Posted inHealth

Former AMC Board Leaders Say Wellstar’s ‘Defeatist’ Attitude Led to Hospital Closures

Lisa Medellin and Todd Greene saw it coming. The two local leaders served on Atlanta Medical Center’s regional health board and sounded alarms about the potentially devastating consequences that would come if Wellstar Health System closed or failed to revitalize hospitals in predominantly Black areas. Last month, local lawmakers filed a trio of federal complaints […]

Posted inHealth, Health Equity

Civil Rights Complaint Alleges Wellstar Neglected Black Communities

A group of local lawmakers is alleging that Wellstar Health System discriminated against its Black patients when the nonprofit hospital system closed two hospitals in 2022.  On Wednesday, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution sponsored by Chairman Robb Pitts calling for the county attorney to file a complaint with the Department of […]

Posted inHealth, Health Equity

Second Wellstar Closure Creates Health Care Void for More Black Atlantans

In a strongly worded letter on Friday, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens called for “immediate answers” from Wellstar Health System officials to address the “crisis” caused by the planned shutdown of a Level 1 trauma center in the city — Wellstar’s second such closure this year. Dickens said city leaders are scrambling to gather resources for […]

Posted inHealth, Health Equity

‘This Doesn’t Make Sense’: Black Residents Southwest of the City Left Without an ER

When Stacey Hopkins moved from Atlanta to East Point in March 2021, the 59-year-old didn’t think she would be without a neighborhood hospital.  Earlier this month, Wellstar announced that Atlanta Medical Center South would transition into a 24-hour urgent care facility starting May 6. The reason, Wellstar said, is there wasn’t enough business. The closure […]