Our Story

Our story in many ways begins on Dixie Street. But really, it begins in the homes and farms throughout west Georgia. That’s where the need for a local hospital was first realized and where so much sacrifice went into building Tanner Memorial Hospital in Carrollton.

Since that first hospital opened in 1949, Tanner Health System has been a cornerstone of health and wellness. Our services have grown, but we never forget our roots as a hometown hospital and the personal level of care that has been our signature for generations.

Watch a video about our growth story.

1949 – Tanner Memorial Hospital was established in Carrollton, Georgia, by a visionary group of physicians and community leaders. The hospital was named for the family of Carrollton grocer C.M. Tanner, who gave $75,000 toward the hospital’s construction. 

1985 – With the blessing of the Tanner family, Tanner Memorial Hospital officially changed its name to Tanner Medical Center (i.e., Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton). Tanner also grows into a two-hospital system as the former Villa Rica City Hospital joins the organization, becoming Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica. 

1988 – Tanner underwent a change of governance, introducing the Tanner Medical Center Inc. Board of Directors.

1997 – With two hospitals and a growing line of services, Tanner Medical Center Inc. adopted a name more reflective of its role in the community: Tanner Health System.

1998 – Higgins General Hospital in Bremen affiliated with Tanner, expanding the range of services the hospital could provide and housing many of its new specialties.

2003 – Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica moved patients from the original hospital built in the 1950s to a new, 40-bed hospital.

2009 – Willowbrooke at Tanner opened in Villa Rica, becoming the first new, inpatient behavioral health facility built in Georgia in at least 20 years.

2017 – Tanner Medical Center/East Alabama opened in Wedowee, Alabama, after 86% of Randolph County voters supported the new hospital in a special referendum. The hospital replaced the former Wedowee Hospital.