News & Media
Your health is our priority!
Weems Medical Centers provide primary care, family medicine, and rotating specialty care services.
Weems Medical Center West in Apalachicola is located on the campus of Weems Memorial Hospital. The medical center offers primary care and non-emergent care services.
Appointments are recommended. Weems West is staffed by Sussete Valdueza, APRN and Amanda Pache, APRN. Weems Medical Center East is located just off Highway 98, west of Carrabelle on 5th Street. The medical center offers primary care and non-emergent care, as well as several specialty care services. Weems East is staffed by Dana Whaley, APRN and Amanda Pache, APRN.
Medical Team
Dana Whaley, APRN, FNP-BC
Dana Whaley, APRN, FNP-BC, is a family nurse practitioner at Weems Medical Center East with more than 25 years experience. She is a true Franklin County native, and considers it an honor to serve the community where she was born and raised.
Sussete Valdueza, APRN, FNP-BC
Sussete Valdueza, APRN, FNP-BC, is the friendly face you’ll find at Weems Medical Center West in Apalachicola. Sussette is a board-certified Advanced Practice Registered Nurse specializing in family medicine.
Amanda Pache, APRN
Amanda Pache, APRN is the newest member to our team of medical providers. She has experience working in a fast-paced, high-volume clinic setting, and is a great addition to Weems Medical Centers East and West.
Celebrating 65 years of service to Franklin County!
Weems Memorial Hospital opened on June 21, 1959 in its current location on Washington Square. But it was not Apalachicola’s first hospital. Historians note that Apalachicola’s first hospital was actually a renovated Army barracks building at the airport with 13 beds, a small obstetrical wing and operative suite. The hospital served the needs of the community from the time of its opening in 1948 until the completion of the new hospital with 25 beds at the present site in 1959.
The site of the current Weems Hospital was once the site of the original Franklin County courthouse. The courthouse was later converted into the health department and operated until it was demolished in 1957 to make way for the new hospital which exists there today.
Help us tell our Weems story!
Do you have photos of Weems Memorial over the years? Please share! Email photos with details to pr@weemsmemorial.com.
News & Media
Monday, July 27, 2026 –
Sometimes, the smallest interactions leave the biggest impression.
Whether he’s helping a patient, welcoming a visitor or supporting a coworker, Logan Anderson is known for treating people with kindness, professionalism and respect. Those qualities recently earned him recognition as Weems Memorial Hospital’s Employee of the Month.
Logan was nominated by a colleague who described him as a go-getter with a positive attitude and exceptional customer service skills. The nomination praised his willingness to take on new responsibilities with a smile and noted that “the space provided wasn’t enough to write everything I appreciate about Logan.”
During the recognition, Weems Memorial Hospital CEO David Walker shared a story that perfectly captured why Logan was selected. After a positive interaction with Logan, a visitor later reached out to Walker to share how much Logan’s kindness and professionalism had meant during a visit to the hospital. That interaction made such a lasting impression that the visitor later chose to support Weems Memorial Hospital through a generous philanthropic gift.
While Logan has since transitioned from patient admissions to the Finance Department, the qualities that earned him this recognition have remained the same.
Chief Nursing Officer Courtney Alford said Logan stood out from the very beginning.
“From day one, we recognized that Logan was someone we wanted to keep,” Alford said. “He carries himself well, speaks to everyone and represents the kind of person you want in your organization.”
She added that Logan exemplifies the level of customer service and professionalism Weems strives to provide every patient, visitor and family member.
For Logan, the recognition is meaningful because of what Weems has become to him.
“It used to feel like I had a job. Now it feels like a career,” he said. “It’s nice to feel that way, and it’s nice to know you’re appreciated.”
Weems Memorial Hospital congratulates Logan Anderson on this well-deserved recognition and thanks him for the compassion, professionalism and positive attitude he brings to our patients, visitors and colleagues every day.
June 30, 2026 –
A new exam room bed is now in place at the Weems Medical Center West in Apalachicola, thanks to a $5,000 gift from the Weems Memorial Healthcare Foundation.
The donation is part of the Foundation’s Comfort, Care and Stronger Community campaign – a 2026 fundraising priority focused on updating clinic equipment across both the West and East Clinic locations and the main campus of WMH. The goal is $40,000, with funds going toward new exam beds and specialty equipment designed to create a safer, more comfortable environment for every patient who walks through the door.
It’s a straightforward investment with a direct impact. The West Clinic alone sees more than 6,600 patient visits a year. Having the right equipment matters – for staff and for patients.
The Foundation is also working toward bringing DEXA bone density screening to Franklin County, which would give local residents access to an important preventive service without having to travel. That screening would support women 65 and older, men 70 and older, and adults 50 and older with osteoporosis risk factors.
If you’d like to support the Foundation’s work, there are several ways to get involved. Donations can be made online, and the Foundation’s annual fundraiser – Rising Tides Lift All Boats, a cocktail and chef-curated dinner event – returns Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, at the Apalachicola Yacht Club from 7-10:30 pm. Tickets and sponsorship information are available here.
To learn more, donate or get involved, visit weemsmemorial.com/foundation, or https://www.facebook.com/WeemsFoundation or email Colleen Zester, Foundation chair at weemsfoundation@weemsmemorial.com.
June 19, 2026
Franklin County hospice care just got more accessible, giving families a local option for one of life’s hardest journeys.
On June 18, George E. Weems Memorial Hospital and Big Bend Hospice cut the ribbon on the Franklin County Big Bend Hospice In-Patient Care Unit, a dedicated room designed to give patients and families compassionate, end-of-life care without having to leave the county.
“We’re fortunate to have a local hospital that can provide a service like this,” said Weems Governing Board Chair Duffie Harrison. “Our goal has always been to keep care close to home, in our own community. It’s our people taking care of our community, and our local volunteers and Weems staff are who made this happen.”
The room gives families a comfortable, home-like space to be present with their loved ones, while Weems’ clinical team and Big Bend Hospice coordinate care side by side.
“We can’t help with the outcome, but we can offer comfort in the journey,” said Doris Carmichael, APRN, a hospice volunteer and President of the Big Bend Hospice Advisory for Franklin County. Carmichael, who lost her husband three years ago, said the work is close to her heart. “This room allows families to be at the bedside to offer the emotional support their loved one needs, while skilled nursing takes care of their medical needs.”
That partnership is central to how the room operates. Big Bend Hospice Chief Operating Officer Amanda Gustafson called it a continuation of a long-standing relationship between the two organizations. “When you can no longer be cared for at home, here you have 24-hour care,” Gustafson said, adding that the room also offers respite for exhausted caregivers who need a safe place for their loved one to stay.
Just outside the room, the Weems Healthcare Foundation funded a Reflecting Garden, a quiet outdoor space where loved ones can step away for a private moment, a phone call, or simply some fresh air.
“This is what Weems is about,” said CEO David Walker. “Partnerships, caring for our community, and increasing local access to care.”
The hospice room reflects a broader commitment at Weems: building services that allow Franklin County residents to receive high-quality care without traveling outside the community they call home.
April 24, 2026
At Weems Memorial Hospital, part of our work as a critical access hospital is paying close attention to where our community’s healthcare needs aren’t fully met – and stepping in to help when a project is both viable and valuable for the people we serve. A retail pharmacy in Carrabelle is one of those opportunities, and we’re excited to share that the project is officially moving forward.
How we got here
The Weems Board of Directors commissioned a professional retail pharmacy study to take a careful, honest look at whether a Carrabelle pharmacy could serve the community well and operate sustainably over time. The analysis, presented by pharmacy consultant Jason Prokopik of Blue and Co., confirmed that the vision was both viable and valuable – projecting steady growth, long-term financial sustainability, and meaningful benefit for residents on the eastern end of the county.
On April 15, the Franklin County Board of County Commissioners reviewed the plan and gave it their full support, clearing the way for Weems to begin next steps.
A word from our Board Chair
“When the board looked at this opportunity, it wasn’t just about opening a pharmacy – it was about expanding access to care in a practical, sustainable way. The study confirmed what we believed: this is a smart investment for the hospital and a real benefit for the community.”
— Duffie Harrison, Chair, Weems Memorial Hospital Board of Directors
Why this matters: the 340B program
As a critical access hospital, Weems participates in the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, which allows us to offer significantly reduced prices on many medications. That benefit will extend to the Carrabelle pharmacy.
A pharmacy that serves everyone
The Carrabelle pharmacy will be open to the full community – not just Weems and health department patients – and will be located at Weems Medical Center East (110 NE 5th Street, Carrabelle).
What’s next
These kinds of projects take time. Between regulatory approvals, staffing, build-out, and stocking, we’re realistically looking at nine months to a year before the doors open. We’ll share updates along the way.
Hospital Improvements
Construction Plan Update
For more than a decade, George E. Weems Memorial Hospital (WMH) has contemplated renovations and expansion to the existing facility located on Apalachicola’s Washington Square. Original plans drafted in 2016 called for a 22,000 square foot addition (including canopies) to the existing facility which would house a new Emergency Department, Diagnostic Suite, Entry/Lobby and 10 private patient rooms with private baths. Additionally, plans called for renovations to the 20,000 square foot existing facility to accommodate associated support/ancillary functions, cosmetic room finish improvements to public areas, maintenance/repair work plus associated costs for medical equipment and furnishings. Once a total scope of work is finalized and approved by the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, the project should take between 18-24 months to complete.
Weems Memorial Hospital opened on June 21, 1959 in its current location. But it was not Apalachicola’s first hospital. According to longtime Apalachicola physician Dr. Photis Nichols, Apalachicola’s first hospital was actually a renovated Army barracks building at the airport with 13 beds, a small obstetrical wing and operative suite. The hospital served the needs of the community from the time of its opening in 1948 until the completion of the new hospital with 25 beds at the present site in 1959.
Ultrasound Now Available at Weems
The recent addition of Ultrasound Services to Weems hospital has proved popular with local residents who no longer have to travel for radiology-type services.
The types of ultrasound exams that Weems can perform include, but are not limited to Aorta, Abdominal, OB, Renal, Liver, Arterial, Venous, Scrotal, Breast and Pelvic. Weems’ certified sonographer Amanda Byrd performs the exams in the ER and is available to perform outpatient exams. Other radiology services available through Weems include CT and xray services.
You may schedule an appointment by calling the hospital at (850) 653-8853.
New Ambulance
Weems Memorial received a new ambulance this year thanks to a decision by the Franklin County Commission to purchase the vehicle. The new ambulance is part of Weems’ 10-year replacement plan to rotate old vehicles out of use and replace with new equipment. The Weems fleet of four ambulances are currently stationed throughout the county in Eastpoint, Carrabelle area and Apalachicola.