this affiliation,” Briscoe said.

Briscoe will step down after the completion of the Houston Healthcare and Emory Healthcare merger. He served as CEO for eight years.

The merger reflects a nationwide trend in the healthcare industry, with many smaller hospital systems joining larger networks due to financial pressures and the need for stability.

Once finalized, Houston Healthcare will officially integrate into Emory’s network, expanding the combined organization to approximately 29,000 employees and enhancing care delivery across Georgia.

The public hearing is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. Thursday at Central Georgia Technical College in Warner Robins. Officials from both healthcare systems will attend to answer questions from community members.

State regulations require this community input session before the merger can receive final regulatory approval, which could take several months to complete.