Grady Health clinics fill gap after Atlanta safety-net hospital closed


Grady Health System will open two outpatient clinics to serve patients near the now-shuttered Atlanta Medical Center, the Atlanta-based nonprofit provider announced Thursday.

Wellstar Health System of Marietta, Georgia, closed the 460-bed safety-net hospital in October, triggering concerns about access to care for patients in south Atlanta. Grady Health referenced the Atlanta Medical Center and Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center South closures in a news release announcing the planning clinics. When the new sites open, Grady Health will operate eight outpatient centers and a 953-bed safety-net facility in Atlanta.

Grady Health said it is executing a long-term growth strategy while simultaneously filling gaps in primary and specialty care. The closures had a ripple effect in Atlanta and led to higher volumes and quality concerns at nearby hospitals. At Grady Memorial Hospital, trauma and delivery volumes skyrocketed, for example.

Wellstar Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment.



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