News & Media
News & Media
After more than 47 years of caring for patients in Franklin County, longtime Weems Memorial Hospital Clinical Laboratory Technologist Jean Roberts has retired.
For Roberts, a career at Weems was also a return home. Born and raised in Apalachicola, she graduated from Chapman High School in 1965 before moving to Indianapolis, Indiana, where she attended the Indiana Institute of Technology and earned her degree as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist.
Roberts began her career in Indianapolis, working in a physician’s office and managing its laboratory. In 1978, she returned to Apalachicola and joined Weems Memorial Hospital that October.
She would remain a familiar face in the Weems Laboratory Department for the next 47 years.
Over the decades, Roberts cared for generations of Franklin County residents, including many patients she had known for much of her life. Her knowledge and experience made her an important part of the laboratory team, while her friendly, positive nature made her someone patients and coworkers came to know and trust.
“Jean represents something very special about Weems,” said David Walker, CEO of Weems Memorial Hospital. “She came home and devoted nearly five decades of her career to caring for people in the community where she was raised. The experience and dependability she brought to our hospital are remarkable, but just as important is the way she treated people. We are grateful for everything Jean has given to Weems and to Franklin County.”
Roberts’ long tenure has been recognized by Weems throughout the years. In 2023, she was named Employee of the Month after being nominated for her dedicated work in the Laboratory Department and the friendly and positive attitude she brought to caring for patients.
Her own explanation for staying at Weems was much simpler. In a 2020 employee feature, Roberts said, “I love my job and the folks I work with!”
That love for her work carried Roberts through a laboratory career spanning more than five decades and a Weems career that began in 1978.
Weems recently celebrated Roberts and her retirement with coworkers, friends and family.
“Nearly forty-eight years with one hospital is an extraordinary legacy,” Walker said. “Jean has been part of Weems for so much of its history, and she will always be part of the Weems family. We wish her a wonderful and well-deserved retirement.”
Friday, August 14, 2026
APALACHICOLA, Fla. — George E. Weems Memorial Hospital is one of seven rural hospitals participating in a regional collaborative awarded nearly $11.2 million in Year 1 funding through Florida’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), administered by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).
The five-year Specialty & Acute Care Bundle, led by Calhoun Liberty Hospital, will expand access to specialty care, strengthen emergency services and improve care coordination across Northwest Florida.
The collaborative includes:
- Calhoun Liberty Hospital
- Doctors Memorial Hospital (Bonifay)
- Doctors’ Memorial Hospital (Perry)
- George E. Weems Memorial Hospital (Apalachicola)
- Jackson Hospital (Marianna)
- Madison County Memorial Hospital
- Northwest Florida Community Hospital (Chipley)
Together, the partner hospitals serve residents across Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, Walton and Washington counties.
Expanding Access to Care Close to Home
For patients in Franklin County, this initiative means greater access to specialized care without traveling long distances.
As the program is implemented, Weems patients will have access to:
- Cardiology, oncology and neurology specialists through secure video visits
- Expanded behavioral and mental health services through telehealth
- Faster emergency stroke evaluations with immediate specialist consultation
- Shared technology that helps participating hospitals securely coordinate patient care
Implementation will occur in phases during the program’s first year as participating hospitals complete readiness activities. Specific service launch dates for Weems will be announced as they become available.
“This partnership gives Franklin County patients access to specialty care without a long drive to get it,” said David Walker, CEO of George E. Weems Memorial Hospital. “Our patients will be able to connect with cardiology, oncology and neurology specialists by video right here at Weems, and reach stroke specialists quickly when every minute matters. This is about increased access to care for the communities we serve.”
The Florida Rural Health Transformation Program is designed to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state’s rural communities by supporting regional partnerships that improve access to care, expand services and enhance patient outcomes.
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.
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.
About Weems
Founded in 1959, the George E. Weems Memorial Hospital is a not-for-profit community healthcare facility committed to providing quality healthcare to Florida’s Forgotten Coast. Serving Franklin County from Alligator Point to Apalachicola, Weems is a 25-bed critical access hospital with emergency services, specialty care resources and two medical offices located in Apalachicola and Carrabelle.
Weems hospital is staffed 24/7 by residency trained, board certified physicians. The same ER physicians also serve as hospitalists for in-patient hospital care. This consistency in care provides for a smooth transition from the ER to the acute care setting.
Outpatient Services
Outpatient laboratory, radiology and respiratory services are offered Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm at the main hospital facility located at 135 Avenue G in Apalachicola. Please call (850) 653-8853 ext. 1180 to make an appointment.
Two Primary Care Medical Centers
Weems Memorial Hospital facilities include two medical facilities located in Apalachicola and Carrabelle. Each provides primary care, family medicine, and rotating specialty care services. Specialty care services are available by appointment only.
Weems Medical Center West
Address:
137 12th Street, Apalachicola
Phone:
(850) 653-1525
Hours of Operation:
Open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm for scheduled appointments and same-day appointments as available (closed 12:00pm to 1:00pm). Lab draw services are available from 8:00am to 11:00am.
Weems Medical Center East
Address:
110 NE 5th Street, Carrabelle
Phone:
(850) 697-2345
Hours of Operation:
Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 pm for scheduled appointments and same-day appointments as available (closed 12:00pm to 1:00pm). Lab draw services are available from 8:00am to 11:00am.
George E. Weems Memorial Hospital
George E. Weems Memorial Hospital is a 25-bed critical access hospital that provides vital health care services to the Franklin County community and its visitors. Our mission is to improve the health status of the residents and visitors to Franklin County, by providing quality, compassionate, cost effective and convenient health care through community leadership and in collaboration with other healthcare organizations which serve our communities.
The George E. Weems Memorial Hospital features dedicated emergency services 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. All hospital services, including radiology, laboratory and respiratory, are available to the ER to allow for direct access to critical diagnostic reports in an emergency situation. The physicians who attend the ER also serve as hospitalists for in-patient hospital care. When a patient needs a little more attention for acute, medical conditions, this physician consistency provides a smooth transition from the ER to the inpatient setting.
Weems Medical Center East in Carrabelle and Weems Medical Center West in Apalachicola provide primary care and rotating specialty care services.
The Weems Memorial Hospital Swing Bed Program offers 24-hour nursing care plus the benefit of rehabilitation therapy to help patients transition back home or to a long term care facility. The swing bed program can also be used to help rehabilitate from surgery, illness or accident in a familiar setting, close to home.
News
Friday, August 14, 2026 APALACHICOLA, Fla. — George E. Weems Memorial Hospital is one of seven rural hospitals participating in a regional collaborative awarded nearly $11.2 million in Year 1 funding through Florida’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), administered by…