McDonald's at Grady Hospital closes abruptly

ATLANTA — Grady Hospital has announced that its McDonald’s location is closing.

The hospital said that the McDonald's on Jesse Hill Jr. Drive will close at midnight Saturday.

Grady said that no reason for the abrupt closure was provided.

Last month, a medical group encouraged Grady to dump the fast food franchise.

“Fatty fast food in the hospital can place staff, visitors and patients at risk for heart disease and other life-threatening illnesses,” said Karen Smith, a registered dietician and member of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. “Hospitals should ban the burgers and focus on beans, greens, fruits and whole grains to prevent and even reverse heart disease.”

McDonald's is not the only fast-food chain to raise the ire of the Physicians Committee. %

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The group in January installed billboards near Chick-fil-A’s South Fulton headquarters and above a gas station pump on Highway 54 West in Fayetteville. It asks consumers to “Eat More Chickpeas,” a twist on the chain’s “Eat mor’ chikin” campaign.

The group wants Chick-fil-A removed from Piedmont Fayette Hospital in Fayetteville, Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville and University Hospital in Augusta.

Grady said it is actively exploring options for the location based on the needs of its patients, visitors and staff.

Cox Media Group