Atlanta Medical Center Downtown to close November 1

ATLANTA – Atlanta Medical Heart Downtown (AMC) will stop operations earlier than the top of the 12 months, officers verify.

Wellstar Well being System introduced their intention to shut AMC on November 1. 

“For a number of years, Wellstar has continued to spend money on and function AMC with vital losses to supply extra time to associate on a artistic, long-term, sustainable answer for the hospital’s future,” mentioned CEO Candice L. Saunders. “After an exhaustive seek for an answer that may assist the healthcare wants of the group, we’re disenchanted {that a} sustainable answer at AMC has not emerged.”

Previously six years of working the hospital, Wellstar says they’ve invested greater than $350 million. Officers added that in simply the final 12 months, the hospital has misplaced greater than $107 million.

They credit score the pandemic, rising inflation, and “intense monetary headwinds” for making the problems on the hospital harder to repair.

“We notice this information impacts the lives of our workforce members and the sufferers we serve in very private and vital methods,” mentioned Saunders. ‘We’re deeply grateful to the devoted workforce at AMC who’ve lengthy served our communities with compassion and excellence.”

It is unclear what’s going to occur to medical doctors, nurses and different employees on the hospital, however in a letter to staff, Wellstar says they’re “dedicated to supporting every of our AMC workforce members and physicians via this transition, together with extending job affords to lots of our AMC workforce members at different Wellstar services.”

In addition they say they are going to be offering assist “from Human Assets and Worker Help Program.”

In accordance with 2019 tax filings, AMC employed roughly 2,800 individuals.

In response to the AMC announcement, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens despatched a letter to Wellstar noting the town was “blindsided.”

“This determination can have deep and reverberating penalties for the half one million residents of Atlanta and the lots of of hundreds of holiday makers and commuters to our metropolis every day,” Mayor Dickens wrote within the letter. “The Metropolis of Atlanta acquired no advance discover of this determination and had no alternative to interact with you to know or assist mitigate the components resulting in this closure. I require instant details about your organization’s plans, what you’re doing to mitigate the big well being and financial impacts the closure can have on our group, plans for the multi-building campus as soon as operations stop, and the way you may be supporting the impacted personnel.”

Gov. Brian Kemp’s Workplace issued the next assertion on the closure:

“The governor shares the issues of the group on the affect this can have. Different native hospitals and healthcare suppliers are in energetic talks on how this closure will shift their wants and companies. As they work to make the suitable changes, Governor Kemp will proceed to construct on the coverage improvements launched over the previous 4 years which have grown entry to high quality healthcare whereas bringing down prices for Georgians throughout the state.”

With Wellstar’s closure, Grady Memorial Hospital would be the sole degree one trauma heart in Atlanta.

Grady Well being System launched a press release, saying partly “there can be dangerous penalties on healthcare entry for the individuals of metro Atlanta and hospitals throughout the area.”

“Grady Well being System is extraordinarily disenchanted in Wellstar’s determination to shut Atlanta Medical Heart (AMC), which serves a predominantly minority and underserved group. In April, Wellstar made the choice to shut the AMC South location with the caveat that they might stay dedicated to serving the group. Closing its second hospital in lower than six months can have a devastating affect on sufferers, staff, and the Southeast area. Additional, by not having a transition plan and referral mechanism for its sufferers, there can be dangerous penalties on healthcare entry for the individuals of metro Atlanta and hospitals throughout the area.

“As a not-for-profit well being system, Wellstar’s mission was to boost the well being and well-being of each member of the group, however they’ve clearly prioritized income over individuals leaving 460 licensed hospital beds locally empty and greater than 120 sufferers per day having to hunt emergency care elsewhere.

“Grady is basically the one true security internet in Georgia, and it runs over capability each day, and this determination by Wellstar to desert the group will additional pressure our operations, notably our emergency room, as extra sufferers will current with medical wants. We’ve got seen a major enhance in emergency room visits since AMC South closed, which can be additional exacerbated as soon as the downtown AMC location is closed.

“Grady’s dedication to serving our group with excellence will stay unchanged as we stand true in our mission to boost the well being and well-being of each affected person we serve. Grady is exploring all authorized choices accessible to guard our sufferers, staff, and this complete area.”