Piedmont Mountainside celebrates one-year anniversary of Ellijay Emergency Department

Ellijay, Ga. (June 17, 2026) - Piedmont Mountainside Hospital marked the one-year anniversary of its Ellijay Emergency Department on Friday, June 12, with a community pancake breakfast celebration recognizing the department’s first year of service and impact.

The event brought together team members and community members to celebrate the milestone and reflect on the facility’s role in expanding access to emergency care in Gilmer County.

Over its first year, the Ellijay Emergency Department has provided care to thousands of patients while achieving strong performance metrics. The department reported a year-to-date average treat-to-release time of 117 minutes and an 81% patient satisfaction rating—the highest in the Piedmont Healthcare system.

The facility also recorded a total patient volume of 14,642 visits and 1,749 admissions. In critical care response, the emergency department treated 12 STEMI cases and 10 TNK (clot-busting medication) cases, with a median door-to-needle time of 40 minutes and a fastest recorded time of 24 minutes.

“These milestones reflect the dedication of our team and the trust this community has placed in us,” said Nick Zelinsky, director of emergency services for Jasper and Ellijay. “In just one year, the Ellijay Emergency Department has made a meaningful difference by delivering timely, high-quality emergency care close to home. We are proud of what has been accomplished and remain committed to continuing to improve outcomes and patient experience for the people we serve.”

The anniversary celebration highlighted Piedmont’s continued investment in rural healthcare access, ensuring residents in Ellijay and the surrounding communities have access to convenient, high-quality emergency services.