Health care offerings continue to expand in Dawson County with Northeast Georgia Health System's purchase of the former Moto 400 building near Ga. 400.

The hospital system plans to renovate the 23,000-square-foot facility and develop a multi-purpose medical office building to serve the community's growing needs, according to a spokeswoman.

"Northeast Georgia Medical Center serves a large patient base from Dawsonville and surrounding communities, and we see that patient base expanding as the area grows," said Tracy Vardeman, vice president of strategic marketing and planning.

"This new medical office building will give us a platform to expand services to meet the needs of this growing community and offer access to NGHS' award-winning services close to home."

Northeast Georgia Physicians Group, an affiliate of the hospital system that currently operates off Medical Center Drive in Dawsonville, will relocate to the new building.

"We are excited to bring all of our Northeast Georgia Physicians Group primary care practices, including NGPG Dawsonville, into this new medical home model," said Paul Vervalin, president and chief administrative officer.

"This type of patient care coordination and disease state management is paramount as we move into a new era of health care delivery, and we are pleased to be able to offer this level of care management to our patients in the Dawsonville community and all the communities we serve throughout the northeast Georgia region."

The renovated building is expected to be open no later than the first quarter 2013.

Northeast Georgia Medical Center is the second major hospital group to announce Dawson County expansions in recent weeks.

Northside Hospital system recently bought a building on Nordson Overlook with plans to expand its services locally.

"Northside is pleased to be able to continue offering high-quality health care services to Dawson County residents," said Russ Davis, director of marketing and public relations.

"Our goal is to continue to grow along with the community to best meet their health care needs."

At nearly 34,500 square feet, the three-story building currently houses an urgent care practice, pain management clinic, ear, nose and throat specialist and physical therapy center.

"Dawsonville is growing and the health care needs of the community will do the same," Davis said.

The county's population is projected to grow 13 percent by 2016.

Charlie Auvermann, executive director of the Development Authority of Dawson County, said he has seen an uptick in interest by private practices, medical groups and hospital systems since the first of the year.

"Our physical location is one of the important factors in their interest," he said.