Covington County Hospital Nursing Center to be open mid-summer

Covington County Hospital Nursing Center in Collins is set to open mid-summer after the hospital and nursing home staff complete the licensing process. The new building will house 28 residents in 14 semi-private rooms. The hospital will convert 32 existing private rooms on the first and second floor to nursing home beds. After completion, the hospital will have a maximum occupancy of 60 nursing home beds. The conversion will not affect the swing bed rehabilitation program. Connie Smith, a Collins native, was recently hired as nursing home administrator. She is a longtime nursing home administrator with experience at the Covington County Nursing Center, Hillcrest Nursing Home and Columbia Health and Rehab. Melissa Jordan Lott has been named head of nursing at the nursing home.