Longtime Chairman leaves behind a stronger hospital and a new Emergency Department as part of his lasting legacy
Washington County Regional Medical Center gathered colleagues, community members, and hospital leadership on June 23, 2026 to honor Jim Croome at a special retirement dinner marking the close of his 11-year tenure on the Hospital Authority of Washington County Board of Directors.
Croome joined the Hospital Authority Board in 2015 and served most recently as Chairman, a role in which he helped shape some of the most significant decisions in the hospital’s recent history. His board service spanned a period of meaningful growth for WCRMC, including expansion of services, the hospital’s new management company and executive leadership team, as well as the new Emergency Department.
From the earliest planning conversations around facility expansion to the decisions that kept the project moving forward, Croome was a consistent voice for long-term thinking and for the people of Washington County. His approach was grounded in what was best for the community the hospital serves, and that perspective shaped the board’s work across more than a decade.
“Jim spent 11 years thinking about what this hospital could become, and the new Emergency Department is one of the clearest examples of what that kind of forward-looking leadership produces,” said Pam Stewart, CEO of Washington County Regional Medical Center. “He brought patience, wisdom, and a deep commitment to the citizens of Washington County to every decision, and we are a better hospital because of the years he dedicated to this work.”
The Hospital Authority of Washington County was founded in 1957 to oversee the growth and continuous improvement of healthcare services for the region. Today, WCRMC is a 56-bed general acute care hospital serving Washington County and surrounding communities across East Central Georgia, offering emergency care, general surgery, orthopedics, imaging, rehabilitation, extended care, specialty clinics, and a wide range of outpatient services.
Croome’s retirement comes as the hospital celebrates the opening of its new Emergency Department, a milestone he helped make possible. His dedication as a volunteer board member, combined with his investment in the hospital’s long-term future, reflects exactly the kind of community leadership that has kept WCRMC growing and serving this region for nearly 70 years.
Washington County Regional Medical Center is grateful for Jim Croome’s 11 years of service and wishes him well in the next chapter.