At Phoebe Putney Health System, our mission is simple: provide high-quality care to every patient who comes through our doors, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay. For many families across rural Georgia, access to healthcare is profoundly shaped by distance, time, and limited resources. When emergencies happen, those factors are amplified, and barriers to accessing care can turn even minor issues into critical emergencies.

Every day, I see how quickly a medical issue can spiral into a medical crisis. When a patient has a heart attack, stroke, or serious accident, the clock is ticking to get to the lifesaving care they need. In rural communities, ambulance response times are almost always longer than in urban or suburban areas, a reality compounded by the fact that just locating patients in a rural environment can be challenging. Proximity to care makes every second count, and, more often than not, the key to quick care is based on the strength of our emergency communication system.

Unfortunately, Georgia’s 911 system is not keeping pace. Our current 911 infrastructure was built for a different era and lags well behind the other advancements we’ve seen in healthcare.

Simply put, the outdated technology that is the backbone of our current 911 system puts rural patients at a grave disadvantage when they need help most.

Luckily, there’s a simple solution. Next Generation 911 (NG911) is a modern emergency communication system that would be a crucial upgrade in how we support public safety and healthcare delivery. This up-to-date technology allows dispatchers and first responders to receive precise location data, even when callers cannot clearly describe where they are. It also enables the sharing of text messages, photos, and video—critical tools when someone is unable to speak or when visual information can help responders better understand the situation before they arrive.

In rural areas, these capabilities are not luxuries; they are necessities. Many emergencies occur on farms, highways, and remote properties without clear addresses. Enhanced location accuracy alone can save precious minutes, and in emergency medicine, minutes often determine outcomes.

NG911 also improves coordination across multiple 911 centers, EMS providers, hospitals, and medical transportation services, allowing healthcare teams to be prepped and ready, mobilizing the right resources, and making informed clinical decisions before a patient reaches the emergency room. It’s faster, more complete, and more accurate information that strengthens the entire chain of care.

Investing in Next Generation 911 is an investment in the people of Georgia. It delivers better communication that leads to quicker care that reduces complications, improves survival rates, and ensures that patients receive the care they need as quickly as possible.

Each and every Georgian deserves the same high level of emergency response capability, no matter their zip code. Updating and strengthening our 911 system is essential to building a safer, healthier future for rural communities and for our state as a whole. At Phoebe Putney Health System, we look forward to a future where NG911 technology is there to serve every patient facing a critical health moment.