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ATLANTA -Morehouse School of Medicine and Atrium Health are moving forward with plans for a new teaching hospital and healthcare network in South Atlanta, a project aimed at restoring hospital and emergency services to communities that lost nearby care when two hospitals closed in 2022
What we know:
The organizations have received approval to move forward with the hospital at 675 Metropolitan Parkway SW. Atrium Health plans to commit more than $700 million in capital and clinical investment to the hospital and a broader network of primary, urgent and specialty care across Central and South Fulton County
Hospital could eventually grow to more than 700 beds
What they’re saying:
The hospital is expected to open with approximately 50 beds but will be designed to expand to more than 700 beds as demand grows
Plans include a 24-hour emergency department and Level III trauma center, obstetrics and a neonatal intensive care unit, adult critical care, advanced imaging, cardiac catheterization, interventional radiology and endoscopy
The larger campus is also expected to include medical offices, research facilities and additional development
The hospital would serve as the centerpiece of a broader healthcare network that includes primary care practices, combined primary and urgent care locations, specialty services, virtual care and a healthplex offering services including imaging, infusion and emergency care
Filling a healthcare gap in South Atlanta
Why you should care:
The project comes nearly four years after Atlanta Medical Center and Atlanta Medical Center South closed in 2022, leaving many residents in South and West Atlanta farther from hospital and emergency services
“When the Atlanta Medical Center closures were abruptly announced nearly four years ago, I said they left an open wound in the heart of our communities. Today, we have come full circle,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said
An analysis cited by the organizations found Fulton County has a shortage of nearly 246 primary care providers. The proposed network is being designed in part to bring services closer to communities with the greatest healthcare needs
Thousands of jobs expected
Local perspective:
The project could also have a major economic impact. An analysis by HR&A Advisors estimates it could support about 5,400 construction jobs and 4,800 permanent direct, indirect and induced jobs once fully developed. That includes approximately 1,000 new health system employees and 150 care providers
The analysis estimates the hospital campus and healthcare network could generate an annual economic impact of approximately $1.25 billion when fully operational
The city of Atlanta is expected to invest more than $115 million to help pay for site preparation, road and pedestrian improvements and equipment needed to open the hospital. Some elements of the project remain contingent on agreements with Fulton County
AtlantaHealthNews
