For cancer patients in west central Georgia, the long haul for treatment could soon get a lot shorter. City of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta is pushing its advanced oncology services farther beyond the metro core, tapping its Newnan hospital as a regional hub and outlining a new alliance with Upson Regional Medical Center in Thomaston. Hospital leaders say the plan is designed so many patients can receive routine chemotherapy, telemedicine follow ups and other cancer care close to home, while more complex therapies and clinical trials remain centered at the Newnan campus.
In a Feb. 23 press release, City of Hope said the letter of intent "paves the way to bring advanced oncology options to rural Georgia communities." The statement quoted Jonathan Watkins, president of City of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta, who called the partnership "a meaningful step forward" in expanding access. The release also notes that board certified City of Hope physicians are expected to deliver many services at Upson Regional so residents can receive most of their cancer care without leaving Thomaston.
How the alliance will work
Under the LOI, City of Hope clinicians will see patients on site at Upson Regional, administer chemotherapy and consult via telemedicine, while more complex cases are referred to the Newnan hospital, coverage by Becker's Oncology reports. Upson Regional is a 115 bed, DNV accredited community hospital that already offers emergency, imaging and surgical services in Thomaston, according to Upson Regional Medical Center.
Patients describe long trips for care
For many rural patients, the current options require serious windshield time. In an interview with 11Alive, patient Theia Taylor said she logged a five hour round trip to reach City of Hope in Newnan after a colorectal cancer diagnosis in 2023. Patrick Brown, vice president of business development at City of Hope, told 11Alive that the Atlanta center "sees around 3,300 new patients a year and up to 12,000 patients a year," highlighting just how wide an area the facility already serves.
Why speed to care matters in Georgia
Hospital leaders are quick to point out that the clock is not a mere abstraction in cancer care. City of Hope cites research indicating that a 28 day delay in systemic treatment for colorectal cancer may increase the risk of death by as much as 13%. The hospital also notes that many Georgians with common cancers are diagnosed at later stages, which makes earlier access to screening and treatment in patients' own communities a pressing priority, City of Hope says.
Satellite clinics and next steps
To chip away at those barriers, City of Hope has already opened an outpatient care center in Paces Ferry to serve Buckhead and northern Atlanta, giving patients a closer option for routine visits and follow ups, according to CancerCenter.com. Reporting by Becker's Oncology notes that the Upson partnership would become the system's third rural affiliation in Georgia, following existing relationships with Miller County Hospital and Dorminy Medical Center.
Patients and local physicians say that if the plan rolls out as described, it could trim hours off routine cancer trips for people in Upson County and surrounding areas. Upson Regional lists its main number as (706) 647 8111, while City of Hope's Atlanta team maintains separate phone lines for new and existing patients. Both hospitals say they will share more details on scheduling and referrals as the affiliation moves from letter of intent to full implementation.
