Just seven weeks into his tenure as chief executive officer of Putnam General Hospital, Todd “Tog” Goss says one of the hospital’s biggest challenges has nothing to do with patient care. Instead, it’s making sure people know what PGH has to offer.
Speaking July 15 to local community leaders during the monthly Eatonton-Putnam Tourism, Arts and Heritage (EPTAH) meeting, Goss said PGH has invested in advanced technology and expanded services that many residents — and even some nearby physicians — don't realize are available in Eatonton.
“It’s been interesting to me that there’s a lot of things about the hospital that people in the community do not know,” Goss said. “We need to educate the public as much as possible about things our hospital offers.”
A Macon native, Goss brings 30 years of healthcare experience to the position. He began his career as a paramedic before becoming a registered nurse and later serving in leadership roles in trauma, cardiovascular intensive care and oncology. Most recently, he served as chief operating officer at Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin in Milledgeville.
Goss admitted he hadn't planned to leave the larger health system until the opportunity at PGH arose.
“People have asked me, ‘Why would you leave a large organization and go to a small, critical access hospital?’” he said. “For me, it was pretty simple. This hospital just stands out.”
He credited recently retired CEO Alan Horton and the Putnam General Hospital Authority with strengthening the hospital's financial position and said his focus is now on building for the future.
Among his top priorities is increasing awareness of several advanced diagnostic and surgical technologies available at PGH. Goss highlighted the hospital's new contrast-enhanced mammography system, which he said can detect very small cancers and is unavailable at many larger hospitals in the region.
“The Medical Center of Central Georgia doesn’t have this machine, and neither does anybody else south of Atlanta,” he told the audience.
Goss also pointed to PGH's AI-assisted robotic technology for prostate procedures and a new CT scanner capable of performing cardiac CT imaging to evaluate blocked arteries, reducing the need for more invasive cardiac catheterization procedures. The scanner can also perform CT colonography as an alternative screening option for colorectal cancer.
“So, those are three things right there that we offer at Putnam General Hospital that no other hospital in this area offers,” Goss said.
He also wants to boost participation in the Georgia HEART (Helping Enhance Access to Rural Treatment) tax credit program, which allows taxpayers to redirect a portion of their state income taxes to eligible rural hospitals at no additional cost.
“There’s certainly the ability to get that $4 million,” he said, referring to the program's annual funding cap for individual hospitals. “We’re just not doing a good enough job of communicating and getting the word out.”
To strengthen ties with residents, Goss said PGH plans to launch two community outreach programs in September. "Lunch and Learn" sessions will feature physicians discussing health topics over a free meal at the hospital. At the same time, "Walk With a Doc" will combine educational presentations with community walks around the hospital campus.
“We’ve got to get the community more involved,” Goss said.
Looking ahead, Goss said he would also like the hospital to eventually adopt the Epic electronic health record system and the MyChart patient portal to improve coordination with physicians and specialists throughout the region.
For now, though, his primary goal is changing public perception by ensuring residents understand the quality of care available close to home.
“I love to brag on the hospital every chance I get,” Goss said. “When people come in, and we give them the best patient experience they’ve ever had, they’re going to tell other people about it. And that’s really what I want.”