MEDICAL MARKET ANALYSIS

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Columbia County is a rapidly-growing, affluent suburb of Augusta, Georgia, the second largest metropolitan area in the state. Augusta’s strong medical industry is anchored by the Medical College of Georgia in neighboring Richmond County, which graduates more medical doctors each year than any other school in the University System of Georgia. A large number of those graduates practice locally, resulting in an extremely high concentration of physicians in Richmond County. Columbia County, on the other hand, is relatively underserved. Despite a large, growing market for medical services in Columbia County, there are not many medical offices. If more office space is developed, then physicians will likely locate in Columbia County. A list of sites suitable for medical offices has been compiled by county staff to help facilitate development.

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Demographics Columbia County is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan statistical area (MSA). Augusta’s population of over 500,000 places it second only to Atlanta in MSA population within the state of Georgia. Columbia County is also the fastest growing county in the metro Augusta area. Rapid growth began in the 1970s as Columbia County emerged as an upper-middle-class suburb, highly desirable due to its excellent school system and high quality of life.

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As of 2008, the county’s population is over 110,000 and continues to grow. Household income is higher than any other county in the Augusta area. High home values and low unemployment are also indicators of a strong local economy. Additionally, a large senior population combined with a high rate of insurance coverage demonstrates a strong local market for medical services.

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Local Physician Population Augusta is home to the Medical College of Georgia (MCG), a member of the public University System of Georgia. More physicians graduate from MCG each year than any other medical school in the state’s university system. Between the school years ending in 2001 and 2007, an average of 164 physicians a year graduated from MCG.

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Due to the considerable number of new physicians graduating from MCG and the high physician retention rate, the Augusta area boasts a large population of doctors. Richmond County, home of MCG, has a per capita rate of physicians over three times that of Georgia, creating a significant demand for medical office space. However, Columbia County’s market potential is still untapped. With a physician rate only half of the statewide average, it would appear the local market is severely underserved. As of 2006, only 116 doctors practice medicine in Columbia County. Chart 5 (Source: Composite State Board of Medical Examiners, Georgia Physician Survey, 2006; U.S. Census Bureau)

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Based upon national standards for doctors required per capita, the Georgia Board for Physician Workforce projects significant deficiencies in the following specialties for Columbia County in the year 2010: anesthesiology, internal medicine, OB/GYN, and psychiatry. In Richmond County, the board forecasts a surplus for all of the aforementioned specialties in 2010. Since the 1970s, the general population has increasingly migrated out of Richmond County into Columbia County. Market demand for services follows population growth. The Richmond County medical market is so oversaturated with doctors, one would expect the eventual migration of those physicians into Columbia County, provided adequate office space is available.

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Existing Medical Facilities Although Columbia County is not home to any full-service hospitals, rapid population growth is going to necessitate such a facility in the near future. Currently, residents must drive between 20 to 30 minutes from the most populated area of Columbia County to reach the closest hospitals, located in Richmond County. Two facilities in Columbia County provide emergency services. Two medical office developments, on North Belair Road and Columbia Road, are also located in the county. Chart 6 (Source: Columbia County Planning & Engineering Department)

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The University Health Care facility is the only large medical office development in Columbia County. It covers over 60 acres on North Belair Road and includes office space for many private practices. Potential Medical Office Sites Columbia County’s Planning and Engineering staff has identified a number of sites suitable for medical office development, ranging in size from one to 10 acres. The listed locations have access to major roads and are located in the county’s most populated areas. Additionally, all the sites are either vacant or underused. The list is by no means comprehensive, and county staff is available to provide details about additional sites.