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ALBANY, GA -- Phoebe held their January board of directors meeting where they discussed the recent merger with Palmyra and other topics.

Hospital officials say they're doing everything necessary to increase communication between themselves and Phoebe North, formerly known as Palmyra.

They’re in the process of bringing employees at Phoebe North on to their benefits schedule and they're also sticking around to ease the transition.

Joel Wernick, CEO and President of Phoebe, says they are also going to “answer many of the questions and to continue with the services that are being provided and to bring those things from Phoebe Putney to the north campus to continue to assist them.”

The next step will be working out a lease agreement with Phoebe Putney Health Systems to manage Phoebe North. That lease agreement could take up to eight months to draw up.

Wernick also says “over time we are going to be looking for ways to use each facility to its best purpose.”

The board also received a update on the progress and success of the assisted living facility Morningside of Albany. The facility is at 90% capacity. And thanks to some unused property that Phoebe owns, they have room to expand.

Marlene Godwin, Administration Director of Morningside of Albany says “in the future maybe we will grow its just according to the growth and the economy of the town.”

For the second year in a row, President and CEO of Phoebe Joel Wernick has made the list of the most influential people in the state of Georgia by Georgia Trend magazine in its January issue.

Werwick adds that he “Iike to share that honor with members of the Phoebe Family and my involvement like theirs is to provide a service to the citizens of this region for the quality of life.”