By the time Christmas rolls around, Coweta residents could find out if a new hospital is going to land under their Christmas tree.

According to Columbia/HCA Peachtree Regional chief marketing officer Maureen Allen, the hospital is looking at several options to better serve the fast-growing population of the Southern Crescent.

One option the hospital is looking at is building a new hospital on the eastern side of Interstate 85 that could cost between $40-60 million. Any road the hospital decides to take should add to the quality of life that residents currently enjoy, Allen said.

"Health care is a big part of a person's life. Our goal is to make it more accessible and a better experience for them," she said.

The focus on expanding the facilities started to occur after the proposed merger between Peachtree Regional and Newnan Hospital collapsed earlier this year.

"It's really a shame that happened, but we've got to look at all our options," Allen said.

Other possibilities the hospital will consider include building a satellite location near the interstate, or possibly transferring some of the hospital's procedures to a new facility. The hospital currently sits on 40 acres on Hospital Road. The hospital uses only 29 acres, so 11 acres could be used for an expansion.

The hospital now has the largest emergency room facility in the area and also has an obstetrics center. Many people who work in Atlanta choose to have their babies in the city, but Allen said the hospital needs to get the message out that expectant mothers can get excellent service at Peachtree Regional.

"We often have the same nurse looking after the mother and baby, which takes a great deal of worry off the mother," she said.

A more convenient location would allow working moms better access to the facility, she added.

As the county's population continues to grow, Allen sees more commercial and industrial growth moving into the area. The hospital is one of the largest providers in the area for workers'' compensation claims and has to keep an eye out on how best to serve those clients, she said.