Hospital Changes LLC Name

Stephens County Hospital is making a small change in its LLC that covers physicians working for the hospital.

Monday, the Hospital Authority voted unanimously to change the name of Stephens County Hospital Orthopedics, LLC to Stephens County Hospital Physicians Group, LLC.

Stephens County Hospital Orthopedics was formed back when Dr. James Fordyce opened an office in Toccoa working for Stephens County Hospital in 2013.

Since then, the hospital has hired an internist, Dr. Ginie Chan, and Stephens County Hospital Administrator Ed Gambrell said it is easier to put all hospital-employed physicians under one LLC rather than split them up.

“Then our physicians that work for us can fall under that one LLC, have one tax ID, instead of making it so complicated,” said Chan.

Right now, Stephens County Hospital employs two doctors under this arrangement.

However, Gambrell said he imagines it is an area that the hospital will continue to grow in.

He said working for a hospital instead of independently is what many doctors are now looking for when they look to locate somewhere.

“It has gotten so complicated to run a practice and bill for it and all the legalities that so many physicians are looking to just be employed and come in and work from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and go home,” said Gambrell. “That is why we are doing it.”

Gambrell said that hospitals that do not offer that option can have a hard time attracting doctors to locate in an area.