St. Mary’s Health Care System serves the residents of Athens and Northeast Georgia. Accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), the non-profit medical facility is a member of Catholic Health East. In 1938, St. Mary’s opened its doors as St. Mary’s Hospital on Milledge Avenue. Since then, it was under the sponsorship of the Sisters of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and, afterwards, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Later in 1966, the hospital was moved to Baxter Street. In evidence of its quality services, the hospital changed its name to St. Mary’s Health Care System, Inc. in 1993. The core area of practice includes neurosciences, orthopedics, women’s health, children’s health, gastroenterology, and medical/surgical care. A full continuum of diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitation services are offered at the 24-hour Emergency Center. St. Mary’s is the home to the first JCAHO-Certified Primary Stroke Center, and the only High Performance Joint Replacement Center in North Georgia. St. Mary’s Industrial Medicine, formerly Athens Industrial Medicine, is the oldest industrial medical practice in Athens. St. Mary’s Women’s Center is dedicated to providing up-to-date urology and gynecology services. The Women’s Resource Center, conveniently located near downtown Athens, has a number of services, including mammography, and wound care. Clute Barrow Nelson Children’s Center, a free-standing clinic behind the hospital, excels in all aspects of pediatric medicine. The Wellness Center, at 120 Trinity Place, features a fully equipped gym. Since 1970, Home Health Care has been providing home-based health care services in the Athens-Clarke area and surrounding counties. Independent living apartments and hospice services are offered for the senior adults. St. Mary’s Hospice involves nursing care, medical social work, home health aides, counseling, and therapeutic services, and bereavement services for the family. Highland Hills Village, owned and operated by the health system, is a quality retirement community in Bogart. Further, St. Mary’s conducts a variety of health and fitness programs and support groups for a healthy lifestyle.