Atrium Health plans new teaching hospital in Atlanta: Questions and answers

Atlanta could be getting a new hospital in the near future.

Atrium Health and the Morehouse School of Medicine have announced plans to build a new hospital in the city.

Atrium is part of Advocate Health, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health systems. Advocate operates 69 hospitals and more than 1,000 sites of care in six states.

Here’s a rundown of the plans so far.

Q: What are Atrium and Morehouse planning?

A: Atrium Health and Morehouse say they’re going to build a teaching hospital in southwest Atlanta. They are planning for the hospital to anchor a broad healthcare network offering primary, urgent and specialty care.

Q: Why is this gaining attention?

A: Residents in the southern half of Atlanta have found it more difficult to get care following the closure of Atlanta Medical Center and Atlanta Medical Center South in 2022. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens noted the closures in a statement supporting the project.

“Morehouse School of Medicine and Atrium Health will not only help heal that wound but expand primary and community-based care in neighborhoods where access is needed most,” Dickens said.

Citing an analysis by 3D Health, Atrium says there’s a shortage of more than 240 primary care providers in Fulton County, which is home to Atlanta.

Atlanta has a growing population. The city has added about 30,000 residents since 2020, according to Census estimates.

Q: How big will the hospital be?

A: Atrium is planning a modest number of beds at the beginning, but with room to grow.

The health system says it will open with about 50 beds, but Atrium says the hospital could expand to as many as 700 beds if needed.

The hospital will have a Level III trauma unit and provide emergency care around the clock, Atrium says. The hospital will also offer obstetrics, a neonatal intensive care unit, adult critical care, and radiology and imaging services.

The campus will also include space for medical offices, research, and other economic development.

Q: What are the costs?

A: Atrium Health says it will invest $700 million in the hospital and the healthcare network.

The health system says the city of Atlanta is expected to invest more than $115 million to help support the project, including road work and other necessities to help prepare the site for the hospital campus.

Q: What is the estimated economic impact?

A: Atrium says the project will provide an annual economic impact of $1.25 billion, when the hospital and care network are up and running. The system cited an analysis by HR&A Advisors.

Atrium estimates the campus and care network will employ 1,000 health systems workers, including 150 care providers, and create a total of 4,800 permanent direct and indirect jobs.

Q: Will this close some gaps in care?

A: Eugene A. Woods, chief executive officer of Advocate Health, hailed the “opportunity to change what is possible for a community for generations.”“It is about building a place where people will be cared for, trained, find good jobs, and become part of the future of healthcare in their own community,” Woods said in a statement.

Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, president and chief executive officer of Morehouse School of Medicine, pointed to the prospect of offering more care to underserved communities. Morehouse is a historically Black medical school.

“Today marks a meaningful step toward expanding access to care for families across Atlanta and South Fulton who have waited too long and traveled too far for essential health services,” she said in a statement. “This milestone aligns with Morehouse School of Medicine’s mission to advance health equity.”

Q: Is there a target date?

A: Atrium hasn’t announced a timetable for the project.

Atrium says the health system’s plans rely on Fulton County agreeing to support plans for the outpatient care network. Atrium also says the project will also rely on fundraising and the backing of the community.

Q: What’s next?

A: Atrium and Morehouse will be meeting with residents, community groups and elected officials on the project, and they say more updates are coming.